In accordance with House rules, project requests will be posted here as they are submitted to the committee of jurisdiction.
In accordance with House rules, project requests will be posted here as they are submitted to the committee of jurisdiction.
FY22 Community Funded Projects
As required by the Committee on Appropriations, below are the list of Community Funded Projects that I have requested:
Project Name: Urban Health Plan (UHP) Comprehensive Renovation Project
Request Amount: $495,000
Intended Recipient: Urban Health Plan
Full Street Address of the Intended Recipient: 1065 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY 10459
Financial Disclosure Letter
Project Name: Enhance St. Barnabas Hospital’s infrastructure through the purchase of a Computerized Tomography Scanner (CT Scanner) for its Emergency Room
Request Amount: $1,360,451.20
Intended Recipient: St. Barnabas Hospital
Full Street Address of the Intended Recipient: 4422 Third Avenue, Bronx, NY 10457
Financial Disclosure Letter
Project Name: Harvest to Haven Community Teaching Kitchen
Request Amount: $650,000
Intended Recipient: East Side House, Inc.
Full Street Address of the Intended Recipient: 805 East 139th Street, Bronx, NY 10454
Financial Disclosure Letter
Project Name: East 132nd Street Pier Park Waterfront Plan
Request Amount: $ 1,000,000
Intended Recipient: The Resilience, Education, Training, and Innovation (RETI) Center
Full Street Address of the Intended Recipient: 1000 E 132nd St., Bronx, NY 10454
Financial Disclosure Letter
Project Name: Sedgwick Library Roof Replacement
Request Amount: $1,000,000
Intended Recipient: New York Public Library
Full Street Address of the Intended Recipient: 1701 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Bronx, NY 10453
Financial Disclosure Letter
Project Name: Pregones Theater Headquarters & Education Center
Request Amount: $500,000
Intended Recipient: Pregones Puerto Rican Traveling Theater, Inc.
Full Street Address of the Intended Recipient: 571 Walton Ave., Bronx, NY 10451
Financial Disclosure Letter
Project Name: Bronx Community Parks
Request Amount: $926,000
Intended Recipient: Trust for Public Land
Full Street Address of the Intended Recipient: 800 Home St, Bronx, NY 10456
Financial Disclosure Letter
Project Name: Montefiore Medical Center’s Program for Telehealth Connected Care (TCC)
Request Amount: $3,350,000
Intended Recipient: Montefiore Medical Center
Full Street Address of the Intended Recipient: 111 E. 210th Street, Bronx, NY 10467
Project Name: The Clay Avenue Integrated Health Center
Request Amount: $825,000
Intended Recipient: The Puerto Rican Organization to Motivate,
Enlighten, and Serve Addicts, Inc
Full Street Address of the Intended Recipient: 300 E 175th St, Bronx, NY 10457
FY23 Community Funded Projects
Representative Ritchie Torres submitted the following proposals for consideration of FY 23 Community Project Funding.
This year, the Appropriations Committee allowed each Member the opportunity to request 15 projects for consideration. After reviewing over 100 applications, Representative Torres selected projects that met Committee eligibility standards, including but not limited to, cost, timeline, and community support.
Inclusion on this list does not guarantee funding. The office will be in touch regarding next steps in the application process.
Project Name: Allied Health Workforce Training Programs
Request Amount: $150,000
Intended Recipient: Bronx Community College of the City University of New York
Address: 2155 University Avenue, Bronx, NY 10453
Purpose: The funding would be used for fully subsidized allied health trainings through our Workforce Development and Continuing Education Department for 100 residents of NY15. These funds will provide for Phlebotomy Technician, Electrocardiogram (EKG) Technician, and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) trainings. Through these trainings, all students will be prepared to sit for the associated industry-recognized certifications, making them job-ready upon completion.
