Q&A
Council Member Hanks questions OMB on Staten Island projects
6:40:25
·
3 min
Council Member Kamillah Hanks engages in a Q&A session with OMB Director Jacques Jiha, focusing on critical projects and funding needs for Staten Island. Hanks inquires about capital projects for Richmond University Medical Center, the construction of a Community Justice Center, and the North Shore Action Plan for waterfront development.
- Hanks seeks commitment for $12 million in funding for Richmond University Medical Center's capital projects
- She emphasizes the need for a Community Justice Center in Staten Island, currently the only borough without one
- Hanks highlights the North Shore Action Plan, including a $400 million investment for waterfront development and housing
Kamillah Hanks
6:40:25
Thank you, chair.
6:40:27
Good afternoon.
6:40:28
How are you?
Jacques Jiha
6:40:29
Doing very well.
Kamillah Hanks
6:40:30
So my line of questioning is definitely local, and I'll just get right to it.
6:40:35
So with Rumsey, the Richmond University Medical Center has 2 major capital projects that we're trying to get funded in the current year, totaling totaling, 12,000,000.
6:40:45
Rumsey is one of the only 2 hospitals serving Staten Island, and it and it is the only one in the North Shore, and so which makes these capital, improvements and and fundings just that more critical.
6:40:59
Will the administration commit to the funding of these critical projects in Rumsey?
Jacques Jiha
6:41:06
I believe there was an issue.
6:41:08
I I don't remember exactly what it was.
Kamillah Hanks
6:41:10
I think
Jacques Jiha
6:41:10
it's private.
6:41:11
It's private, hospitals, and there was an issue.
6:41:15
I I I don't know if we have over
Kamillah Hanks
6:41:16
So I think that, you know, to your point, we did have the the, hospital when they put together the application that was missing a few things, but we've been told that all of their paperwork is is in order.
6:41:28
So we just wanna make sure that, that OMB is is and the administration is committing to if everything's in order, that
Jacques Jiha
6:41:37
these projects We'll review we'll review the application, and if there are issues, we will bring them to your attention.
Kamillah Hanks
6:41:42
Thank you so much.
6:41:43
Chair, may I have, like, 2 more questions?
6:41:45
Thank you.
6:41:46
So, the Community Justice Center, bridged the gaps between courts and communities to improve public safety and trust and justice.
6:41:54
They're a vital resource for community members helping them to access stable housing, neighborhood safety, and reentry services, and youth programming while building positive relationships and addressing trauma.
6:42:07
Staten Island is one of the only boroughs without a community justice center.
6:42:11
Again, we we're just looking to make sure that, that the administration understands the importance of committing to, the construction of the community justice center in Staten Island.
Jacques Jiha
6:42:25
Again, we will, we will work with your office and with the, speaker's office as, we approach, you know, we understand the, the the concern that you have, you know, with, you know, with having a community center in Staten Island.
6:42:40
We will work with your office and the speaker to see what can be done.
6:42:44
As I said, the resources are available.
6:42:46
We will work with you, to try to accommodate as best as we can.
Kamillah Hanks
6:42:50
We'll hold you to it.
6:42:52
So one more question.
6:42:54
Oh, geez.
6:42:54
The North Shore action plan.
6:42:55
So Staten Island, it's one of the things that I'm very proud of being able to do.
6:43:00
The the action plan will finally bring development of the long promised 2 mile waterfront esplanade, Stapleton to Tompkinsville to Saint George, there is a $400,000,000 investment that will create 20 acres of con continuous waterfront.
6:43:14
We just wanna make sure that the projects that were highlighted in the North Shore plan will be addressed at some at some point by the administration.
6:43:23
We're on on target to create at least 5,000 units of of of housing, 35 and over percent of that will be affordable.
6:43:32
So we definitely wanna make sure that this is in your,
Jacques Jiha
6:43:37
Yes.
6:43:37
This is equality.
Kamillah Hanks
6:43:39
Thank you so much.
6:43:40
Thank you, chair.
