Assuming the government doesn't shut down, numerous NY State agency leaders, plus state and federal government officials, will be discussing the NY State Summit on Rail Transportation. Not only will the summit discuss NY state's position as "the premier location for rail manufacturing and servicing in the country," there's also going to be talk of high speed rail potential. According to WCBS 2, "State officials said high-speed passenger rail service will create jobs, boost tourism and help New York's economy, especially along Amtrak's Empire Corridor between Albany and Buffalo. New York State has been awarded $151 million of the $8 billion in federal stimulus funds set aside for rail projects," most along the east-west corridor. more ›

A few months back the city confirmed its plans to turn its central post office into an extension of Penn Station, and now Sen. Charles Schumer says it's got a backer. The federal government is putting up $83.3 million for the conversion from mail center to rail center, which has been in the works for more than 15 years. According to the AP, the funds for Moynihan Station, as it's to be called, come from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. Schumer expects the project to create thousands of jobs and rev up the economy on Manhattan's west side. more ›

Since January 1st, the state's unemployment fund has been borrowing roughly $90 million a week from the federal unemployment trust fund, and the deficit has already reached $212 million. M. Patricia Smith, the state's labor commissioner, tells the Times, "I think we went insolvent about two hours into 2009. We're seeing 50 percent more claimants each week than a year ago." Soup is good food! The article goes into infuriating detail about how New York has the lowest unemployment benefits in the region, and the deficit is caused not just from the spike in joblessness, but because the state has not increased the payroll tax that covers the unemployment fund in nearly a decade. With Democrats finally controlling the Legislature, there is some hope that the state might finally upgrade the system to cover the downsized masses, but in the meantime, the Fed's charging 4.64% interest, and New York's debt to Uncle Sam is expected to exceed $2.5 billion by the end of 2010. more ›

If the debate over extending term limits didn't make the point clear enough, Mayor Bloomberg wants us as New Yorkers to look at ourselves in the mirror during this time of crisis and ask ourselves, "Can we as a city survive without him?" more ›

Senator Charles Schumer and Representative Jerrold Nadler have been working with President-elect Barack Obama's transition team and say that NY State "is expected to get $4 billion" from an economic stimulus package. What's more, "most of it slated for mass-transit capital projects in the metro area." more ›