— Posted by JVS on 2.4.23, backdated to 2.2.23
Tag: South Brooklyn Marine Terminal
3.3.22 – Release: “Mayor Adams Announces Agreement to Transform South Brooklyn Marine Terminal Into Leading Offshore Wind Hub”
The below press release was issued by the Eric Adams administration on 3.3.22.
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Mayor Adams Announces Agreement to Transform South Brooklyn Marine Terminal Into Leading Offshore Wind Hub
March 3, 2022
Video available at: https://youtu.be/QO5ZY8_ftTw
Terminal to Become One of Largest Offshore Wind Port Facilities in Nation
Agreement Will Create Major Economic Opportunity and Investments, Support 13,000 Local Jobs Over Time and Over 1,000 at SBMT
NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced an agreement that will transform the city-owned South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SBMT) into one of the largest offshore wind port facilities in the nation. The agreement will help establish New York as a leader in offshore wind and help the New York City meet its nation-leading climate goals of 100 percent clean electricity by 2040.
As part of the deal finalized by the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), Equinor, its partner — bp — and Sustainable South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, L.P. (SSBMT) will upgrade and build out the terminal as an operations and maintenance base. The terminal will become a power interconnection site for the Empire Wind 1 project , and heavy lift platforms will be built on the 39th Street Pier for wind turbine staging and installation for Equinor and other developers. The port will serve as a hub to support the Empire Wind and Beacon Wind offshore wind farms.
NYCEDC also partnered with Equinor and the community to support workforce training for a diverse pool of local residents to bolster opportunities for New Yorkers created by investments in offshore wind infrastructure. The agreement expands the target of minority- and women-owned business enterprise (M/WBE) contractors based in and registered with New York City or New York State, with a 30 percent M/WBE participation goal; and will support technical assistance for M/WBE and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises to create more opportunities for participation in this sustainable growth industry. Additionally, the agreement ensures the development will be a low-emissions facility.
“With this investment, the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal will soon be transformed into one of the largest offshore wind port facilities in the nation,” said Mayor Eric Adams. “This site will be the launch of a whole new industry for New York City that will support 13,000 local jobs over time, generate $1.3 billion in average annual investment citywide, and significantly reduce our carbon footprint so that we can meet our climate goals of 100 percent clean electricity by 2040. This is a transformative moment for New York City and our clean energy future — a future of sustainable power, good-paying jobs, and climate justice.”
“This first major milestone in New York City’s Offshore Wind Vision Plan is a perfect example of how our economic and workforce development objectives must go hand in hand with our clean energy goals. By building this new industry in the right way, we will continue to advance an equitable recovery and make our environment healthier as well,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development Maria Torres-Springer. “We thank NYCEDC and our partners at Equinor, bp, and SSBMT for coming together to transform the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal into a major offshore wind hub and make New York City a leading destination for this important and growing industry.”
“Economic, racial, and gender equity is what informs and drives our work every day,” said Magalie Desroches Austin, senior advisor to the mayor; and director, Mayor’s Office of Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises. “We’re excited to support and collaborate with our partners at the NYCEDC and at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal on this highly important initiative. Not only is this a capital investment in New York City’s offshore wind energy, its accompanying infrastructure, and the emerging work force critical to the long-term sustainability of the greatest city on earth, but it also helps to meaningfully and positively move the needle on the mayor’s commitment to Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises and the diverse workforce they employ. We look forward to the many long-term benefits this investment will have on New York City’s environmental footprint, its labor force, and the myriad of M/WBEs that make New York City unique.”
Equinor also committed to establishing a $5 million ecosystem fund to bring more New York City residents into offshore wind careers, propel offshore wind innovation, and support a just transition. Finally, Equinor is working to establish an offshore wind learning center — accessible to the community — within its Brooklyn office.
Today’s announcement is critical to the offshore wind priorities and investments of both New York City and New York State. The city has committed $191 million to offshore wind projects — including $57 million in support of SBMT and $134 million in new investments. The city expects these initiatives to remove more than 34 million tons of CO2 from the environment — the equivalent of removing nearly 500,000 cars from roadways for 15 years — while creating 13,000 jobs related to offshore wind infrastructure across the five boroughs. SBMT will be essential to the state’s offshore wind supply chain. Currently, five offshore wind projects are in active development, which will power more than 2.4 million New York’s homes and bring a combined economic impact of $12.1 billion to the state.