Project Name: South Bronx Food Hub Expansion
Request Amount: $205,000
Intended Recipient: Catholic Charities Community Services
Address: 402 E. 152nd Street, Bronx, NY 10455
Purpose: The funding would be used for the renovation and modernization of the South Bronx Food Hub to expand capacity to accept an increased amount of donated food for re-distribution to local pantries and households in need. Interior renovations will double the amount of usable space to accept and store food, and renovations to the facility’s parking lot will accommodate large box trucks and frequent deliveries, enhancing the overall program operations and services to vulnerable Bronx residents.
Project Name: Security Surveillance Systems Upgrades
Request Amount: $600,000
Intended Recipient: Diego Beekman Mutual housing Association
Address: 694 E. 141st Street, Bronx, NY 10454
Purpose: The funding would be used for the modernization of fifteen-year-old security and surveillance system through camera, software, alarm, and intercom upgrades. Diego Beekman is a thirty-eight building scattered site affordable housing development consisting of 1,238 apartments in the Mott Haven neighborhood of NY15.
Project Name: Hosto Community College Support for Articulation Agreements
Request Amount: $1,000,000
Intended Recipient: Hostos Community College of the City University of New York
Address: 500 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10451
Purpose: The funding would be used for dual/joint degree programs known as “articulation agreements” with four-year colleges and universities. This includes existing partnerships as well as new ones that will ensure students receive high-quality opportunities to continue their education and pursue advanced degrees in high-demand fields.
Project Name: Supporting Digital Equity for Low-Income College Students
Request Amount: $500,000
Intended Recipient: Lehman College of the City University of New York
Address: 250 Bedford Park Blvd West, Bronx, NY 10468
Purpose: The funding would be used for an office of digital equity. The requested funding request will support: Computer loaners for any student that needs a device to complete their studies, promoting student success and retention; Workshops and help desk support for students to reduce barriers to academic progress; Participation in a Bronx-wide digital equity coalition to increase broadband access and enhance digital skills among students, residents, and businesses.
Project Name: 200 Hospital Beds
Request Amount: $4,000,000
Intended Recipient: New York City Health and Hospitals – Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center
Address: 234 E. 149th Street, Bronx, NY 10451
Purpose: The funding would be used for replacing 200 hospital beds which are over ten years old and have reached End of Manufacturer support making them unfit for positive patient health outcomes.
Project Name: Expansion of Behavioral Health Clinics in Montefiore School Based Health Centers
Request Amount: $5,000,000
Intended Recipient: Montefiore Medical Center
Address: 111 E. 210th Street, Bronx, NY 10467
Purpose: The funding would be used for the creation of a first-year start-up to establish satellite behavioral health clinics in six schools across NY13 and NY15. To address the mental health needs, the proposed Article 31 School-Based Mental Health Clinics will offer comprehensive mental health treatment, including individual therapy, family therapy, group therapy, psychiatric assessment, medication management, teacher consultation, outreach, community referral, and crisis intervention.
Project Name: Worker’s Operation Center
Request Amount: $1,000,000
Intended Recipient: New York Botanical Garden (NYBG)
Address: 2900 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY 10458
Purpose: The funding would be used for complete renovation and restoration of its outdated operations yard into a twenty-first century Worker’s Operation Center. Federal funding would help for the restoration of this capital project, serving the daily work needs of the Garden’s core workforce – the building service employees, engineers, carpenters, and administrative staff maintain NYBG as an open, accessible, and safe urban sanctuary for the over 1 million guests and their families that visit NYBG.
Project Name: NYCHA Jackson Houses Exterior Lighting Installation
Request Amount: $4,000,000
Intended Recipient: New York City housing Authority (NYCHA)
Address: 325 E 156th Street, Bronx, NY 10451
Purpose: The funding would be used for the installation of exterior security lighting for the NYCHA Jackson Houses development in NY15 to address resident safety and security concerns.
Project Name: STEM with Hydroponic Farming in the Classroom
Request Amount: $800,000
Intended Recipient: New York Sun Works
Address: 157 Columbus Avenue, Suite 432, New York, NY 10023
Purpose: The funding would be used for the creation of Hydroponic Farm-Classrooms in twenty K-12th grade public schools in NY15 and provide a comprehensive curriculum, aligned to NYC and NYS science standards, to teach science, sustainability, nutrition, and climate education through the lens of urban farming. The program will reach 6,000 students and their families and will grow thousands of pounds of nutritious vegetables.
