November 2022

TARRYTOWN—New York State voters marked their ballots on Election Day overwhelmingly in favor of the $4.2 billion in bond financing to fund sorely-needed clean water, clean air and green construction projects.
The measure passed by a more than two-to-one margin, with 59.28% of cast ballots (3,416,894) in favor of Proposition 1, called The Clean Water, Clean Air, Green Jobs Bond Act.

PORT CHESTER, NY—It appears that plans to redevelop the long-shuttered United Hospital property off Route 1 in Port Chester can finally proceed to construction in 2023 after nearly two decades of false starts and community opposition that prevented shovels turning dirt on the venture.

ALBANY—New York State earlier this month announced nearly $300 million is being awarded to communities through the Water Infrastructure Improvement Grant, Intermunicipal Grant, Green Innovation Grant, and Engineering Planning Grant programs to fund critical water infrastructure projects across New York State.

TARRYTOWN, NY—During the Nov. 8 election, voters in states across the country had their say on various transportation-related initiatives with billions of dollars at stake. An enterprise that tracks transportation issues reviewed initiatives that were listed on statewide, county and local ballots across the nation.

This column has often counseled that “if it’s not in writing, it didn’t happen.” While that is very simplified advice, the core lesson we seek to impart is that where an oral contract, or oral modification of a written contract, is permitted to happen, the facts are often relegated to a “he said, she said” dispute. Unfortunately, such disputes must ultimately be resolved by a jury (which, needless to say, is an expensive process—even if you win).

ALBANY—The New York State Department of Transportation announced on Nov. 21 the completion of $60.5 million in bridge upgrade projects to enhance safety and resiliency in the Hudson Valley.

Major construction is complete on a project that replaced the bridge carrying East Lincoln Avenue over the Hutchinson River Parkway and Hutchinson River. The $48-million bridge replacement project was part of a larger, $115-million initiative to replace and renovate several bridges in Westchester County. CIC-member Halmar International LLC of Nanuet, NY was the contractor on the project.

NEW YORK—New York City Mayor Eric Adams unveiled his administration’s vision for the next phase of the transformation of the Willets Point community in Queens on Nov. 16, bringing the first soccer-specific stadium to the city.

Francesco Montesano of Harrison, NY, the founder of Montesano Brothers, Inc., of New Rochelle, NY and father of CIC Board Member Dominick Montesano, passed away on Oct. 1. He was 87.