In 2018, NYCEDC selected SSBMT — in a partnership between Industry City and Red Hook Terminals — as the leaseholder to reactivate the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal so that it can create a 21st-century maritime shipping hub with an on-site facility to train local talent. Under this agreement, SSBMT is entering into a sublease with Equinor and bp until 2054 for its operations and maintenance base, and its onshore substation. Under the same agreement, Equinor and bp will have a 10-year term for turbine staging and installation activities with an option to extend the 10-year term for up to six additional years.
“We are enormously proud to lay the groundwork today for our vision of making New York City a nation-leading hub for the offshore wind industry. This agreement builds on the city’s $57 million commitment to reactivate SBMT as a key manufacturing and operations base and will help make New York a leader in climate resiliency, as well as air quality, through clean energy investments,” said Lindsay Greene, officer and executive vice president, NYCEDC. “Working together with our partners at Equinor, bp, and SSBMT, we are also advancing economic recovery and increasing diversity in waterfront construction by helping local minority- and women-owned business enterprises benefit from the growing offshore wind industry and allowing them to take advantage of the green jobs of the future.”
“This agreement marks a major step forward in our commitment to New York State to both provide renewable power and to spark fresh economic activity, while creating enduring jobs,” said Siri Espedal Kindem, president, Equinor Wind U.S. “With the support of NYCEDC, SSBMT, and our partners in the community, Equinor and bp are ready and eager to invest in the revitalization of SBMT — an historic port that will soon become a major part of New York’s energy future. New York has shown unflagging determination to become a focal point of the region’s offshore wind industry, and this agreement offers tangible evidence that this vision is quickly coming to life.”
“Today marks the first of many positive ripple effects from this project and we want them to reverberate far and wide,” said Felipe Arbelaez, senior vice president for Zero Carbon Energy, bp. “As we reinvent energy, we also want to help reinvent the communities that help deliver it by investing in the skills and capabilities needed. By creating this regional hub, we are able to do just that, and it brings us all one step closer to delivering this incredible offshore wind development.”
“After decades of advocating to bring offshore wind to South Brooklyn, UPROSE is happy to see this climate justice victory progress in a community with a legacy of fossil fuel pollution and health disparities,” said Elizabeth Yeampierre, executive director, UPROSE; and co-chair, New York City Offshore Wind Advisory Council. “UPROSE and the Sunset Park community have long fought to preserve the industrial character of New York City’s largest industrial waterfront. Offshore wind is an opportunity to center racial justice and operationalize a true just transition by supporting the community-led vision for a green re-industrialization and creating thousands of well-paying local green jobs.”
“I worked closely with Secretary Buttigieg to secure a critical $25 million federal grant to facilitate the transformation of South Brooklyn Marine Terminal into one of the largest offshore wind power projects in the nation, and today I am proud to see it moving forward at full speed,” said U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer. “The federal investment will support good paying, green jobs for a community that has borne the burden of pollution, while helping New York State reach its emissions goals. I will continue to fight hard for a bold buildout of offshore wind and its supply chain in New York, in close coordination with all stakeholders, and for deeper investments in disadvantaged communities.”
“I have been a passionate advocate and a supporter of the Port of New York and New Jersey for more than 30 years, and the announcement today is an important step in the redevelopment of the Brooklyn waterfront,” said U.S. Representative Jerrold Nadler. “A reactivated South Brooklyn Marine Terminal brings good manufacturing jobs to Brooklyn, while supporting green energy. I am so proud that New York City is leading the way to a brighter and greener future by building America’s first offshore wind production hub right here at SBMT.”
“Today’s agreement sets the stage for us to deliver on our shared clean energy goals right here on the industrial waterfront,” said U.S. Representative Nydia M. Velázquez. “Years of advocacy has brought us here. I am pleased a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration will help with much needed infrastructure improvements to create a regional hub of offshore wind production and logistics right here at South Brooklyn Marine Terminal. This significant investment from federal to local partners is a win for environmental justice as we retool our economy for green energy, while adding real manufacturing jobs right here in Brooklyn. With all levels of government, industry and the community working together, the future can be bright.”
