FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 13, 2000

NEW YORK CITY WINS BIG IN FY2001 FEDERAL BUDGET

New York City Congressional Delegation Announces Almost $200 Million For Projects in All Five Boroughs and Westchester

New York City Cultural Institutions, Harbors, Roads, Mass Transit, Airports, Parks, Schools, Hospitals Among Big Winners

Standing in front of Avery Fisher Hall with Gordon Davis, Chairman of Jazz at Lincoln Center, and Wynton Marsalis, Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center, US Senator Charles E. Schumer and US Representatives Charles Rangel, Nita Lowey, Jerrold Nadler, Eliot Engel, and Edolphus Towns today announced that the federal FY2001 budget, to date, contains $200 million for over 60 projects across New York City and Westchester - including the world's first performing arts center designed specifically for jazz. The $200 million total is expected to increase after the finalization of the Labor, Health and Human Services appropriations bill, which will complete the FY2001 budget.

The budget includes millions for New York City and Westchester cultural institutions, harbors, roads, mass transit, airports, parks, schools, hospitals and economic development projects in all five boroughs and Westchester.

Jazz at Lincoln Center is building the world's first performing arts facility - the Frederick P. Rose Hall - designed specifically for jazz education, performance and broadcasting. It will receive nearly $650,000 towards its construction in the FY2001 federal budget. The 100,000 square foot facility, located near the main Lincoln Center campus at Columbus Circle, will be the centerpiece of a new 2.7 million square foot complex. Rose Hall will enable New Yorkers to experience jazz in an entirely new way while cementing New York City's reputation as the world capital of jazz.

"The New York City delegation delivered. This year's budget is a big victory for everyone who lives and works in New York City," said Schumer. "It will provide badly needed funding for a host of important causes ranging from Jazz at Lincoln Center to improving the air traffic control facility at LaGuardia Airport, and help the city's economy continue to grow. No matter what happens in the Presidential election, if we stick together as a delegation and focus on getting results, New York will always be a winner."

"I am truly excited to join my colleagues here today to share this wonderful news with our constituents," said Rangel. "Through the tireless work of New York's Congressional Delegation, New York City and Westchester will have funding for a myriad of projects that will enhance the quality of life for all New Yorkers. These appropriations will make a difference in the lives of many."

"I am proud to have helped guide millions of federal dollars to New York this year to invest in transportation, education, health care, water quality, and other vital needs," said Lowey, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. "Thanks to New York's partnership with the federal government, we are developing new research, strengthening our infrastructure, and improving our children's education."

"This delegation struggled hard in Congress to get these benefits for its constituents," said Engel. "New Yorkers still pay more to Washington in taxes than they get back, but we are continually working to redress that imbalance."

"We are gratified by our success in working together as a team for some of these wonderful projects that you're hearing about this morning. In the next Congress, we need to make an even greater effort towards getting our fair share for New York," said Towns.

"In a Congress that is not particularly friendly to the needs of New York City, I think it's indicative of our hard efforts that we were able to secure these appropriations for the City," said Nadler.

"The strength and effectiveness of the New York Delegation allows us to bring home the federal resources that contribute to maintaining New York City as the greatest city in the world," said Rep. Gregory Meeks.

Projects in The Bronx

The Bronx will receive over $4.5 million for the New York Botanical Garden, Bronx Museum of the Arts, and other projects.

Funding includes:

• $3,500,000 for the New York Botanical Garden to construct a new laboratory to promote its research into Central and South American botany. (Commerce-Justice-State)
• $100,000 for the Bronx Museum of the Arts for infrastructure improvements, construction and renovations. (VA-HUD)
• $1,000,000 for the Carl Sagan Discovery Science Center at the Children's Hospital of Montefiore Medical Center. The center will provide Internet access and educational programs and games to children during their stay. (VA-HUD)

Projects in Brooklyn

The budget contains over $8 million for projects in Brooklyn, including funding for the Hebrew Academy for Special Children and the Prospect Park Audubon Center.

"By working together, the New York Congressional delegation has delivered in record amounts for our constituents this year," said Rep. Anthony D. Weiner. "I'm proud to have fought for and won funding for Prospect Park, for beach replenishment and ferry service in the Rockaways and for the Hebrew Academy for Special Children ."

"I was also pleased to work on behalf of getting money for Prospect Park," said Rep. Nydia Velazquez.

