CM Brewer questions OMB on courthouse renovations and decarbonization investments
Brewer asks about capital funding for courthouses in disrepair, particularly Bronx Family Court. Solomon says meetings with OCA and DCAS have occurred. Brewer also asks about $4.7 billion in decarbonization; Solomon confirms the number and details $7.5 billion for flooding, $1 billion for extreme heat, and a comprehensive climate action plan coming next spring.
Thank you very much.
So a couple issues about buildings.
We toured some of the courthouses, particularly the one in the Bronx, Family Court, and there's leaks everywhere.
So my question is, what funding, if at all, is allocated towards the courthouses in terms of renovations?
Maybe not all of them, but is there any thought towards the courthouses?
And capital funding.
We've met with the Office of Court Administration recently with our Corporation Council, and I know that we've had
visits, and I know that our friend, the DCAS Commissioner, Yume, has also been with us working there, and she's towards some of the facilities as well.
So we need to have the facilities of our justice system in a state of good repair.
We will see within our capital envelope what we can produce to be able to invest in there.
I can follow up with you about what's exactly in the capital plan for that, but just to let you know that we are having those conversations and we're attuned to those needs.
Okay, I think a little bit before, this is about decarbonization, how much is allocated?
I think it's $4.7 billion in the capital budget.
Is that for schools and hospitals and public buildings specifically?
And later on, could you break it down?
I think your number is correct.
Yes, $4.7 billion for decarbonization and basically nearly $25 billion for projects with elements of supporting our net zero goals.
And so you look at the five-year capital plan, for example, $7.5 billion to address flooding and projects totaling over $1 billion to address extreme heat.
Capital plan also includes $41 billion for resiliency elements.
We are also...
Develop
a comprehensive climate action plan that will release in the spring of next year.
So there'll be more on that soon.
But we're also looking at reconstructing docks at the city's asphalt plants.
That's $26.4 million in FY27.
We talked about the EV purchases before, heat pumps, clean energy at NYCHA.
So there is quite a bunch of investments here.
There's clearly more to do, but we do have some solid investments.
I have more on that, but different topics.