20 THE QUEENS COURIER • JUNE 13, 2019 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
Astoria Councilman continues Renewable Rikers rollout
BY MAX PARROTT
mparrott@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Following a panel discussion and petition
that he helmed last week, Councilman
Costa Constantinides unveiled a suite of
three bills Monday that would kickstart
the process of transforming Rikers Island
into a renewable energy hub.
Constantinides, the Chair of the
Committee on Environmental Protection,
has responded to Mayor Bill de Blasio’s
10-year plan to close Rikers by pushing
to use the 413-acre tract as site for solar
power and a wastewater treatment plant
as a form of environmental justice. And
he doesn’t want to waste any time putting
his plan into action.
“We need to begin the conversation
about what it can be now. We need to be
planning now. As we’re getting facilities
closed on Rikers Island, we need to start
to implement what we’re talking about.
We can begin that renewable future now,”
said Constantinides at the Renewable
Rikers panel discussion last Th ursday.
Th e centerpiece Renewable Rikers
Act is a bill that would transfer control
of the island from the New York
City Department of Correction to the
Department of Environmental Protection,
setting Constantinides designs in motion
before the prison population has been
exported from the island.
A second piece of legislation would
study the renewable energy capacity on
the island, and a third bill will assess
how much wastewater can be diverted to
the island, with the goal of closing several
aging treatment facilities in northern
Queens, the South Bronx and Upper
Manhattan.
Th e environment studies aim at helping
New York City reach its 1,000 megawatt
solar capacity pledge by 2030–enough
energy to power 250,000 homes. It would
also help the city follow the parameters
of the Climate Mobilization Act, a carbon
reduction package the city passed
in April.
“Th ese bills are a downpayment for
a brighter future for this island — one
that actually serves New York communities
instead of tearing them apart,” said
Constantinides.
Rozic’s transit plan bill approved in Albany
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
A bill requiring the New York State
Department of Transportation (DOT)
to create a 20-year State Transportation
Plan with updates every fi ve years in line
with current MTA Capital Plans passed
the state Legislature on Tuesday with
overwhelming bipartisan support.
“Both the public and the Legislature
have a vested interest in decisions regarding
improvements to our state’s transportation
infrastructure,” said Assembly
Speaker Carl Heastie. “Th is legislation
will ensure that the state’s tax dollars are
being used thoughtfully and responsibly
by bringing transparency and accountability
to the process.”
Th e legislation (A4880/S1673) — introduced
to the Assembly in February —
makes certain that the plan is maintained
on a public website to ensure transparency,
according to state Assemblywoman
Nily Rozic, who authored the legislation.
“New York taxpayers deserve an
accountable capital planning process
of their state transportation and infrastructure
dollars,” said Rozic. “Without
details, our ability to participate in decisions
about spending on state roads,
bridges as well as bus and rail infrastructure
is signifi cantly curtailed. Th is legislation
would ensure the transparency
that the public deserves.”
Unlike the MTA, the State DOT is not
statutorily required to submit a capital
plan. Although a Memorandum of
Understanding was approved in 2009,
there is not currently a publicly reviewable
fi ve-year or 20-year capital plan for
DOT. Historically, the DOT and MTA
fi ve-year capital plans have been negotiated
and approved simultaneously;
recently, that process has diff ered.
State Senator James Skoufi s introduced
the bill with Rozic to hold the DOT
accountable to a 20-year plan and ensure
that the public has transparent access to
the plan’s progression.
“Th is bill is essential has been for far
too long. New Yorkers deserve reliable
transportation infrastructure and I’m
confi dent that this bill will help ensure
taxpayers are getting their fair share of
services,” said Skoufi s.
Jaqi Cohen, campaign coordinator of
NYPIRG Straphangers Campaign said,
“Th is process allows for public input,
and ultimately results in a plan that the
public can use to hold the MTA accountable.
Th ere is no reason why New York
State’s Department of Transportation,
which oversees transportation projects
all over New York state, shouldn’t do
the same.”
Nick Sifuentes, executive director of
the Tri-State Transportation Campaign,
said the passage of the bill sends a clear
message that the state is serious about a
real, long-term plan to improve transportation
infrastructure.
“We are glad to see the Legislature
move our state’s transportation planning
in a more transparent direction. It’s
long past time that the state’s transportation
plan included a capital plan that
shows the allocation of public funds and
a transparency component so that New
Yorkers can actively participate in the
planning process,” said Sifuentes.
File photo
Photo provided by the offi ce of Councilman Costa Constantinides
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