September 2023

TARRYTOWN—An analysis of both projects awarded so far in 2023 and those scheduled to be bid for the remainder of the year and into early 2024 indicates that the New York State Department of Transportation has focused its capital funding, for the most part, on paving and traffic signal projects in Region 8.

NEWBURGH—It’s been a tough year for renters and home buyers in most of the Hudson Valley, and if one study is any indication, things don’t look to be getting easier anytime soon.

KINGSTON, NY–Local labor leaders, apprentices and elected officials joined Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger on Sept. 6 in Kingston for a ceremonial signing of local law No. 10 in honor of Labor Day. The legislation was passed in May to strengthen requirements for construction apprenticeships in county government projects to promote skills development and expand opportunities for jobs locally.

WASHINGTON—Labor unions continue to enjoy high support in the U.S., with 67% of Americans approving of them, which is similar to the elevated level seen in recent years after more than a decade of rising support. Mirroring this trend, Americans have gradually become more likely than a decade ago to want unions’ influence to strengthen and to believe unions benefit various aspects of business and the economy.

Sections 200, 240(1), and 241(6) of New York’s Labor Law are commonly referred to as New York’s “Scaffold Law.” The Scaffold Law was enacted back in 1885, long before the advent of the Worker’s Compensation statutes or regulatory schemes designed to enforce worker safety (such as OSHA and its state analogues). New York is the last state with such a law on its books, and it is widely credited with driving up construction and insurance costs.

NEW YORK—Construction is underway on the converter station for the 339-Mile Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE) transmission line terminating in Astoria, Queens.

CENTRAL VALLEY, NY—Who said brick and mortar retail is dead. Woodbury Common Premium Outlets has new plans to dramatically grow the retail enterprise here in Orange County.
The owner of the property, Simon Property Group, launched plans for a new expansion of the property located at the intersection of I-87 and Route 17.

TARRYTOWN, NY—Looking to extend its bragging rights for another year, The Pavers led by Stephen Hocker of ECCO III Enterprises faced off against The Builders, which was captained by Matt Fante of Darante Construction, Ltd. on Fri., Sept. 8 at the Losee Park town field here.

NEW YORK—Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Lisa F. Garcia, the Regional Administrator for Region 2 of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, announced on Sept. 19 that the United States and the State of New York have entered into a civil Consent Decree with the City of Mount Vernon to resolve ongoing litigation regarding the city’s non-compliance with Clean Water Act requirements for municipal storm sewers, which has caused raw sewage to be discharged into the Bronx and Hutchinson rivers.

NEW YORK—The New York Building Congress has launched the Infrastructure Action Council (IAC), a group of building industry leaders driving infrastructure advocacy efforts at the state and federal levels.