Mayor's Message on Housing |
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Latest Covid-19 Information |
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City of Kingston Celebrates Arbor Day |
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More New York State Paving Funds Announced |
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Broadway Businesses Are Open |
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New Trees for Pine Grove Avenue |
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Mayor Noble's Tuesday/Thursday Updates |
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Tribute to Kingston Historian Ed Ford |
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A Message From Mayor Steve Noble:
Dear Friends,
"Housing" is a big umbrella that covers many issues and touches virtually every person in our community. I created the Housing Initiatives Department in 2020 to institute vital programs and protect our residents on the City level.
We have many programs that help tenants, first-time home buyers, homeowners, landlords and multi-family property owners. From the lead line replacement program, to providing tax incentives for the construction of affordable housing at Energy Square and Landmark Place, to affordable housing legislation, to re-zoning our entire City code to make it more equitable, the City works across all its departments to help support housing issues in our community.
May 1 was to officially be the end of the New York State eviction moratorium, but legislators will be meeting on Monday and are expected to pass an extension until August 31, 2021. The extension will give the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance time to launch their Emergency Rental Assistance Program in May.
Here in Kingston, in collaboration with RUPCO, we created and funded our own Rental Assistance Program in November, which has assisted 42 families in paying rent that was in arrears due to the effects of Covid-19. We were also awarded a $1 million Anti-Displacement grant and issued an RFP for the construction of emergency housing in the form of tiny homes.
We are always looking for ways to help in the area of housing. If you have ideas, please get in touch with myself (mayor@kingston-ny.gov) or the Director of Housing Initiatives Kevin Corte (kcorte@kingston-ny.gov). We'd love to hear from you.
-Steve
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COVID-19 Information
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As of Friday, April 30, there are 514 active Covid-19 cases in Ulster County, 100 in Kingston, and there have been 255 deaths across the County. More local resources at Ulster County Covid-19 Information
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The Open Enrollment Period for uninsured New Yorkers has been extended through December 31, 2021. New Yorkers can apply for coverage through NY State of Health or directly through insurers.
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Health care workers can text NYFRONTLINE to 741-741 to access 24/7 emotional support services. Any New Yorker can call the COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline at 1-844-863-9314 for counseling.
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Arbor Day in the City of Kingston
Today the City of Kingston celebrated Arbor Day and 25 years as a Tree City USA! Mayor Noble visited Miller and Bailey schools today for Arbor Day ceremonies with tree plantings - a crab apple tree for Bailey and a sugar maple for Miller, which were donated by the Tree Commission. Mayor Noble read an Arbor Day proclamation, which can be found here.
Leading up to Arbor Day, the Tree Commission hosted a poetry writing contest for grades 5-8. The theme was the Sugar Maple tree and they received many wonderful entries. The winning poems by James Davis (5th grade), Sophia Doviken (5th grade), Gisella Shaut (6th grade), Charlotte McFarland (6th grade), Sean Henn (7th grade), and John Booluks (8th grade) were read by the students, who then helped to plant new trees at their schools. Please enjoy these talented students' poems here.
Today is the perfect day to announce that the City of Kingston has received a $50,000 grant for city-wide tree planting from the DEC! We'll have more info on that in next week's newsletter.
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More New York State Paving Funds Announced!
In addition to the over $1 million for paving in the 2021 New York State Budget, the City of Kingston will receive more than $1.3 million in a newly dedicated stream of state budget funding called the City Touring Routes program. The program was created to help cities, villages, and towns offset the cost of capital projects on New York-signed touring routes.
In the NYS 2021 Budget, the City of Kingston has been allocated:
- $739,463 in Consolidated Local Street & Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS)
- $203,957.45 in Pave NY funds
- $143,775.71 in Extreme Winter Recovery Program
- $1,322,027.95 in City Touring Routes Program Funds
Total 2021-22 funding: $2,409,223.95
As a reminder, beginning Monday and weather depending, the first round of paving will begin, which includes Merilina, Boulder, and Plymouth Avenues. Milling in these areas began this week.
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Broadway Businesses Are Open |
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As we all are aware, there are many infrastructure improvement projects happening in Kingston right now. The Broadway Sewer repair will be ongoing until mid-May and the Broadway Streetscape Project is also underway, creating new sidewalks from the I-587 Roundabout project to the Grand Street intersection at the Y. The Broadway Streetscape Project is expected to be completed this fall and will include paving.
We know this a hardship for shops and restaurants, so we are highlighting local businesses along Broadway who are open and who can use your patronage.
This week, we are spotlighting Broadway Lights Diner and Tilda's Kitchen. Broadway Lights Diner at 713 Broadway is a family owned business that offers authentic Greek specialties as well as all your favorite diner foods, and homemade soups and desserts. They're open 7am-10pm Monday through Saturday and 7 to 9 Sunday. Delivery and takeout is available 9am to 9pm.
Tilda's Kitchen at 630 Broadway offers delicious, community-inspired menu items as well as market products with flexible 'pay what you can' pricing options. They also provide community event space rental and catering. They're open Tuesday to Friday, go try their latest offerings!
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BUSINESSES: The American Rescue Plan Act established the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) to help restaurants and other eligible businesses keep their doors open. The program will provide funding equal to the pandemic-related revenue loss. Recipients are not required to repay the funding as long as used for eligible criteria no later than March 11, 2023. Registration for the SBA application portal will begin on Friday, April 30 at 9 am. Applications will open on Monday, May 3 at noon.
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New Trees Along Pine Grove Median
The City of Kingston partnered with the YMCA and the Fuller Building to plant new trees along the Pine Grove Avenue median. Thank you to Scott and Terese Dutton for generously donating their time, energy and resources and as well as the YMCA of Ulster County. The City of Kingston contributed $20,000 to fund the tree planting project.
The YMCA and the Fuller Building have requested to 'adopt' the median for its care and maintenance, and have further plans for benches and other amenities. The City of Kingston is grateful to our partners who care so much about this community and are willing to work with us to make it more beautiful, sustainable, and hospitable for all to enjoy.
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Mayor Noble's Tuesday/Thursday Updates
Mayor Noble has been giving regular live updates since mid-March 2020. His twice-weekly updates can be heard on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:00pm via Radio Kingston and the City of Kingston Facebook page.
Click below to hear Thursday's update.
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Tribute to Former City of Kingston Historian Ed Ford
Edwin Ford, who was the Kingston Historian for 35 years, passed away this week at the age of 103. Mr. Ford truly loved this community. Ed saw so much in his more-than-a-century lifetime, and he generously shared his knowledge with all those who wanted to learn. His legacy will live on through his books, Kingston and Street Whys and through the historic City Hall building, which he helped preserve and save. He was truly a treasure for our City and all who knew him. Ed, you will be missed.
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The Kingston 311 app, website and phone system allow residents to quickly and easily report issues and submit service requests. The Kingston 311 app, available for Android & iPhones, is a fast and simple way to connect to City officials in non-emergency situations.
This system is a valuable resource to submit service requests for streetlight replacement, roadwork, City signage, traffic calming measures and other concerns. Issues with snow removal and reporting of vehicles and sidewalks not in accordance with the Snow Emergency restrictions can also be submitted via Kingston 311. Photos can also be attached to illustrate service orders. Dial 311 from any phone within City limits to reach us.
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Sent on behalf of:
Mayor Steven T. Noble
845.334.3902
mayor@kingston-ny.gov
The purpose of this newsletter is to share important information, project updates, pictures and news from the City of Kingston. For more detailed information, visit:
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