“As we move towards a green economy, we must ensure a just transition, where the communities most impacted by fossil fuel pollution and climate change have priority access to new green jobs and education,” said New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams. “Transforming the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal into one of the largest offshore wind facilities is an incredible opportunity not only for New York City, but to ensure historically marginalized communities are involved at the decision-making level. South Brooklyn’s industrial waterfront will be the next headquarters for green energy in New York State, and this is only the beginning.”
“The transformation of the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal becoming one of the country’s largest offshore wind port facilities is an exciting milestone for Brooklyn because of all it’ll accomplish — from keeping industrial opportunities in the borough to creating more green jobs,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “This is the forward, innovative thinking we should be seeing more of in the largest borough in New York City. Our gratitude goes to everyone who made this possible, including the local community, NYCEDC, and the companies that will be investing here.”
“District 38 has long advocated for deep investments into our working waterfront to address critical issues around climate justice and a just transition. Today’s agreement between NYCEDC, SSBMT, and Equinor moves us toward our collective goal of producing 100 percent clean electricity by 2040,” said New York City Councilmember Alexa Avilés. “We are ready to work with Equinor and community partners to ensure we are leveraging this partnership and truly connecting New Yorkers and my constituents to the resources they need to successfully enter offshore wind careers.”
“I am excited to see NYCEDC’s agreement with SSBMT and Equinor, which marks an important moment for the city,” said New York City Councilmember Amanda Farías, chair, Committee on Economic Development. “Reactivating SBMT as an offshore wind industry hub allows the city to continue the work on its commitment to a green just transition. New York City reaffirming itself as a leader in the fight for climate justice, resiliency, and clean energy is critical in moving our state closer to its climate goals. The SBMT agreement is a critical step forward on new economic opportunities in an area where we need major investments to help advance economic recovery and increase diversity in waterfront construction through M/WBE contractor expansion. Sustainable development, clean energy sources, and diversity in job creation are ways to lead in jobs of the future. As the chair of the Committee on Economic Development, I am in full support of transforming SBMT into one of the largest offshore wind port facilities and look forward to seeing the benefits both locally in Brooklyn and throughout our city.”
“This agreement significantly advances New York City’s vision for an equitable clean energy future,” said KC Sahl, VHB national director, Offshore Wind; and co-chair, New York City Offshore Wind Industry Advisory Council. “NYCEDC, Equinor, and SSBMT’s investments in the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal not only position the city as a hub for the emerging domestic offshore wind industry, but also increase economic opportunities for the historically disenfranchised residents of Sunset Park. New York City is modeling how climate and economic goals can be achieved through inclusive partnerships with public, private, and community-based stakeholders.”
“Governor Hochul has made clear port investments are pivotal in unlocking the economic development potential of the offshore wind industry and establishing New York State as the nation’s hub for this essential resource and its supply chain,” said Doreen M. Harris, president and CEO, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). “We congratulate Mayor Adams, New York City Economic Development Corporation, SSBMT, Equinor, and bp for this milestone commitment to transform the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal — another critical step forward as New York develops its green economy and provides clean, renewable energy and new economic opportunities to the areas that need it most.”
“Today’s announcement is the culmination of almost seven years of work by SSBMT to reactivate the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, a former container and breakbulk cargo port, dormant since the 1980s,” said Michael Stamatis, president and CEO, Red Hook Terminals. “Having identified the offshore wind industry as a potential use for the site in 2015 — well before the offshore wind industry had started to formally take shape in the U.S. — SSBMT could not be prouder of this amazing outcome. We would like to congratulate and thank Governor Hochul, Mayor Adams, NYSERDA, NYCEDC, and the entire team at Equinor and bp for making such a tremendous commitment to the revitalization of the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, but more importantly for leading the way towards a clean energy transition. We are excited to be a part of this transformative, once in a lifetime opportunity for the Sunset Park community, city, state, and region.”
“Today’s announcement signals the arrival of a new industry in the heart of our region, supporting the development of offshore wind,” said Rob Freudenberg, vice president, Energy & Environment, Regional Plan Association. “With offshore wind projects now underway in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, our region is leading the fight to limit the impacts of climate change through the production of renewable energy and to create new opportunities for jobs and community development. This partnership of NYCEDC, SSBMT, and Equinor does just that and sets the stage for additional community economic development throughout the region.”
