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Town of Haverstraw Passes Local Law To Accommodate Cannabis Businesses
The Town of Haverstraw passed a local law amending its zoning code to accommodate cannabis businesses. The law recognizes four distinct types of cannabis businesses: retail dispensaries, on-site consumption lounges, industrial (which includes cultivators/growers, processors, distributors, cooperatives, and microbusinesses), and paraphernalia shops.
Retail dispensaries and paraphernalia shops will be allowed to operate as-of-right in the C-Commercial Zones. The C-Zones mostly hug West Ramapo Road and a stretch of Thiells-Mt. Ivy Road near the Pomona border.
Industrial businesses, On-Site Consumption Lounges, Retailers and Paraphernalia shops are all uses as-of-right in the Town’s PIO-Planned Industrial Office District which includes Cambridge Plaza and a small section off Quaker Road across from the Hudson Valley Humane Society.
The new law also imposes a requirement for site plan approval from the Town Planning Board, with plans for security, disposal, and odor control. No outdoor seating or congregation areas are allowed. Specific parking regulations for different uses are specified, and minimum distances from other cannabis businesses and existing and operating schools or day care centers. Consumption lounges cannot operate within 1000 feet of any residence, school, day care center, medical facility, parkland, commercial recreation site or house of worship. Retailers must be at least 500 feet from other cannabis businesses and existing and operating schools or day care centers.
Hudson Gateway REALTOR® Foundation Donates Over $85,000 to 34 Hudson Valley Charities and Non-Profits in 2023
The Hudson Gateway REALTOR® Foundation (HGRF), the charitable arm of the Hudson Gateway Association of REALTORS®, (HGAR) donated $85,100 to 34 charities and non-profit organizations throughout the Hudson Valley and beyond in 2023. Rockland charities that received donations were Center For Safety & Change, Meals on Wheels of Rockland, Rockland County YMCA, Rockland Youth Empowerment, United Hospice of Rockland.
Now, in its 11th year of fundraising, the Foundation is gearing up for next year.
The mission of our REALTOR® Foundation is to give back to those in need in the many communities where our members live and work,” said Gail Fattizzi, President of the HG REALTOR® Foundation. “Each year, we are committed to raising money that, in turn, is granted to many of the local non-profit organizations that support our local communities and help them thrive. We also encourage our members to volunteer their time, as well as provide financial support. The generosity of our REALTOR® and Affiliate members, as well as our event sponsors and volunteers, is vital to fulfilling the Foundation’s mission of helping our neighbors.”
The Foundation’s 2023 events included a series of popular Pub Nights in various locations throughout the Bronx and Hudson Valley, the “Dancing with the Foundation” dance competition, and the Holiday Party
The Foundation is seeking applications from charities and non-profits for 2024. For more information or to apply for funding from the Hudson Gateway REALTOR® Foundation, visit www.hgrealtorfoundation.com.
SUNY Warns Of Future $1B Deficit Barring Higher Tuition Or Additional Aid
State university leaders are asking the state for regular increases in aid or a green light to increase tuition, warning that they need more funds to avoid massive annual deficits that could skyrocket to $1 billion in a decade.
Without help, “SUNY will fail to achieve operational sustainability,” State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. and his staff wrote in a report that describes in stark terms the financial state of New York’s public colleges and universities. The report was sent to Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state Legislature on Friday.
In 10 years, the SUNY system will have a $1.1 billion annual budget shortfall if expenses and revenues continue as projected, the report said. In 2033-2034, the SUNY system would cost $6.9 billion a year.
In the upcoming academic year, the SUNY system will have a $244 million deficit if nothing changes – though officials said they expect at least some improvement, particularly because community colleges are required to submit balanced budgets.
The potential deficit calculation took into account changes made by two of its campuses — Fredonia and Potsdam — which both announced cuts to try to get into the black. The report indicates a broader financial issue plaguing the system, though it does not outline specific deficits at its other colleges or universities. Three other colleges are described in the report as taking steps to address deficits: Maritime, Delhi and Buffalo State.
The trustees of Rockland Community College have agreed to impose a salary furlough and eliminate nine administrative positions to address a $3.4 million shortfall in this year’s budget.
Last month, Rockland Community College’s board trustees voted to adopt the “Personnel Savings Plan,” which will impact nearly 200 faculty, administrators, and others beginning January 2024. Each employee will have a total of nine days’ pay deducted through June 2024. After tweaking the resolution, which the trustees and executive cabinet say are needed to “ensure the fiscal stability of the college,” the furloughs will include one lost day of pay from January through March, and two days of lost pay in April through June.
Insiders say the furloughs are expected to save the college more than $700,000, and elimination of nine administrative positions will save a further $914,663. Positions partially grant-funded will not have the grant portion of their pay affected. Also, CSEA employees are exempt from furloughs.
