N.Y. Executive Law § 894: Declaration of purpose

* § 894. Declaration of purpose. The legislature finds and determines

as follows:

1. The urban areas of the state of New York have unique

characteristics, needs, conditions and opportunities. These urban areas

are vital to the economic, social and general health of our state. The

magnitude of the challenge of economic habilitation of those distressed

urban areas which are in need of assistance is such that a concentrated

effort by the state in cooperation with these communities is required.

2. Past efforts on the part of the state to facilitate necessary

assistance to distressed urban areas have been characterized by specific

and innovative program approaches to individual symptoms of blight and

deterioration. The state has firmly established through these individual

program approaches its commitment to preserving the viability of urban

areas. Numerous agencies have been created, empowered and funded to

assist and coordinate these efforts in specific areas of need.

3. Efforts have further been made, through the establishment of the

urban affairs cabinet, to facilitate and to enhance the coordination of

state programs and efforts intended to remedy the problems of urban

blight and deterioration.

4. Despite these tangible past and present commitments to urban

preservation and development, the legislature hereby finds and

determines that many of the urban areas of our state continue to suffer

from blight and deterioration of basic public services, the private

economic sector, housing stock and other critical elements of community

vitality.

5. It is further found and declared that the numerous efforts of the

state designed to address and to correct existing and encroaching

indices of community distress must be strengthened and enhanced and

assistance to local and community agencies and organizations designed to

maximize the amount of financial and other assistance directed to

distressed urban areas must be improved.

6. It is therefore, the intent of the legislature to establish an

office of urban revitalization. The legislature intends that such office

shall augment the efforts of the urban cabinet in coordinating the

programs and efforts of the state agencies and public benefit

corporations to remedy existent problems in distressed urban areas. Said

office shall also be empowered to assure the provision of technical

assistance to localities and community organizations engaging the

improvement of economic, housing, industrial and commercial

revitalization of distressed communities. The legislature intends that

this office serve these organizations in order to maximize their

abilities to successfully obtain assistance from all available private

and public sources.

7. It is further the intent of the legislature to empower the office

to initiate, subject to legislative authorization and appropriations for

that purpose, programs of financial assistance to local and community

agencies and organizations consistent with the policy of enhancing the

revitalization of distressed urban areas.

8. These programs of assistance to distressed urban communities and

community organizations will thereby constitute an economic advantage to

the state and facilitate the implementation of the revitalization of

distressed urban areas.

* NB Expired March 31, 1985