News from ARISE (A Regional Initiative Supporting Empowerment)

For more information contact: Andreas Kriefall, 518-331-3190

NYS Leaders Join ARISE - Tues 10/2, 7pm in Troy

ARISE Challenges State Leaders to Get Back to the People's Business

ALBANY, NY (10/02/2007; 1055)(readMedia)-- ARISE (A Regional Initiative Supporting Empowerment) leaders, together with clergy leaders from across the Capital Region, issued a call to Governor Elliot Spitzer and State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno to redirect their efforts from ‘Trooper-gate’ and end their political impasse and invest their energy in creating solutions for the issues and challenges that matter most to the people of New York State.

Three priority action areas were identified: Jobs, Immigration and Housing.

Decision makers involved with the Community Benefits Agreement for the Albany Convention Center were urged to ensure that residents of the communities surrounding the Convention Center benefited from the jobs created. The New York State Department of Transportation was also challenged to allocate the remaining three million dollars of funding earmarked for workforce development to the creation of training programs for adults.

A recent success for immigrants residing in New York State was noted. On September 21, 2007, the Spitzer Administration reversed a policy which striped 300,000 immigrants of their New York State driver’s licenses because they lacked a Social Security Number. Additionally, it was announced that a package was finalized to further fund English as a second language education. A final noteworthy success was that the Department of Social Services is no longer required to report clients to immigration authorities.

In the area of housing, Albany County Executive Michael Breslin was acknowledged for his leadership with the Albany County Hosing Trust Fund which leveraged $300,000 dollars into 8 million and will fund the creation of 50 units of affordable housing in Albany County. A call to state leaders was issued to see that this success be replicated throughout the state. Also announced was a forthcoming October 12th meeting with ARISE ally David Rusk and Governor Spitzer.

Additional action points will be outlined at the Annual ARISE Action Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, October 2, at 7 pm at Our Lady of Victory RCC, located at 55 North Lake Avenue in Troy, New York.

Special guest speakers for Tuesday's 7pm ACTION MEETING include:

• Representative from Gov. Spitzer's Economic Development Policy staff
• Representative from Department of Transportation
• Representative from NYSERDA
• Albany County Executive Michael Breslin
• Representative from Rensselaer County Executives's office

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