4 THE QUEENS COURIER • SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
Wind farm project off Rockaway coast progresses
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
As the West Coast is overwhelmed with
wildfi res of epic proportions and the Gulf
Coast is hit hard by hurricanes, New York
state is moving forward with innovative
climate change measures and natural
energy resources.
Aft er state Senator Joseph Addabbo
virtually met with the state’s Energy
Research and Development Authority
(NYSERDA), he was pleased to receive a
positive update on the wind farm project
off the Rockaway shores.
NYSERDA also informed Addabbo that
New York’s second off shore solicitation is
seeking up to 2,500 megawatts, including
a complementary multi-port infrastructure
investment, totaling more than
$400 million in public and private dollars
for port infrastructure in New York
since last year.
Included in this new procurement
with the Empire Wind Project is the
Sunrise Wind Project and several landbased
renewable energy projects issued
by NYSERDA and New York Power
Authority (NYPA).
Th e project will also study the impact
off shore wind turbines have on marine
wildlife and its eff ects on ocean users, such
as commercial and recreational fi shing.
Th e project will provide fi nancial and technical
support to regional monitoring of
wildlife and key commercial fi shing stocks.
As New York continues to battle the
COVID-19 pandemic, these solicitations,
combined with a competitive multi-port
funding opportunity, are expected to create
about $7 billion in direct investments
and to create nearly 4,500 jobs, both short
and long term. Th is will add a major boost
to the economy, which has been heavily
impacted by the coronavirus shutdown.
“Th is project will also be an economic
generator for the state. Th ousands of workers
will be hired to plan and construct all
aspects of the project, and many more will
be needed to run and maintain the facilities
and wind turbines once they are operational,”
Addabbo said. “I look forward to
working with NYSERDA and other entities
towards having local residents obtain
access to these job opportunities.”
Addabbo added that the creators of this
plan will also work with environmental
groups to study and monitor the project’s
eff ects on wildlife and fi shing.
Cruz introduces bill establishing absentee ballot tracker
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
As more New Yorkers are expected
to vote by absentee ballot due to the
COVID-19 pandemic, Assemblywoman
Catalina Cruz introduced legislation that
establishes a secure portal that allows voters
to track the status of their ballots.
Th e establishment of web and mobilebased
applications increases transparency
and allows individuals to see whether
the Board of Elections approved or rejected
their ballot.
“Th e fact that we continue to experience
voter disenfranchisement in this day
and age is outrageous. While the challenges
of conducting an election during a public
health crisis are understandable, the
presence of widespread irregularities and
incidents of voter suppression on Primary
Day and in the counting of absentee ballots
are extremely troubling,” Cruz said.
“Further, nearly 30,000 New York City
voters who requested absentee ballots by
the request deadline did not receive them
by Election Day. Voters must be assured
that their vote counts and this bill is one
step closer to ensuring this happens. I am
proud to sponsor such an important bill
that gives rights back to the voters.”
Th ere is growing apprehension around
the potential for compromised elections,
as cyber threats and delays in postal service
loom ahead of the November general
election. In New York City alone, more
than 84,000 absentee ballots were deemed
invalid due to technical fl aws in the 2020
primaries.
“Every eligible voter should be able to
cast their ballot freely, effi ciently, safely,
and most importantly, confi dently.
Confi dent that as they perform their civic
duty, their voice will be heard and not disenfranchised,”
said Bronx state Senator
Luis Sepúlveda, who carried the measure
in the upper chamber. “Unfortunately,
this was not the case for tens of thousands
on New York voters whose absentee
ballots were not adequately counted
for in the June 2020 primaries. As
mail-in voting becomes more prevalent
in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we
must protect and secure New Yorkers’
right to exercise their vote and give them
peace of mind that their ballot has been
received, approved and counted, or rejected.
Implementing an Absentee Ballot
Tracker will play a massive role in the
upcoming elections.”
While the city’s Board of Election
launched a similar web-based portal
earlier this month, the Cruz/Sepúlveda
bill would aff ect ballots throughout the
state. Th e legislation further aims to have
an economic impact, as the application
would need to hire staff to develop, update
and monitor the portal.
“As a record number of voters plan to
vote by absentee ballot in November, lawmakers
should do whatever possible to
give these voters a peace of mind that
their applications and ballots have been
received and will be counted,” League
of Women Voters of New York State
Executive Director Laura Ladd Bierman
said. “Allowing voters a secure way to
view the status of their applications and
ballots is a common-sense reform that
voters will understand and welcome. We
applaud Senator Sepúlveda and Assembly
Member Catalina Cruz for introducing
this legislation and hope to see it passed
and signed into law in time for the 2020
election.”
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