Project Name: Maternal Child and Health Clinic
Request Amount: $805,000
Intended Recipient: Union Community Health Center
Address: 260 E. 188th Street, Bronx, NY 10458
Purpose: The funding would be used for building a maternal child and health clinic with five pediatric exam rooms, one OB/GYN exam room, one pediatric dental chair, and one behavioral health consultation space, which will collectively set a new standard for integrated Maternal/Child Health services.
Project Name: Bronx Immigration Partnership
Request Amount: $1,000,000
Intended Recipient: UnLocal
Address: 45 W 29th Street, Suite 20, New York, NY 10001
Purpose: The funding would be used for the holistic legal services, social services, education and outreach to low-income individuals, children, youth, families, individuals with disabilities, and Indigenous communities living in NY15. This funding will provide clear and accurate information, vital legal representation, and essential guidance to help Bronx immigrants through processes, such as immigration court, USCIS, the Human Resources Administration, the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, access to hospitals and healthcare, access to COVID-19 vaccines, testing, and benefits, changing DOE policies, and much more.
Project Name: Urban Health Plan Renovation and Upgrades Project
Request Amount: $1,000,000
Intended Recipient: Urban Health Plan
Address: 1065 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY 10459
Purpose: The funding would be used for renovations and upgrades to the St. Lawrence Community Health Center, located at 1764 Westchester Avenue, Bronx NY. The renovations will include the restructuring of the intake area and triage department to make the management of patients more patient friendly. Funds will also be used for upgrades to roofs, lighting, elevator and signage at three Urban Health plan sites.
Project Name: STEM and Green Career Internships for Bronx College Students
Request Amount: $1,800,000
Intended Recipient: Wildlife Conservation Society – Bronx Zoo
Address: 2300 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY 10460
Purpose: The funding would be used for the development of a science and conservation internship center that connects Bronx college students with high-quality professional learning experiences at five wildlife parks. WCS will cultivate partnerships with Bronx-based post-secondary institutions to ensure their students have access to WCS internships and workforce development, and meaningful opportunities to deepen their connections to STEM and conservation.
Project Name: Morrison Public Plaza and Open Market
Request Amount: $250,000
Intended Recipient: Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice
Address: 1384 Stratford Avenue, Bronx, NY 10472
Purpose: The funding would be used for the installation of a permanent kiosk and portable vendor stalls, in addition to programming costs of fully activating the Morrison Public Plaza and Open Market. Funding will transform the site into a bustling community gathering place that hosts events and festivals, offers a multitude of opportunities for vendors, and provides a variety of public programming, all in a strategic effort to strengthen the economic engine of the Bronx River-Soundview community.
FY24 Community Funded Projects
Representative Ritchie Torres submitted the following proposals for consideration of FY 24 Community Project Funding.
This year, the Appropriations Committee allowed each Member the opportunity to request 15 projects for consideration. After reviewing over 100 applications, Representative Torres selected projects that met Committee eligibility standards, including but not limited to, cost, timeline, and community support.
Inclusion on this list does not guarantee funding. The office will be in touch regarding next steps in the application process.
Project Name: Army Corps Harlem River Feasibility Study
Request Amount: $1,500,000
Intended Recipient: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Address: 26 Federal Plaza, New York, NY 10278
Purpose: The funding would be used to investigate the feasibility of restoration opportunities along the Harlem River. The New York District and USACE “Engineering With Nature” (EWN) Program would identify shoreline opportunities to deliver improvements to the communities along the river. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will lead to a plan for future construction authorization which would restore degraded habitats and cleaner water and provide secondary flood risk management benefits.
Project Name: Bard Prison Initiative: Reducing Recidivism and Increasing Public Safety
Request Amount: $1,500,000
Intended Recipient: Bard College – Bard Prison Initiative
Address: 30 Campus Rd. Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504
Purpose: The funding would be used to provide college opportunities to women and men across seven prisons in New York State and enroll them in innovative preparation for reentry, as well as unique transitional support in continuing education, housing, career development, and wellness through hubs in New York City. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it aims to increase public safety by reducing recidivism.