“We commend the City of New York, SSBMT, and Equinor on the extraordinary partnership to commit capital investments, local workforce programs, and revitalize maritime ports to ensure that offshore wind will be an important component to the region’s renewable strategy. This will be a key driver to reach New York State’s net-zero targets by 2050,” said Cortney Worrall, president and CEO, Waterfront Alliance. “Today’s announcement also sets a bold course towards reimagining the 21st-century working waterfront. Design considerations that promote climate adaptation and resiliency of offshore wind ports in responding to such threats as sea level rise and dynamic flooding events will be critical.”
New York City’s Offshore Wind Vision Plan
In the fall 2021, NYCEDC announced a 15-year Offshore Wind Vision Plan to make New York City a leading destination for the industry by developing best-in-class infrastructure to support the construction and operation of offshore wind farms in the New York Bight, including infrastructure to support manufacturing, staging and installation, operations and maintenance, and transmission. The $191 million investment puts New York City on a path to reduce 34.5 million tons of CO2, as well as meet its goals of 100 percent clean electricity by 2040 and carbon neutrality by 2050. The Offshore Wind Vision Plan is aimed at creating more than 13,000 jobs and generate $1.3 billion in average annual investment, with 40 percent of job and investment benefits directed toward women- and minority-owned businesses and environmental justice communities. The New York Bight is the coastal area between Long Island and the New Jersey coast.
Regional Offshore Wind Future
New York City’s goal is to have 70 percent of its energy consumption come from renewable sources by 2030. Under the nation-leading Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, New York State has set goals of securing 70 percent of the state’s electricity from renewable energy by 2030 and the installation of nine gigawatts of offshore wind by 2035. Equinor and bp have contracts for three offshore wind projects in New York — totaling more than 3,000 megawatts of clean, renewable energy.
In January, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced the state finalized contracts for Equinor and bp’s Empire Wind 2 and Beacon Wind projects off Long Island, which unlocked an unprecedented public and private funding commitment of $644 million in port infrastructure, including more than $287 million for SBMT. As part of an award from NYSERDA, the developers will convert SBMT and the Port of Albany into large-scale offshore wind industry facilities.
Further, in December 2021, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded the full $25 million that the city requested from the federal Maritime Administration (MARAD) through the 2021 Port Infrastructure Development Grants (PIDP). The grant for the “SBMT 35th Street Pier Expansion Project” at Sunset Park is intended to add a barge berth and a heavy-lift crane pad on the western end of the 35th Street Pier. The PIDP grant provides additional funds to expand on city, state, and Equinor funding for 39th Street Pier improvements, as well as Equinor’s operations and maintenance facility and Equinor’s interconnection substation. The addition of 35th Street Pier improvements increases SBMT’s cargo throughput capacity and operational efficiencies, allowing SBMT to further serve the growth of the offshore wind industry in New York City.
Media Contact
pressoffice@cityhall.nyc.gov
(212) 788-2958
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— Posted by JVS on 3.4.22, backdated to 3.3.22
12.27.21 – “Ports benefit from more than $241 million in federal grants”
As reported by American Shipper:
Twenty-five port projects in 19 states got an early Christmas present last week in the form of grant money through the Maritime Administration’s Port Infrastructure Development Program…
South Brooklyn Marine Terminal 35th Street Pier expansion project, New York City $25 million.
The project will add a barge berth and an additional crane pad on the western end of the 35th Street Pier of the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, DOT said. The wharf will be designed to accommodate 400-foot-long barges, the agency said.
— Posted by JVS on 1.9.22, backdated to 12.27.21
12.23.21 – “US Transportation Secretary Buttigieg announces grants for America’s ports in New York”
As reported by AJOT:
The U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary today announced the award of more than $241 million in discretionary grant funding for 25 projects to improve port facilities in 19 states and one territory through the Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP)..
The state of New York was awarded funding for two projects. The projects include the New York’s South Brooklyn Marine Terminal 35th Street Pier Expansion Project and Albany’s Offshore Wind Tower Manufacturing Port Project.
The South Brooklyn Marine Terminal 35th Street Pier Expansion Project will add a barge berth and an additional crane pad on the western end of the 35th Street Pier. The wharf will be designed to accommodate 400-foot long barges.
