Senator Schumer Streams Funds into Waterfront Revitalization |
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KPD to Host Officer Training Academy |
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Last Week to Apply for the Landlord Assistance Program |
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Kingston Forward Update on Zoning Feedback |
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Mayor Noble Visits JFK School |
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Mayor's Message:
Dear Friends -
We have been working for many months engaging the public, hosting roundtable discussions, and holding public meetings to create our Economic Recovery Plan.
The Federal guidelines for the $17million in American Rescue Plan funding that Kingston will receive is meant to spur our economic recovery from the Covid 19 pandemic and can be spent on:
- Costs associated with responding to Covid-19 or its economic impacts
- Support essential worker during the Covid-19 public health emergency
- To cover revenue losses caused by the Covid-19
- To make necessary investments in infrastructure
Of the funding areas, one of the major investmets is Housing. The City’s plan includes $4,335,000 ($4.335million) toward housing efforts. The plan lays out very specific uses for the housing funds:
- Support Land Bank rehab of single-family homes on City property ($1m)
- Structure transfer of more properties to Land Bank for rehabilitation and buy-downs ($100,000)
- Provide more funding for energy efficiency upgrades program ($250,000)
- Update eviction policies and rent stabilization laws ($50,000)
- Continue to support the Landlord Ambassador Program ($250,000)
- Rehabilitate vacant / abandoned City properties. Establish direct incentives for housing rehabilitation/aid housing quality ($685,000)
- Counteract housing distress/ displacement. Support homeless persons/ households ($1m)
- Establish pool to incentivize affordable units development & leverage state / federal financing ($1m)
Our team delivered the Economic Recovery Plan to the Common Council for budgetary approval, and their comment period is open until Monday.
If you have feedback, please let your Alderman know!
-Steve
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There are currently 176 active cases in Ulster County and 28 in Kingston.
Latest news:
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Senator Schumer Streams Funds into Kingston's Weaving the Waterfront Initiative |
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U.S Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer visited Kingston today to announce that he has secured $100,000 in federal funding for the Army Corps of Engineers to study stabilizing the bulkhead on the Rondout Creek, a key first step to revamping the waterfront.
Schumer also announced that Kingston will be eligible to tap into the significant funding he secured in the bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law, and that he has sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Buttigieg backing Kingston for our application for the Rebuilding American Infrastructure With Sustainability And Equity (RAISE) Grant to reconnect neighborhoods to the waterfront. The City of Kingston's grant request will be over $20million.
“This downtown waterfront revitalization is key to achieving equity in the city, creating jobs, bolstering economic development, and helping one of the true gems of Kingston – its waterfront – finally shine to its truest potential. For too long Kingston’s neighborhoods have been separated and lacked full access to their picturesque waterfront, and it is time we change that. As majority leader, when I led the bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law to passage, I had places like Kingston in mind and projects like the waterfront revitalization with all the good-paying local jobs and economic impact it could have on our downtown businesses,” said Senator Schumer. “Projects like Kingston’s will increase quality of life, reconnect neighborhoods to the waterfront, and revitalize the local economy. That is why I am proud to be able to deliver critical funding to get shoreline stabilization underway and why I am going to keep fighting tooth and nail to get Kingston the robust federal support it needs to pave the way to a brighter future.”
More on Kingston's Weaving the Waterfront initiative here.
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Majority Leader Chuck Schumer visiting Kingston today |
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KPD to Host an Officer Training Academy |
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In order to recruit more diverse candidates, KPD will host a free, seven-week Police Officer Preparation Academy.
The Police Officer Preparation Academy will be held bi-weekly from May 7 to July 30, and will consist of classes, discussions, physical agility training, and testing sessions. Every other week, the program will be scheduled on Saturday mornings from 9:00am to 12:00pm, and will provide in-depth understanding of police officer hiring standards and testing procedures. Attendees will be given an opportunity to practice written and physical agility exams; interact with police officers, instructors, and administrators; and get an inside look at the Kingston Police Department’s daily operations and specialized units.