Project Name: Belmont Community Land Trust Affordable Housing
Request Amount: $1,250,000
Intended Recipient: Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition
Address: 103 East 196th Street, Bronx, NY 10468
Purpose: The funding would be used to purchase property to create new affordable housing. The project would become the first new construction affordable housing development on land owned and controlled by a community land trust (CLT) in the Bronx. CLTs ensure long term affordability and additional technical assistance to ensure long term maintenance and stability of quality, safe, environmentally sustainable, and affordable housing. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the area in which this project is located has long been disinvested and marginalized, undermining housing values, exacerbating poor health and environmental outcomes and creating opportunities for illegal dumping, safety issues and urban blight. Investing in this project would increase access to affordable housing, improve local community outcomes, and support overall community development of the area.
Project Name: BOEDC Community Business Development Event Space Construction
Request Amount: $650,000
Intended Recipient: Bronx Economic Development Corporation
Address: 1057 Carroll Pl, Lot 23, Bronx, NY 10456
Purpose: The funding would be used to develop a community business development event space for the 15thCongressional District. Core components include preparation of construction, repaving the land, replacing the fencing, electrical utility work, accessibility/beautification upgrades and adding a new entrance way of an abandoned lot. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the South Bronx is critically underdeveloped. A space for economic development organizations to meet and work on business development and capital access in the Bronx is necessary. This project will create a space for community organizations to come together and work on economic development initiatives.
Project Name: BronxWorks McLaughlin Center HVAC System Upgrades
Request Amount: $750,000
Intended Recipient: BronxWorks
Address: 1130 Grand Concourse, Bronx, New York 10456
Purpose: The funding would be used to replace the antiquated heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a five-story, 42,500 square foot community facility used daily by 200 neighborhood residents. The HVAC upgrade will ensure effective heat distribution in the winter, cool air distribution in the summer, ad proper air flow in all seasons to reduce the spread of airborne particulate matter throughout the building, especially in high-traffic areas like the McLaughlin Center’s second and fourth floors. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the McLaughlin Center includes a gym, dining room, senior center, four classrooms used for pre-GED and GED classes, and offices all used for youth and senior programming. Improving the HVAC system is essential to BronxWorks’ ability to deliver high quality, neighborhood-resident focused services throughout the year for a population with poverty rates as high as 50%.
Project Name: CareerWise Bronx Apprenticeship Training Center
Request Amount: $1,750,000
Intended Recipient: CareerWise New York
Address: 500 Seventh Ave, Suite 9A-117, New York, NY 10018
Purpose: The funding would be used to purchase a property for a new workforce training facility to support the expansion of the CareerWise New York apprenticeship programming to accommodate 1,000 youth apprentices in tech, finance, and business fields. CareerWise New York is an industry-designed, career-first training model of modern youth apprenticeships. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the direct beneficiaries are New York City public high school students, especially low-income students of color, who would have access to high quality earn and learn opportunities that afford them upward economic mobility.
Project Name: Concourse Village Podium Repairs
Request Amount: $5,000,000
Intended Recipient: New York State Housing Finance Agency
Address: 641 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10022
Purpose: The funding would be used to repair the podium structure that supports six high rise residential towers of affordable cooperative housing for moderate to low-income families. Concourse Village is also home to an active community center servicing the community at large. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because without the needed repairs to the podium, over 5,000 individuals, mostly senior citizens, will become homeless should the development continue to structurally degrade.
Project Name: Evander Childs Educational Campus Cafeteria Renovations
Request Amount: $4,000,000
Intended Recipient: New York City Department of Education
Address: 800 E Gun Hill Rd, Bronx, NY 10467
Purpose: The funding would be used to renovate a cafeteria that services students from six different New York City public high schools. Scope of work includes new self-serving refrigerators and salad bars, ADA-compliant café style dining furniture, aesthetic enhancements such as new paint, floors, and art, and air conditioners for kitchens, including electrical work. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it directly impacts the daily life of thousands of low-income public-school students in NY-15.