— Posted by JVS on 12.25.21, backdated to 12.23.21
12.22.21 – Information and meeting requests sent to the Sunset Park Task Force
I sent the below information and meeting requests to the Sunset Park Task Force on 12.22.21. This fall, I became one of the community members of the Task Force.
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Document requests: I am requesting that the following documents be distributed to all Task Force members and placed on the SPTF website:
- All available data collected by EDC since 2010 pertaining to the workforce at the Brooklyn Army Terminal.
- A current data set produced by SBS providing data on the job training and placement efforts of the Workforce1 ITC Center at Brooklyn Army Terminal.
- All data possessed by MOME on the job training and placement results of the MiNY Production Assistant Program and Post Production Training Program, along with all MOUs requiring data documentation for those programs.
- Copies of all presentations delivered to the Task Force since the creation of the group.
- Attendance lists for all Task Force meetings since the creation of the group.
- Minutes from all Task Force meetings since the creation of the group, if they exist.
SPTF meeting request: I am requesting that the SPTF host a public meeting as soon as possible to discuss the original formation of the Task Force, its work so far, its current structure and operating procedures, and its future operating structure and procedures. This meeting would be designed to distribute information about the SPTF to the public, and to record input from the public concerning the SPTF.
Questions for NYCEDC re: SBMT
- How did EDC confirm the accuracy of the job projections associated with the Equinor project shown to CB7 in January, 2021? Specifically, the Board was told that the project “Secures long-term activation of SBMT for staging, O&M, and interconnection supporting at least 350-500 direct multi-year jobs (including 60-100 long term O&M).”
Questions for NYCEDC re: MiNY Campus
- Were any elected officials representing Sunset Park or surrounding communities involved in the design of the Made in NY Campus prior to February, 2017, and if so, how and when were they involved?
- Were any elected officials representing Sunset Park or surrounding communities consulted before the South Campus plan was expanded, or before the North Campus budget was increased? If so, how and when were they consulted?
- How did EDC evaluate the accuracy of the data provided to CB7 in November, 2020 pertaining to jobs in the film and TV industry, and job projections linked to Steiner’s MiNY project?
- Does any data exist showing the local economic impact of Steiner Studios’ work at the Brooklyn Navy Yard?
- Who was involved in negotiating the specific list of community benefits associated with the MiNY South Campus?
- What are the latest employment projections for the fashion and garment industry work planned for the North Campus, and how were those projections arrived at?
- What is the breakdown of the types of fashion and garment industry work expected for the North Campus? What information is available concerning expected salaries, benefits and level of unionization associated with those jobs?
- How many current workers on the North Campus and South Campus are being relocated? Are any associated businesses shutting down?
- Will any of the proposed buildings on the MiNY Campus affect the view of the bay from Sunset Park (the park itself)?
- Does EDC plan on monitoring hiring and employment at the MiNY Campus, and if so, how?
Questions for MOME re: the MiNY Campus
- What is the most current information available concerning the workforce associated with, and economic impact of, the film and TV industry in New York City and New York State?
- Has MOME and/or EDC communicated with Sunset Park High School regarding the high school production industry training program linked to the Steiner Studios project?
- Why do gaps apparently exist between MiNY Production Assistant Training Program data and the reporting requirements of two MOUs signed between the city and BWI in 2010 and 2012?
- Does any data exist showing how many Sunset Park and Red Hook residents have participated in the MiNY Production Assistant Training Program since that program began?
Question re: February 15, 2017 letter pertaining to the MiNY Campus (Councilperson Carlos Menchaca, Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, Rep. Jerry Nadler, and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams)
- On Feb. 15, 2017, Councilperson Menchaca, Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, Rep. Jerry Nadler, and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams sent a joint letter to Mayor De Blasio stating that, “we believe that there must be discussion on how this initiative fits into the larger vision for Sunset Park.” The letter called for “a robust community engagement process,” and said the officials “expect EDC to ensure Sunset Park’s residents and existing businesses are fully integrated in the planning for future economic development.” Do these four elected officials believe that their demands have been met?
Question for elected officials who provided a quote for the February, 2017 press release announcing the MiNY Campus (Congressperson Nydia Velázquez, BP Adams, and Councilperson Menchaca)
- What specific information did these officials receive concerning the MiNY Campus and its anticipated impact before adding a quote to this press release?
