PRESS RELEASE - 8/28/07
Troy - Jim Conroy, Democratic candidate for Mayor in the City of Troy today called for Harry Tutunjian to explain why his administration did not file a grant request under the NYS Restore NY Community Initiatives program.
"Harry Tutunjian needs to fully explain to the voters of Troy why his administration failed to file applications for funding under this state economic development program. I can think of several projects which would be helped by receiving up to $5,000,000 each"; Conroy said.
"Among these programs are: the parking garage for the Hedley District, the demolition of abandoned buildings at the former Perry Warehouse and King Fuel sites, the development of the Car Wash site for the Lower Congress Street project, the stabilization of Proctor's Theater, the clearing and development of the Jack's Junkyard site, demolition for the Rivers and Estuaries site, development of the working waterfront project and many many more"; Conroy said.
Conroy said; "Not meeting the filing date of August 20 for this funding opportunity is a great example of the lack of focus and poor leadership of Harry Tutunjian and his administration. Missing this deadline is inexcusable and he must be held accountable."
"If I were Mayor I would have had that day marked in red on my calendar and nothing would have prevented me from making the submission. Funding opportunities like this only come around once a year. If you miss it - you're dead for a year"; Conroy said.
According to the project description and goals, the Restore NY Community Initiatives program provides grants of up to $5 million for "projects to demolish, deconstruct, rehabilitate, and/or reconstruct vacant, abandoned, condemned and surplus properties. Additionally, funds can be used for site development needs related to the project including, but not limited to water, sewer and parking."
In order to qualify for a grant this year each community needed to submit a Letter of Intent outlining its project(s) by August 20, 2007.
This omission is on top of the loss of $1 million in housing funds to the City of Schenectady earlier this year.