Project Name: Fountain House Bronx Residence
Request Amount: $750,000
Intended Recipient: Fountain House
Address: 425 W 47th Street, New York, NY 10037
Purpose: The funding would be used to construct one new 10-story, 31-unit supportive housing residence. The new supportive housing residence will provide 30 studio units of affordable rental housing, with 60 percent of units reserved for formerly homeless individuals with severe mental illness. The remaining units will be reserved for individuals with incomes up to 80 percent of the Area Median Income. Fountain House will provide onsite social services that will be available to all building residents. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the Bronx has the highest prevalence of serious psychological distress in New York City and individuals are at risk of becoming homeless without the proper support, further exacerbating the city’s unhoused population issue.
Project Name: Mary Mitchell Family and Youth Center Backyard and Security Upgrades
Request Amount: $855,000
Intended Recipient: Mary Mitchell Family and Youth Center
Address: 2007 Mapes Ave, Bronx, NY 10460
Purpose: The funding would be used for the renovations of the Mary Mitchell Family and Youth Center’s backyard space. Upgrades to the backyard, including athletic equipment (basketball hoops and an electric scoreboard), water fountains, a playground set, new flooring, repairs to the retaining wall, and enhanced security features like cameras, will provide families in the community a safe space to socialize and learn through scheduled programming. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the East Tremont and Crotona neighborhoods of the Bronx have become high-risk areas for crime, tremendously affecting the families within the community. Investing in the Mary Mitchell Family and Youth Center’s site will provide much needed alternative options and opportunities for vulnerable populations.
Project Name: Muslim American Society Bronx Muslim Center
Request Amount: $4,000,000
Intended Recipient: Muslim American Society of Upper New York
Address: 702 Rhinelander Ave, Bronx, NY 10462
Purpose: The funding would be used to construct a community center to serve the surrounding youth and senior population. The Bronx Muslim Center already serves the community and provides a host of programs ranging from food drives to job training to housing assistance in a space too small to meet the growing demand for services. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the construction of the Bronx Muslim Center will allow the center to increase its social services to the community.
Project Name: New York Public Library Tremont Branch Roof Replacement
Request Amount: $500,000
Intended Recipient: New York Public Library
Address: 1866 Washington Avenue, Bronx, NY 10457
Purpose: The funding would be used for a comprehensive roof replacement at the Tremont branch. The roof at this branch is currently past its useful life and patching has been required to address leaks and saturated areas. Leaks cause programming areas to close to the public, and risk damaging collections, technology, and other library assets. Roof replacement will provide enhancements for flashing, ductwork, and drainage. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the library serves approximately 30,000 patrons a year, hosting over 1,500 programs with over 17,000 attendees in fiscal year 2019 prior to Covid programming changes, and 277 programs with 2,082 participants in fiscal year 2022 as programming began to return to a more comprehensive scale.
Project Name: New York Public Library West Farms Branch Roof Replacement
Request Amount: $500,000
Intended Recipient: New York Public Library
Address: 2085 Honeywell Avenue, Bronx, NY 10460
Purpose: The funding would be used for a comprehensive roof replacement project at the West Farms branch. The roof at this branch is currently past its useful life and patching has been required to address leaks and saturated areas. Leaks can cause programming areas to close to the public, and risks damaging collections, technology, and other Library assets. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the library serves approximately 60,000 patrons a year, hosting over 1,200 programs with over 11,000 attendees in fiscal year 2019 prior to Covid programming changes, and 542 programs with over 4,000 participants in fiscal year 2022 as programming began to return to a more comprehensive scale. The West Farms library is located on Honeywell Avenue, with PS 067 Mohegan School and MS 129 Academy for Independent Learning and Leadership nearby.
