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Q&A
Repurposing of funds from the Internet Master Plan
1:35:29
·
132 sec
Council Member Gutiérrez inquires about the status and repurposing of the $157 million originally allocated for the Internet Master Plan. OTI representatives explain how the funds have been redirected to various initiatives.
- The funds were initially with EDC, then transferred to OTI
- Money has been repurposed for projects like 311, My City, cybersecurity initiatives, and the digital equity roadmap
- $2.4 million of capital funds were allocated to the digital equity roadmap, including investments in older adult centers, library programs, and NYCHA's digital vans
- Council Member Gutiérrez requests a detailed breakdown of how all $157 million was redirected
Jennifer Gutiérrez
1:35:29
Sorry.
1:35:30
A couple more questions on master plan, and this is just for me to understand.
1:35:40
I know that the 157,000,000 was through initially, of the master plan was supposed to go through EDC, the Economic Development Corporation.
1:35:48
Can you share if that money has been spent?
1:35:52
Or has any of it been redirected?
Brett Sikoff
1:35:54
So, yes.
1:35:55
Originally, you're correct.
1:35:56
It was with EDC for a period, then I think it was transferred over to OTI.
1:36:00
It has since been repurposed for a number of other public interface projects around the city, such as three one one, My City, cybersecurity initiatives, and including the 2,400,000 investment, excuse me, that we included in the in the digital equity roadmap.
1:36:19
So it's been repurposed for a lot of other purposes.
Jennifer Gutiérrez
1:36:22
In the for the digital road map, the 2.4, this is an expense.
1:36:26
Correct?
Samantha Wright
1:36:26
Correct.
1:36:28
That is capital funds, the 2,400,000.
Jennifer Gutiérrez
1:36:31
It's in capital?
1:36:32
Yes.
1:36:33
Okay.
1:36:38
And what is the what is the what's the capital?
1:36:42
What's the what are you spending the money on?
Samantha Wright
1:36:44
Yeah.
1:36:45
So I'm I'm happy to talk through in more detail for the digital equity roadmap but just specifically on the investments.
1:36:52
It's a 1,100,000.0 investment in refurbishing older adult centers and that is focusing updating and refreshing the technology.
1:37:04
A $1,000,000 investment in the expansion of the New York Public Library Tech Connect program and then a $300,000 investment to grow the reach of NYCHA's digital bands.
Jennifer Gutiérrez
1:37:16
Okay.
1:37:17
And then of that original so of the 157,000,000, do you believe it's all been redirected at this point?
Brett Sikoff
1:37:28
I believe so, yes.
Jennifer Gutiérrez
1:37:29
Okay.
1:37:30
Would you be able to share just a breakdown kind of what you just did now of how that money was redirected?
Brett Sikoff
1:37:38
Yeah.
1:37:38
We'll see if we can pull that together.
Jennifer Gutiérrez
1:37:40
Okay.
1:37:41
Thank you.