Question for elected officials who provided a quote for the August, 2020 press release announcing the selection of Steiner Studios for the South Campus (Rep. Velázquez, BP Adams and State Senator Diane Savino)
- What specific information did these officials receive concerning the anticipated impact of the Steiner Studios proposal before adding a quote to this press release?
Additional question for State Senator Diane Savino re: MiNY Campus
- What specific information did State Senator Savino receive concerning the MiNY Campus before authoring a letter endorsing Steiner Studios’ bid for the South Campus project?
Question for all elected officials on the Sunset Park Task Force re: the MiNY Campus
- What is the current position of these officials on the MiNY Campus, and what information has informed that position?
Questions for SBIDC re: the MiNY Campus
- What specific information concerning the MiNY Campus and its anticipated impact did SBIDC receive before adding a quote to the February, 2017 press release announcing the project?
- What specific information concerning the anticipated impact of Steiner Studios’ proposal did SBIDC receive before adding a quote to the August, 2020 press release announcing the selection of the company for the South Campus?
Questions for UPROSE re: the MiNY Campus
- What information was UPROSE provided concerning the MiNY Campus and its anticipated impact before adding a quote to the February, 2017 press release announcing the project?
- What is UPROSE’s current position on the MiNY Campus, and what information has informed that position?
Questions for OBT re: the MiNY Campus
- What information was OBT provided concerning the MiNY Campus and its anticipated impact before adding a quote to the February, 2017 press release announcing the project?
- What is OBT’s current position on the MiNY Campus, and what information has informed that position?
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— Posted by JVS on 12.22.21
12.7.21 – “Offshore wind developer Equinor cuts ribbon to office in Sunset Park”
As reported by the Brooklyn Eagle:
The ribbon was cut at Industry City as offshore wind developer Equinor announced the opening of its New York offshore wind project office at the massive Sunset Park waterfront complex on Tuesday.
Equinor operates two lease areas, Empire Wind and Beacon Wind. The projects are expected to provide New York State with 3.3 gigawatts of energy…
Equinor’s office at Industry City is around 10,000 square feet and is across the street from the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal. The company’s plan, as reported in the Eagle earlier this year, will transform that facility into a hub for staging and assembling wind-power equipment. The Marine Terminal stretches from 29th to 36th Streets on the Brooklyn waterfront.
— Posted by JVS on 12.18.21, backdated to 12.7.21
10.26.21 – Open questions re: MiNY and SBMT
A note concerning these questions: I am not neutral on these matters. For example, I helped organize a protest in September, 2020 calling for the Steiner Studios plan to be halted until “until the agency has worked with the Sunset Park community to analyze the project’s latest details and establish ways to measure and monitor its future impacts.” Additionally, I have spent more time researching MiNY than the Equinor SBMT deal, in part because the Equinor plan appears to have featured more democratic engagement than MiNY (via elected officials and local organizations), and because I believe it more clearly connects to a significant societal goal – decarbonization of the state’s economy.
But my personal feelings and biases should not cloud the overall issue. What matters are the systems in place through which plans like these are established, and the ways in which those systems do, or do not, promote democratic engagement and government transparency. I therefore think addressing the questions below would benefit Sunset Park, and would give community members information they could use going forward to ensure that any local developments help Sunset Park and surrounding communities as much as possible.
Questions about the Made in NY Campus
- Were any democratically elected officials representing Sunset Park or surrounding communities involved in the design of the Made in NY Campus and its prioritization of film and garment manufacturing/fashion industry work, and if so, how and when were they involved? (At a CB7 meeting on 7.22.19, I asked Councilmember Menchaca if it was true that his office had not been told about the MiNY project before it was announced, which I had previously heard. In response, Mr. Menchaca said that he had learned of the project “days before” it was announced publicly. He then assigned responsibility for that situation to, primarily, “the mayor’s office.”)
- What specific information were elected officials representing Sunset Park or surrounding communities given concerning the elements of MiNY before it was announced and expanded, and when were they provided that information?