Project Name: NYCHA Morrisania Air Rights Sensory Playground and Sensory Garden
Request Amount: $750,000
Intended Recipient: Fund for Public Housing
Address: 3200 Park Avenue, Bronx, NY
Purpose: The funding would be used to reclaim a blighted play area at the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) Morrisania Air Rights (MAR) development and transform it into a vibrant, welcoming, and accessible playground-for-all that will include state of the art sensory play equipment to serve the needs of NYCHA youth with autism and other developmental disabilities. Funding would also be used to improve and activate inactive open space, removing antiquated play equipment, and replace the space with a sensory garden and sitting area for NYCHA’s youngest and oldest residents. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the playground and garden will serve a much larger community than just NYCHA’s Morrisania Air Rights, offering an opportunity for families with children and older adults with autism and disabilities to engage and enjoy play space. The project would serve four NYCHA communities, MAR, Jackson, East 152nd Street-Courtlandt Avenue, Melrose and Jackson Houses, comprising nearly 5,000 residents in NY-15.
Project Name: Word of Life Community Center
Request Amount: $1,500,000
Intended Recipient: Word of Life International
Address: 830 Union Ave Bronx, NY 10459
Purpose: The funding would be used to purchase a new building at 447 Jackson Ave, Bronx, NY, aimed to serve as a community center. Word of Life International (WOL) currently supports the community by providing food assistance through its weekly pantry distributions, workforce development and job placement, as well as other needed social services. WOL is seeking to purchase a bigger space to accommodate the growing demand for services. Its current space has outdated refrigeration systems which significantly constrains the food assistance program. The new building would allow WOL to increase its scope of services to the community. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because WOL serves a population of low-income Bronx residents. Currently about 20,000 household members benefit from the food pantry and meal program each month.
Member Designated Project Requests
As required by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, below are the list of Member Designated Projects that I have requested:
Parkchester-E.177 St / Pelham Line (6 Train)
Location of Project: CD-15, Parkchester & E 177th Street, Bronx, NY
Project Sponsor: MTA-NYCT
Requested Amount: $15,000,000.00
Del Valle Square/Crames Square Traffic, Safety, and Plaza Improvements
Location of Project: Hunts Point, Bronx, at Del Valle Square (Bruckner Blvd/Hunts Point Ave) in Congressional District 15.
Project Sponsor: NYC Department of Transportation
Amount Requested: $4,870,000.00
Southern Bronx Safety Improvements
Location of Project: South Bronx neighborhoods of Unionport, Longwood, and Mount Hope in Congressional District 15
Project Sponsor: NYC Department of Transportation
Amount Requested: $1,520,000.00
Safe Routes to School – Bronx 2
Location of Project: Five schools across the Bronx, in Congressional District 15.
Project Sponsor: NYC Department of Transportation
Amount requested: $2,142,000.00
Safe Routes to School – Bronx
Location of Project: Four schools across Southwest Bronx, in Congressional District 15.
Project Sponsor: NYC Department of Transportation
Amount Requested: $1,682,000.00
FY25 COMMUNITY FUNDED PROJECTS
Representative Ritchie Torres submitted the following proposals for consideration of FY 25 Community Project Funding.
This year, the Appropriations Committee allowed each Member the opportunity to request 15 projects for consideration. After reviewing over 100 applications, Representative Torres selected projects that met Committee eligibility standards, including but not limited to, cost, timeline, and community support.
Inclusion on this list does not guarantee funding. The office will be in touch regarding next steps in the application process.
Project Name: Army Corps Harlem River Feasibility Study
Request Amount: $600,000
Intended Recipient: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Address: 26 Federal Plaza, New York, NY 10278
Purpose: The funding would be used to investigate the feasibility of restoration opportunities along the Harlem River. The New York District and USACE “Engineering With Nature” (EWN) Program would identify shoreline opportunities for development along the river. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the recommendation expects to restore degraded habitat and provide secondary flood risk management benefits while integrating infrastructure along the waterfront greenway.
