[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6562585,"mediaKeyId","3272003-b8d109a352f1e89c7755a5546427b232","parentId",3272003,"title","Albany speaker urges $200M revitalization funds be used for vacant‑building rehab, homeownership and services for unhoused","audioSeconds",587,"startMs",345380,"endMs",933000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3272003-b8d109a352f1e89c7755a5546427b232&start=345&end=933","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3272003-b8d109a352f1e89c7755a5546427b232/thumbnail_345380.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6562585/New-York/Albany-speaker-urges-200M-revitalization-funds-be-used-for-vacantbuilding-rehab-homeownership-and-services-for-unhoused","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6562585-2cbb0a141097b6cd414f7063cde86d32/orig.mp4?Expires=1775327054&Signature=gtuF3oAbPBWtOKYzEv6EDGh6MNuJjMCzysBFrBVz2CmizfIgZAPd03Jlz60P1P5GHahD63XIqFJQW5uBE0uso8f11NrcBbAvOtGyQZz0FwkzH~pn~FjgrM9XroAG4bv8q98A9stAAqvSXC5qU9QwAWSLcfM2suyJR7KzqF~FIXEgvfaSitLVDN5TWBS3hEjwHQYTZ6BsYekpSKBnvGoWV-W4o4lZx9A2msqH4-LPGHsV2Z6-fXvDQB5xRWW6kFtshXAm0IRtgsXwtf~-p5FBDc~HWSQ53Mj33f8SRkXGJrPZC~Reg-T7AmHJG5ROUP-08A0vyrSy4cCAVxPTERF5pQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New York - Cities 2","date","2025-05-12T17:16:34Z","article","Jesse Summer, introduced to the committee as a local business owner and army veteran, told the Senate Cities 2 Committee he supports directing downtown revitalization funds toward rehabilitating vacant buildings, increasing homeownership opportunities, and creating decentralized, dignified housing and services for people experiencing homelessness.

Summer framed his remarks around a column he published that proposed six “pillars” for Albany’s rejuvenation. He urged state decision‑makers to prioritize returning 873 vacant buildings to productive use and to use an interagency coordinator to streamline zoning enforcement, tax liens and transfers of titles to the Albany County Land Bank. He argued those steps would enable rehabilitation and paths to deeded homeownership for low‑income tenants in historically Black neighborhoods.

Summer criticized one high‑profile proposed use of funds — a new stadium — and said larger contractors tend to capture large infusions while small, local contractors could produce different outcomes. “Jeff Buell doesn’t need another dime of New York taxpayer dollars, and especially not for the installation of a Liberty Square stadium,” Summer said. He urged an approach that prioritizes returning buildings to the tax rolls and creating homeowner pathways rather than new, large projects that he said would benefit “a mega landlord.”

Summer also linked school facility investment to public safety, saying “New York’s public schools … stand in the breach against lethal disorder on the streets,” and he told the committee he supports investment in school facilities and after‑school programs as part of a broader public‑safety and youth‑development strategy. He referenced the Rochester School Facilities Modernization Program Act in his remarks and expressed concern the governor’s proposed $400,000,000 for downtown revitalization appeared effectively reduced in practice.

On homelessness policy, Summer proposed decentralized daytime clinical service sites and overnight sleeping pods that would provide shelter, laundry and storage and convert to office space during daytime hours for service delivery. He criticized the strategy of sending clinicians to intervene on the street as “a failed one” and said people experiencing homelessness had asked for alternative arrangements.

Committee members asked follow‑up questions. Sen. Feige said a study was planned for the $200,000,000 portion Summer discussed and emphasized that the Empire State Development (ESD) would play a central role; Sen. Leo Webb and others expressed interest in continuing the conversation and in the complexity of land‑bank and tax incentive remedies. Summer said he worked backward from visible neighborhood problems — vacant buildings, panhandling, parking — in designing his six pillars.