- On Feb. 15, 2017, Mr. Menchaca, Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, Rep. Jerry Nadler, and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams sent a joint letter to Mayor De Blasio stating that, “we believe that there must be discussion on how this initiative fits into the larger vision for Sunset Park.” The letter called for “a robust community engagement process,” and said the officials “expect EDC to ensure Sunset Park’s residents and existing businesses are fully integrated in the planning for future economic development.” Do these four elected officials believe that their demands have been met?
- Why did former Assemblyman Félix W. Ortiz and State Senator Diane Savino write official letters urging EDC to sign specifically with Steiner Studios? What information and analysis informed that action?
- How do local elected officials currently feel about this project, based on their current understanding of its components? What specific reasons inform their position?
- How did EDC evaluate the veracity and applicability of the two sets of data provided to CB7 in November, 2020 pertaining to the film and TV industry, and job projections linked to Steiner’s MiNY project? (When asked about the numbers, EDC officials assigned responsibility for them to Steiner Studios itself, even though they appeared on slides with logos from both the company and EDC. Steiner Studios said the industry statistics came from an HR&A study which is not public, and which apparently was not received either by EDC or by MOME. Regarding Steiner’s own job projections, related emails between EDC and Doug Steiner were exchanged less than two months before the contract was announced. It remains unclear how the reliability of these projections was determined.)
- Does any data exist showing the local economic impact of Steiner Studios’ work at the Brooklyn Navy Yard? (When asked in December, 2020 about the local economic impact of Steiner Studios’ large production space there, the District Manager of CB2, and spokespeople for Assemblyman Joe Lentol and State Sen. Brian Kavanagh, said they didn’t have any information to share.)
- What is the best information available concerning the workforce and economic impact of the film and TV industry in New York City and New York State?
- Who was involved in negotiating the specific list of community benefits associated with the Made in NY South Campus?
- Has MOME and/or EDC communicated with Sunset Park High School regarding the high school production industry training program linked to the Made in New York Campus? (A response to a related FOIL request suggest that in the year-and-a-half leading up to that announcement, MOME and EDC did not exchange any “emails or other written communications” with the Sunset Park High School principal concerning the training program.)
- Why do gaps apparently exist between MiNY PA Training Program data and the reporting requirements of two MOUs signed between the city and BWI in 2010 and 2012? Also, why hasn’t hiring and placement data pertaining to the MiNY PA Training Program and Post Production training program been released publicly and in full?
- Does any data exist showing how many Sunset Park residents have participated in the MiNY PA Training Program? (The Post Production Training Program data that has been released shows that 147 people had entered the program since 2017, of whom three were from Sunset Park and none were from Red Hook.)
- What are the latest employment projections for the fashion and garment industry work planned for the North Campus, and how were those projections arrived at?
- What is the breakdown of expected types of fashion and garment industry employees on the North Campus? What information relates to the salaries, benefits and level of unionization associated with those jobs?
- Which budget or available pool of money would be used to pay for the announced Pier 6 redevelopment and Eastern Effects relocation? How long has that money been available for local development work?
- What information were elected local officials given concerning the Pier 6 and Eastern Effects projects before they were announced, and when were those officials provided with that information?
- Has any information been generated concerning the anticipated impact of the overall MiNY Campus on traffic and greenhouse gas emissions?
- Do the previously announced plans for the MiNY Campus close off any specific potential future uses of Building C, Building B, Pier 6, the Power House, the Round House, or the 51st Street rail yard? If so, what uses do they close off?
- How many current workers on the North and South Campuses are being relocated? Are any associated businesses shutting down?
- Will any of the proposed buildings on the MiNY Campus affect the view of the bay from Sunset Park (the park itself)?
- Does EDC plan on monitoring hiring and employment at the MiNY Campus, and if so, how? (Will its efforts be similar to those at Brooklyn Army Terminal?)
Questions about the Equinor project planned for the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal
- What was the role of city, state and federal officials in designing this project, and at what stages of negotiations were they involved?
- What negotiations led the 2015 RFP for SBMT in the direction of uses associated with offshore wind power?
- How was the $5 million job development fund associated with the project developed, and why was influence over that funding given to the Sunset Park Task Force?
- How did EDC confirm the reliability of job projections associated with the project shown to CB7 in January, 2021? Specifically, the Board was told that the project “Secures long-term activation of SBMT for staging, O&M, and interconnection supporting at least 350-500 direct multi-year jobs (including 60-100 long term O&M).”