Funding includes:

• $430,000 for the Hebrew Academy for Special Children to move forward with the construction of a national service center for low income and developmentally-disabled children. (VA-HUD)
• $250,000 for Long Island University to conduct a feasibility study for a new Brooklyn Health and Recreation Center at its campus in Brooklyn. "With the creation of the Brooklyn Health, Wellness and Recreation Center, we are addressing issues important to the entire Brooklyn community, including community recreation, health education, prevention and care," said Towns. "The Center will also contribute to the community's revitalization through employment by creating an anticipated 600 new, permanent jobs for Brooklyn residents."(VA-HUD)
• $205,000 for the Children's Center for the construction of a facility in Brooklyn to house educational and therapeutic programs for disabled preschool children. (VA-HUD)
• $465,000 for interior exhibits and furnishing for Prospect Park Audubon Center at the Boathouse. (VA-HUD
• $1,410,000 for the Army Corps of Engineers to continue a dredging project at Jamaica Bay. (Energy and Water)
• $346,000 for the Army Corps of Engineers to study ways to protect the shoreline at Marine Park and Plumb Beach.
  
• $1,000,000 for the Army Corps of Engineers to continue construction projects between Rockaway Inlet and Jamaica Bay. (Energy and Water)
• $500,000 for the Army Corps of Engineers to continue construction projects between Rockaway Inlet and Norton Point. (Energy and Water)
  

Projects in Manhattan

Included in this year's federal budget is almost $40 million for projects in Manhattan ranging from funding to help construct the jazz center to research about the Second Avenue subway to the expansion of Columbia University's Biomedical Science and Technology Park.

"I am extremely pleased that I was able to help secure appropriations for
many of the important arts projects, transportation projects, affordable-housing projects, and community projects for the West Side and Downtown Manhattan in the latest budget," said Nadler.


Funding includes:

1. $645,000 for Jazz at Lincoln Center to construct a state-of-the-art jazz center in Columbus Circle designed specifically for jazz education, performance and broadcasting. (VA-HUD)
2. $8,000,000 to move forward with East Side Access Project, an initiative to construct an underground tunnel to connect Grand Central and Pennsylvania Stations. The tunnel will provide LIRR riders with a direct route to Manhattan's East Side. (Transportation)
   
3. $645,000 for Carnegie Hall to help complete the Third Stage project, an effort to construct a new venue to accommodate the hall's increased programming. (VA-HUD)
4. $250,000 for the New York City Parks Department for the construction of a new recreation center in Chelsea.
   
5. $1,000,000 for Columbia University to construct the third out of five buildings that will compose its new Biomedical Science and Technology Park. (VA-HUD)
6. $16,300,000 to move forward with the design and construction of a new ferry terminal on West 38^th Street to provide service to and from New Jersey. The money will be used for both the terminal and a highway add-on. (Transportation)
   
7. $1,500,000 for the development of an interactive education center at the Intrepid Sea Air and Space Museum. (VA-HUD)
8. $4,000,000 for the Museum of Natural History's Center for Science, Literacy, Education and Technology. (VA-HUD)
   
9. $950,000 for computational neural science research at New York University's Center for Cognition, Learning, Emotion & Memory. (Defense)
10. $1,000,000 for Columbia University to establish an educational partnership with Hostos Community College. (Commerce-Justice-State)
    
11. $2,000,000 for the development of the National Center for Musculoskeletal Research at the Hospital for Special Surgery. (Energy and Water)
12. $3,000,000 to move forward with a study by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to measure the feasibility of a Second Avenue subway. "The Second Avenue Subway will reduce overcrowding on the Lexington Avenue line and help sustain our growing economy," said Rep. Carolyn Maloney. (Supplemental)
    
13. $309,000 for the New York Public Library to complete its two-year renovation of its Library of the Public Arts, located within Lincoln Center. (VA-HUD)

Projects in Queens

Queens will receive almost $3 million for a series of projects including the cleanup of the College Park Sports Complex to improvements to Jamaica Station.

"This year we have scored a home run for New York in securing important
federal funding for New York City. From money to clean up Flushing Bay in my District in Queens to federal funding to dredge the New York City harbor, Team New York has delivered for the hardworking people of New York City," said Rep. Joseph Crowley.