“Our goal is to demystify the process of becoming a police officer, and by offering the glimpse inside the day-to-day operations of KPD, to better prepare candidates for the application process and the job itself,” said Mayor Noble. “We want to get a diverse set of applicants and hope to bring in people from all areas of the community. The ultimate goal is to improve our police/community relationship and build a safer, stronger community.”
“When local residents join police departments and become part of the protection of their own neighborhoods, we begin to build trust in the most crucial areas.” said Chief Tinti. “Trust is vital in strengthening police and community relations and makes for a safer City. We believe that begins with recruiting from within our community.”
Applicants for the Police Officer Exam Preparation Academy must be at least 18 years old, and must live in Ulster County, with preference given to Kingston residents. This free course will be held at the Kingston Center at SUNY Ulster located at 94 Mary’s Avenue. The course will be open to 30 participants.
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More on Funding Areas in the City's Economic Recovery Plan |
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The City's Economic Recovery Plan includes $1,200,000 for Business Development, specifically desginating funds for gap areas that Federal and State support may have missed. There's $750,00 for a Business Redevelopment Fund; $125,000 to assist minority-owned and women-owned business enterprises to establish incentive funds so that local businesses can access to expand/hire. Another $275,000 will support County-level Economic Development Programs, and $50,000 will support the creation of a technology center.
The Plan includes $1,465,000 for Arts & Tourism. The plan lays out very specific uses of the Arts/Tourism funding including a Wayfinding Plan, which will benefit all of Kingston’s business districts and will unify our neighborhoods.
Not only does the Wayfinding signage beautify the City, clear the clutter of dozens of different types of signage, and help us with Economic Recovery, it also helps identify much-needed parking. The signs are unifying, but also unique to each district.
See the designs and learn more about the County's efforts to help Kingston's economy by funding the Wayfinding Plan here.
Mayor Noble and his team have delivered the Economic Recovery Plan to the Common Council for budgetary approval. If you have feedback, please let your Alderman know!
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RUPCO Landlord Assistance Program |
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RUPCO is administering funds to help keep community members housed by providing financial assistance to landlords who agree to keep rents stabilized for 2-5 years. Assistance funds can be applied to eligible repairs, fiscal distress, and back rental assistance to eligible rentals through the Landlord Assistance Program (LAP). The maximum grant awards per eligible unit is $15,000.
All units must be rented to tenants at or below 80% Area Median Income adjusted to family size. The tenant in each unit receiving assistance must sign a tenant self-attestation and be included in this application.
Applications are due by Friday, April 1 at 4pm. Learn more and download an application at www.rupco.org/nyslap
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Kingston Forward Rezoning Update |
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Curious what feedback your neighbors had for the rezoning of Albany and Hurley Avenues and the Rondout Waterfront? A summary of the survey results has now been published! You can view it here or go to Engage Kingston.
Selected results:
- 48% of respondents to the online survey believe that new buildings along Hurley and Albany Avenues should match existing buildings on nearby parcel, while 45% believe the height may be taller
- 57% of respondents to the online survey believe that new buildings in the waterfront should match the architectural features or appearance of nearby historic buildings
- Over 90% of participants in the virtual meeting believe the planning team should explore the idea of reduced or eliminated parking ratios along Hurley Avenue
Kingston Forward is an ongoing planning initiative to engage the community in describing the desired form and character for future improvements and preservation throughout the City. Input gathered will shape updates to the City’s zoning code. An updated zoning code can support community goals such as historic preservation, economic development, increased housing options, resilient neighborhoods, the design of streets and public spaces, and so much more. Visit https://engagekingston.com/kingston-forward for more.
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Mayor Noble's Visit to JFK Elementary School |
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Mayor Noble visited first and second graders at John F. Kennedy Elementary School this week to read Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table by Jacqueline Briggs Martin.
The classes had a lot of questions for the Mayor and were amazed to learn he was once a student at JFK himself!
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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
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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