Summer closed by asking the committee to consider prioritizing homeownership pathways and smaller‑scale rehabilitation projects and by dedicating a brief tribute in memoriam to his late mother, Dr. Holly Cheever.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Standing Committee on Cities 2 - 05/12/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Guest speaker Jesse Summer told the Senate Cities 2 Committee that statewide downtown revitalization funds should prioritize rehabilitation of vacant buildings, pathways to homeownership and dispersed services for people experiencing homelessness rather than large stadium or single-project investments.","taxTitle","Cities 2, Standing Committee, Senate, Legislative, New York","taxId",25186,"location","New York","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6562590,"Senate Cities 2 committee advances three local finance bills; Rochester school facilities measure referred to education committee",107,191265,299000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3272003-b8d109a352f1e89c7755a5546427b232&start=191&end=299","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3272003-b8d109a352f1e89c7755a5546427b232/thumbnail_191265.jpg","/articles/6562590/New-York/Senate-Cities-2-committee-advances-three-local-finance-bills-Rochester-school-facilities-measure-referred-to-education-committee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6562590-08d417d54350300aa49b682277c7d7f2/orig.mp4?Expires=1775327054&Signature=EzjFmNmDzsLtXv8c5~FVNqeAd7TwzHkfKzuZk3AeSoGBW-D88~FANvx9CFjOk3g1SzLDOyuh0tBMoUG6ih2Yc-X23wjeqpvyvrODSbUwoa7vTdQ~~PxBlFqEckvGMTlvsKBvht1I0iIXPYEB3~3JiGTzoyXSYEFfyWnsqNox7vKUPQvjq7C1NCba3uCrOPb7vWSqYGZlh5r~Zgr3op~d3eG-dmYLBphWNxNWIUI8HcS994uPNpXZiGI-R2tL4puraIRQKbzynnNmgOtw2q69Z-LiHNwZP~oQDbI-MuYLapu-busWdC0I2aV0t0VgJB~R-8bSXZN3YFqV3bFmXgE3SQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sen. Christopher Ryan, chair of the Senate Cities 2 Committee, presided as the panel advanced three local finance measures to first reading and referred a separate Rochester school facilities modernization bill to the Senate Education Committee during a meeting of the Cities 2 committee.

The votes move forward bills that extend local finance provisions for municipal bond and note issues in Yonkers and Buffalo and establish a residency exemption for plumbing inspectors in Rochester. A larger measure to amend the Rochester School Facilities Modernization Program Act prompted extended discussion about statewide school funding and was referred for further review by the education committee.

The committee opened floor action with Senate Bill 433, described to amend New York’s Local Finance Law relating to bonds and notes for the City of Yonkers by extending specified provisions for one year. A motion to approve the bill was made and seconded and the committee reported the bill to first reading on the calendar by voice vote; individual roll-call tallies were not recorded in the transcript.

The second bill, Senate Bill 5403, was presented as an amendment to the Local Finance Law to facilitate marketing of serial bonds or notes for the City of Buffalo and likewise was moved, seconded and reported to first reading by voice vote.

Senate Bill 5758, described as an amendment to the General City Law concerning a residency exemption for plumbing inspectors in the City of Rochester, was also moved, seconded and reported to first reading without extended debate.

The committee’s final bill on the calendar, Senate Bill 7157, would amend chapter 416 of the laws of 2007 to grant further authority to the Rochester Joint Schools Capital Construction Board (RJSCB) to modernize educational facilities in the City of Rochester; committee members engaged in extended discussion about the size and distribution of funding. Senator Cooney noted the measure involves “quite a bit of money here. $600,000,000 in total,” and other members raised concerns about fairness across school districts and home‑rule implications. After discussion, the committee voted to report SB 7157 to the Senate Education Committee for further consideration rather than advancing it out of committee on final action.

Votes at a glance

- SB 433 (Local Finance Law; City of Yonkers) — Motion made and seconded; reported to first reading by voice vote; individual roll-call unavailable in transcript.
- SB 5403 (Local Finance Law; City of Buffalo) — Motion made and seconded; reported to first reading by voice vote; individual roll-call unavailable in transcript.
- SB 5758 (General City Law; Rochester residency exemption for plumbing inspectors) — Motion made and seconded; reported to first reading by voice vote; individual roll-call unavailable in transcript.
- SB 7157 (Amend chapter 416 of the laws of 2007; Rochester School Facilities Modernization Program Act) — Motion made and seconded; after discussion about funding priorities the committee reported the bill to the Education Committee for further review.

Chair Ryan closed the committee’s business and directed members to confirm their voting sheets with the clerk. The transcript does not record detailed roll-call counts for the bills reported by voice vote.

","The Senate Cities 2 Committee voted to report three local finance bills to first reading and referred a Rochester school facilities modernization bill to the education committee after debate about funding and priorities.","actionData","errors"]

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Albany speaker urges $200M revitalization funds be used for vacant‑building rehab, homeownership and services for unhoused

Senate Cities 2 committee advances three local finance bills; Rochester school facilities measure referred to education committee