August 22nd, 2023 - New York State Announces Library Construction Funding

An overwhelming share of New York voters believe the recent influx of migrants to the state is a “serious problem” and a plurality say the state should slow down the flow, according to a poll released today. Yancey Roy reports on Newsday.com that the Siena Research Institute survey also says a slight majority of voters (50% to 40%) supports the idea of moving migrants from temporary quarters in New York City to permanent housing in communities around the state. But voters are giving Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York Mayor Eric Adams low marks for handling the migrant situation. Hochul received her lowest job approval rating in a Siena poll since becoming governor in August 2021. More than 100,000 migrants over the last year and a half from various parts of the globe have arrived in New York, with some sent north on buses by Republican officials in Texas. Many have come from Venezuela, according to the United Nations refugee agency. NYC housed some migrants in homeless shelters, tent shelters and hotels. But as the influx continued, Mayor Adams sought to bus some upstate. The mayor and Hochul, who have had a cordial relationship, traded scathing letters about government responsibilities last week. So far, their efforts aren’t playing well in public opinion. Siena said 82% of those surveyed said the influx of migrants was either a “serious” or “very serious” problem for the state. Just 16% said either “not very serious” or “not at all” serious. Even in a state as liberal as New York, 77% of Democrats said it was a serious problem. “A plurality of Democrats say that migrants resettling in New York over the last two decades has been a benefit. But a majority of independents and two-thirds of Republicans say that migrant resettlement has been a burden to the state,” according to today's Siena survey.***New York State has announced $4.3 million in construction funds for Long Island libraries, a sum local library officials said is badly needed, but far from enough to pay for necessary repairs and upgrades. In Suffolk, the funding ranges from $7,350 for Westhampton Free Library to hook up to the sewer system, to $422,500 for upgraded wastewater and fire systems at Mastics-Moriches Shirley Library. Across both Nassau and Suffolk systems, 35 libraries received construction money. Nicholas Spangler reports on Newsday.com that according to the latest published figures on the state library website, Suffolk libraries’ needs are $98.9 million. While school districts may rely on billions in state aid to fund a considerable portion of their budgets and saw a record funding increase on Long Island this spring, the state's 756 public libraries are funded mostly by local taxpayers, and advocates say aid has not kept up with need. Statewide this year, $34 million was awarded for 197 library construction projects; that amount has not increased since 2018-2019. Libraries also receive about $96 million in general state aid, said Kevin Verbesey, the Suffolk Cooperative Library System's director. In Suffolk, with 56 member libraries, the construction aid “doesn’t go as far as we would like,” Verbesey said. “There are newer challenges every year and newer services that people in our communities need that we’re trying to provide.” ***Riverhead’s Anti-Bias Task Force is due for an overhaul, according to Council Member Ken Rothwell, the Town Board’s liaison to the task force. The group’s membership lacks the diversity it needs to function properly, Rothwell said on Friday. Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that he was responding to a request made by Anti-Bias Task Force Chairpe