Funding includes:

1. $930,000 for the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation to move forward with a series of projects at Jamaica Station to prepare for the arrival of the AirTrain connector from JFK Airport. (Transportation)
2. $1,000,000 for the Van Wyck Expressway Corridor to determine how to ease congestion and improve JFK-to-Jamaica travel on the Van Wyck Expressway. (Transportation)
   
3. $949,000 for the Army Corps of Engineers for a feasibility study and dredging at Flushing Bay and Creek (Energy and Water)
4. $100,000 for the New York City Parks Department for the cleanup of the College Point Sports Complex. (VA-HUD)
   
5. $2,250,000 for the Army Corps of Engineers to continue the East Rockaway Inlet Project to replenish parts of Rockaway Beach using sand dredged from the channel between the inlet and the Atlantic Ocean. (Energy and Water)

Also included in the federal budget is $15,000,000 in increased funding secured by Maloney for the Agriculture Department and the U.S. Forestry Service to combat invasive species like the Asian Longhorned Beetle, which has devastated city trees and parks, particularly in Queens.

Projects on Staten Island

Staten Island is set to receive over $7 million in appropriations for a series of projects, including the Whitehall Ferry Terminal.

Funding includes:

1. $2,500,000 for improvements to the Whitehall and St. George Ferry terminals. (Transportation)
2. $400,000 for the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a feasibility study to reduce storm damage and control flooding on the South Shore of Staten Island. (Energy and Water)
   
3. $4,347,000 for the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct dredging and investigation at the Arthur Kill Channel to the Howland Hook Marine Terminal. (Energy and Water)

Projects in Westchester

Westchester will receive over $3 million is appropriations, many of which will help improve the area's transportation infrastructure.

Funding includes:

1. $1,000,000 to replace old buses in the Westchester County Bee-Line Bus System. (Transportation)
2. $1,000,000 for an Intermodal Transportation Center in New Rochelle. (Transportation)
   
3. $250,000 for streetscape improvements in Mamaroneck. (VA-HUD)
4. $1,000,000 for elevator improvements at the Larchmont Intermodal Center. (Transportation)
   
5. $200,000 for van service improvements in Westchester and Dutchess Counties.
6. $100,000 for streetscape improvements in Tucahoe. (VA-HUD)
   
7. $50,000 for renovations to Memorial Park in Pelham. (VA-HUD)

Citywide/Miscellaneous Projects

In addition to the projects in the five boroughs, the appropriations bills also contain over $125 million in funding for several other projects, including:

1. $8,000,000 for monitoring and surveillance programs to protect the New York City Watershed from pollution. Preserving the city's watersheds will prevent the city from having to construct a multi-billion water filtration plant. Also included in the budget is $3,000,000 for flood control at the watersheds. (VA-HUD, Energy and Water)
2. $24,330,000 for the Port Authority for air traffic control facility improvements at LaGuardia Airport. (Transportation)
   
3. $2,000,000 for PTFE Technologies Group for research into protective uniforms for US military personnel. (Defense)
4. $259,000 for the Army Corps of Engineers for a feasibility study involving navigation at the New York Harbor anchorage areas. (Energy and Water)
   
5. $1,000,000 for the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a monitoring program of the Atlantic Coast of New York (Energy and Water)
6. $6,720,000 for the Army Corps of Engineers to continue with dredging projects and New York and New Jersey channels. (Energy and Water)
   
7. $18,089,000 for the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct drift and obstructive object removal and dredging at New York Harbor. (Energy and Water)
8. $53,000,000 for the Army Corps of Engineers to continue with the dredging of the Kill Van Kull Channel. (Energy and Water)
   
9. $10,000,000 for the Army Corps of Engineers to continue with the dredging of New York Harbor and adjacent channels. (Energy and Water)
10. $1,650,000 for New York-New Jersey Harbor for a sediment decontamination technology demonstration. (Energy and Water)

The delegation members said they expect millions in additional funding for New York City and Westchester when Congress passes the remainder of the appropriations bills, including the Labor- HHS-Education Bill. While the Commerce-Justice-State Appropriations Bill is expected to be vetoed by President Clinton, the delegation members said that they expect funding levels for New York City's projects to remain the same in the final version of the bill.

The delegates were joined at the Lincoln Center event by Jazz at Lincoln Center Chairman Gordon J. Davis, Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis, and Executive Producer and Director Rob Gibson.



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