Annual Report 2012
Advocacy
While the overall New York City construction market has proven to be resilient in the aftermath of the Great Recession, most signs currently point to significant declines in building activity starting in 2013. The most recent New York Building Congress multi-year New York City Construction Outlook report forecasts a drop in construction industry employment to nearly 90,000-down from 138,000 jobs just three years ago. Public infrastructure programs, in particular, are projected to decline in New York due to financing constraints faced by such major construction users as the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), and the City of New York.
The Building Congress 2012 advocacy agenda, therefore, is focused heavily on the need to keep New York building for its future, with a primary emphasis on the capital programs and budgets of all government entities operating within the five boroughs.
Infrastructure Investment
An aggressive campaign has been developed with the membership and partner organizations to emphasize the importance of long-term capital investment and the need to implement new sources of financing dedicated to infrastructure programs. In addition to public testimony, white papers, forums, Op Eds, and electronic updates to members and policy makers, the Building Congress, through its Board of Directors, Foundation Board of Governors, and committees and councils, is pressing the need for continued investment in regular meetings with a wide range of top elected and agency officials. The Building Congress also plans to discuss the City's current and future infrastructure challenges with the major Mayoral candidates.
State and City Budget Process
Working with other industry associations, the New York Building Congress played a lead role over the past two budget cycles in pressing the New York State Legislature to enact on-time budgets that preserve Statewide infrastructure programs. The Building Congress also continues to enjoy a collaborative and productive working relationship with the Bloomberg administration and the City Council. Armed with research on the true costs and benefits of infrastructure investment, the Building Congress has helped make the case for continued capital spending, even in the face of growing deficits. More work lies ahead, however, given the prospect of deep cuts to the City's capital budget starting in Fiscal Year 2013.
Transportati on Investment
The Building Congress, along with other organizations and transit coalitions, testified in support of the Port Authority's recent decision to increase user fees as a means of raising the revenues necessary to preserve its capital budget. Similarly, the Building Congress aggressively supported a State financing plan that would allow the MTA to fully fund its ongoing five-year capital program. In addition, the Building Congress worked with New York's Congressional delegation to fend off efforts by the House of Representatives to eliminate transit investments from the proceeds of the national gas tax. This battle will likely extend into 2013.
The Building Congress continues to advocate new, dedicated sources of transportation funding while also encouraging industry efforts to work with the MTA and other agencies to stretch their capital budgets by building more efficiently.
Public Private Partnerships
With government authorities and agencies starved for the revenue necessary to fund critical projects, all potential new sources of revenue must be examined. One area with great potential is the use of public private partnerships (P3s). The Building Congress is actively endorsing the use of P3's by the Port Authority and the State of New York. In addition, the Building Congress is supporting Governor Cuomo's drive to leverage private sector expertise to fast-track the financing, design, and construction of a new Tappan Zee Bridge.
Economic Devel opment
The Building Congress is continuing its support for strategic economic development initiatives that will create meaningful jobs in the short-term while also creating new neighborhoods and expanding the region's tax base. Such initiatives include Willets Point, Coney Island, Hunters Point South, the Stapleton Waterfront, and Long Island City.
Support for Higher Education
Recognizing the vital role that higher education plays in New York City, the Building Congress is actively supporting a range of university expansion initiatives, including at NYU, Columbia, Fordham, and CUNY, as well as the Bloomberg administration's selection of Cornell University to create a visionary new applied sciences campus on Roosevelt Island.