Project Name: PS 76 Playground Renovations
Request Amount: $1,000,000
Intended Recipient: New York City Department of Education
Address: 52 Chambers St, New York, NY 10007
Purpose: The funding would be used to renovate the school playground at PS 76. Playground features may include basketball hoops, a volleyball court, an outdoor classroom area, game tables, a gazebo, a gymnastics play area and fitness equipment, benches, a track, a hardball court, a turfed softball court, and bleachers, as well as green infrastructure elements such as shade trees, permeable pavers, and a synthetic turf field. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it aims to create a safe, inclusive, and engaging play environment that fosters physical, cognitive, and social development in children while promoting community interaction and enjoyment.
Project Name: MS 22 School Clinic Renovations
Request Amount: $850,000
Intended Recipient: New York City Department of Education
Address: 52 Chambers St, New York, NY 10007
Purpose: The funding would be used to renovate the MS 22 School Clinic by painting, purchasing equipment, and upgrading the lighting of the clinic to create a modern and welcoming environment for vital healthcare services. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it serves public school students in NY15.
Project Name: Leaders of Tomorrow Middle School Hydroponic Science Lab
Request Amount: $670,000
Intended Recipient: New York City Department of Education
Address: 52 Chambers St, New York, NY 10007
Purpose: The funding would be used for the construction of a hydroponic science lab for middle schoolers at the Leaders of Tomorrow Middle School. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because investment in K-12 public education is linked to economic growth for students and their families. It is vital to expand equitable access to high quality education for all students.
Project Name: Bronx Family Justice Center: Upgrades to Client Waiting Room
Request Amount: $500,000
Intended Recipient: New York City Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence
Address: 198 East 161st Street, Bronx, NY 10451
Purpose: The funding would be used to upgrade the Bronx Family Justice Center (FJC) client waiting room so that it is separate and apart from the District Attorney’s waiting room. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the Center provides free, trauma-informed social and legal services to survivors of domestic and gender-based violence. Services at the FJC include case management, counseling, housing assistance, civil legal services, and immigration services.
Project Name: Concourse Village Domestic Pipes Replacement
Request Amount: $4,500,000
Intended Recipient: New York State Homes and Community Renewal
Address: 641 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10022
Purpose: The funding would be used to replace the domestic water lines that provide water and address the movement of sewage and waste throughout the housing development. The 60-year-old pipes are very brittle and often burst creating flooding and damage to apartments below. The development houses six high rise residential towers of affordable cooperative housing for low and moderate- income families. Concourse Village is also home to an active community center servicing the community at large. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because without the needed repairs to the pipes, over 5,000 individuals, mostly senior citizens, will become homeless should the development continue to structurally degrade.
Project Name: Hostos Community College Abandoned Building Demolition
Request Amount: $4,000,000
Intended Recipient: Hostos Community College, City University of New York (CUNY)
Address: 500 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10451
Purpose: The funding would be used to demolish a dilapidated and abandoned building within the Hostos Community College campus portfolio. The project components involve 1) the demolition of the 3-story and basement brick-clad steel framed concrete building and backfill of the basement space of the building located in the community 2) the removal of trailers adjacent to the building, and 3) paving over the entire site that the building and trailers sit upon. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the building is fundamentally unsafe, requiring a sidewalk shed around the building due to its crumbling structure, and has become a haven for trespassers. It poses a danger to the residents of the community, including school-age children who must pass by it as they go to and from the local public schools.
Project Name: New York City Neighborhood Internet Network Initiative
Request Amount: $6,000,000
Intended Recipient: New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development
Address: 100 Gold St, New York, NY 10038
Purpose: The funding would be used for the installation of a mesh wireless network to provide free internet access to Section 8 recipient households. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will address the digital divide that exists for low-income families. The investments made through this initiative will help to ensure that low-income households have equitable access to critical online resources, such as job postings and telehealth, while also helping families and individuals remain connected to their communities.
Project Name: NYCHA Building Line Initiative
Request Amount: $11,000,000
Intended Recipient: New York City Housing Authority
Address: 90 Church St, New York, NY 10007
Purpose: The funding would be used to address mold and leaks by targeting their underlying root cause(s) and developing a full scope of work for affected apartment lines to complete repairs. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it addresses critical public health concerns, aligns with the broader goal of ensuring safe and habitable housing for all, invests in infrastructure enhancement, and ensures the long-term stability of public housing.
