Annual Report 2011

Page 3

As an umbrella organization involving all sectors of the design, construction, and real estate industry, the New York Building Congress focuses its advocacy on issues that concern the entire industry and help ensure the City's long-term economic vitality.

The Building Congress has placed particular emphasis on public capital programs and budgets, which account for 62 percent of all construction spending in the five boroughs. In addition to public testimony, white papers, OpEds, and electronic updates to members and policymakers, the Building Congress conducted a series of forums, committee meetings, and special sessions with a wide range of elected and agency officials. Highlights include meetings with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and the heads of the School Construction Authority, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), and Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, to name just a few.

To follow are a few key issues on the Building Congress advocacy agenda.

State and City Budgets

Working with other associations, the New York Building Congress played a lead role over the past two budget cycles as the industry urged the New York State Legislature to enact budgets that would preserve vital infrastructure funds and identify desperately needed additional funding sources. The Building Congress went so far as to advocate a ban on political contributions until the State Legislature adopted a 2010 budget. With the passage of an on-time budget in 2011, the Building Congress is focusing its attention on capital funding for individual state authorities and agencies.

The Building Congress continues to enjoy a collaborative and productive working relationship with the administration of Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the New York City Council. Armed with research on the true costs and benefits of infrastructure investment, the Building Congress helped make the case for continued capital spending in the face of growing deficits. Currently, the Building Congress is working to limit the massive cuts projected for the out years in the City's 10-year capital plan.

Transportation Investment

Securing funding to maintain and expand New York's transportation network has long been a core issue of the Building Congress and its members. With the MTA facing a funding gap of more than $10 billion, the recent decision by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to cancel the ARC tunnel project and Congress's inability to reauthorize federal transportation funding legislation, the mission has taken on even greater urgency. The Building Congress, which helped create and deliver a transportation white paper to Governor Andrew Cuomo in January, continues to advocate new, dedicated sources of transportation funding while also pushing the industry to work with the MTA and other agencies to consider alternative project delivery methods and build more efficiently.

Stalled Projects

Hundreds of construction projects throughout the five boroughs are currently stalled as a direct result of the economic downturn. The Building Congress, believing that a resuscitation of these projects would help stimulate the economy and create new jobs, has offered a number of suggestions for jump-starting activity at these sites.

Public Private Partnerships

With government authorities and agencies starved for revenue to fund critical projects, all potential new sources of revenue must be examined. One area with untapped potential is the use of public private partnerships. The Building Congress has created a task force to examine the issue and make recommendations for strategic use of P3's on a regional basis.