Project Name: NYCHA Gun Hill Fire Alarm System Upgrades
Project Amount: $1,500,000
Intended Recipient: New York City Housing Authority
Address: 90 Church St, New York, NY 10007
Purpose: The funding would be used for identification, removal, and replacement of all existing fire detection system components, both operable and inoperable, as per current NYC Fire Code, at Gun Hill Houses. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it ensures compliance with current NYC Fire Code standards which is paramount for public safety, protecting lives and property in the event of a fire. Investing in state-of-the-art fire detection systems not only aligns with regulatory requirements but also reflects a commitment to preserve the public infrastructure that more than 350,000 individuals rely on.
Project Name: Parkside Fire Alarm System Upgrades
Project Amount: $1,500,000
Intended Recipient: New York City Housing Authority
Address: 90 Church St, New York, NY 10007
Purpose: The funding would be used for identification, removal, and replacement of all existing fire detection system components, both operable and inoperable, as per current NYC Fire Code, at Parkside Houses. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it ensures compliance with current NYC Fire Code standards which is paramount for public safety, protecting lives and property in the event of a fire. Investing in state-of-the-art fire detection systems not only aligns with regulatory requirements but also reflects a commitment to preserve the public infrastructure that more than 350,000 individuals rely on.
Project Name: Shoelace Park Resilience
Project Amount: $5,000,000
Intended Recipient: New York City Department of Parks
Address: 830 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10065
Purpose: The funding would be used to move the Olinville Playground, basketball courts, and restrooms out of the Shoelace Park floodplain and onto higher ground within the park. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the park serves hundreds of low-income families and becomes unusable with every storm that causes sewer lines to overflow into the playgrounds. This creates a health hazard for the community and deteriorates the existing facilities.
Project Name: Thrive For Life Prison Project’s Bronx First Chance for Reentry Success Program
Project Amount: $1,000,000
Intended Recipient: Thrive for Life Prison Project, Inc.
Address: 30 W 16th Street, New York, NY 10011
Purpose: The funding would be used to launch an innovative project aimed at empowering justice- impacted individuals and the local community through expansion of their 1) Onsite Education Program and the establishment of a 2) Job Workforce Training and Employment Program by establishing a new Soup Kitchen Cafe on the premises of Abraham House in the South Bronx. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds it is designed to address the urgent need to combat the skills gap and high unemployment rates among the formerly incarcerated, particularly in NY15. By providing expanded onsite education and immediate job placements at the Soup Kitchen Cafe, Thrive For Life provides a practical solution to the education, training and employment barriers these individuals face upon reentry into society.
Project Name: Hudson Oyster Reef
Project Amount: $833,000
Intended Recipient: Billion Oyster Project
Address: 10 South Street, New York, NY 10004
Purpose: The funding would be used to construct an expansive 16 acres of oyster reef, which would enable the last natural population of New York City oysters to breed and spread south along the Hudson River bottom naturally. This would drastically expand and complement Billion Oyster Project’s work in the region, which began in 2015 through a partnership funded by the New York State Thruway Authority. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because if built, the Hudson Oyster Reef would create the largest artificial reef in NY Harbor, boosting marine wildlife habitat and providing enormous water quality improvements to sensitive and critical shorelines in the Bronx and Yonkers. In addition, the reef will also provide on-shore STEM learning opportunities for thousands of Bronx-based students.
Project Name: Nature Your City: NYBG Climate Research and Public Education
Project Amount: $750,000
Intended Recipient: New York Botanical Garden
Address: 2900 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY 10458
Purpose: The funding would be used for the implementation of an urban ecology program that will work with environmental leaders in the community and local government to create solutions to improve the environment of the New York City metropolitan area. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it seeks to help address the social and environmental challenges related to biodiversity loss, climate change, and environmental justice. It aims to demonstrate how cities can become more resilient and livable by centering nature, leveraging scientific, public, and place-based platforms.