- What direct evidence did EDC receive from Equinor in support of its job projections for the project? (Related FOILed documents are here, and a related comment from Equinor spokesperson Julia Bovey is available here.)
- What is the source of job projections from the Governor’s office concerning the project? Specifically, in his 2021 State of the State address, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo stated that the project would create “1,000 short term jobs and 200 long term jobs in Sunset Park.” However, a FOIL request sent to the Governor’s Office found no supporting information, and NYSERDA withheld responsive documents, citing ongoing negotiations.
— Posted by JVS on 10.26.21; updated on 10.27.21; updated again on 10.27.21 for clarity surrounding communications with Sunset Park High School
9.27.21 – NYSERDA withholds data on SBMT job projection from 2021 State of the State address
As previously posted about here, in May, 2021, Former Governor Andrew Cuomo’s office did not respond to a request for comment about the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal job projection included in the Governor’s 2021 State of the State address – specifically, that the project would generate “1,000 short term jobs and 200 long term jobs in Sunset Park.”
A subsequent FOIL request for relevant information was sent to the Governor’s office, but yielded no information. In its response, the FOIL office suggested contacting NYSERDA for information.
On 6.23.21, a FOIL request was submitted to NYSERDA requesting “any documents that provide the source of the specific job projections” in the 2021 State of the State address.
On 9.27.21, a response was received from the NYSERDA FOIL office withholding the requested information. The response stated the following:
NYSERDA is withholding the record responsive to your request pursuant to Public Officers Law § 87(2)(c) which provides an exception to disclosure for records that, “if disclosed would impair present or imminent contract awards.” The record responsive to your request is from the documents submitted by Equinor Wind US LLC (“Equinor”) in response to NYSERDA’s ORECRFP20-1 Offshore Wind solicitation. The solicitation resulted in the selection of two projects for contract negotiation, Empire Wind 2 and Beacon Wind, both from Equinor. These contract negotiations are still in progress, and, as such, the release of the record responsive to your request would impair these negotiations. Accordingly, your request is denied.
— Posted by JVS on 10.9.21, backdated to 9.27.21; title changed on 10.30.22 to fix a spelling mistake
7.8.21 – “To solve the climate crisis, look to the leaders on the front lines”
The below opinion piece by Elizabeth Yiempierre, Executive Director of UPROSE, was published by The Hill:
It’s not every day that a cabinet secretary turns up in our working-class, multiracial and largely immigrant neighborhood of Sunset Park, Brooklyn. But when Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm visited last week, she didn’t just smile for the cameras, say a few nice words and ride off in her electric vehicle. She listened carefully to members of our community. She made it clear that she recognizes we are valuable sources of local knowledge, and practical solutions.
We need officials who are aligned with frontline solutions and are ready to tackle the climate crisis. We need the resources of the federal government combined with the creative solutions and commitment of people living in communities that have been hit hardest by the impacts of climate change and dirty energy.
Granholm learned of the years-long effort to turn Brooklyn’s old industrial waterfront into a new hub for green jobs — an effort from community-based environmental justice groups like UPROSE, which I lead…
Sunset Park already suffers more than our fair share of problems with asthma and other pollution-related health problems. We are already seeing what more severe rainfall events, rising waters, and stronger storms — like Superstorm Sandy — mean for our waterfront neighborhood…
This year, after years of effort, we scored a major win: New York state picked our South Brooklyn Marine Terminal for a wind-turbine assembly and maintenance hub that will service offshore wind-energy projects. The state is matching $200 million in private-sector investment for this project, which will transform our run-down waterfront and give Sunset Park a toehold in the fast-growing clean-energy sector while supporting 1,000 good-paying and stable jobs. This is an example of “green re-Industrialization” — industrial redevelopment that addresses climate change while strengthening community cohesion, building up the local economy, and creating good jobs for local people…
The future we envision centers on everyday members of our communities sitting at the table in seats of power — not as passive recipients of ideas that flow from outsiders’ good intentions, but as valued partners in building bold and practical solutions ready for scaled investment. If we follow that path, we can have stronger communities, a healthier planet, and a growing economy that benefits every person — from a cabinet secretary in Washington, to my working-class neighbors in Sunset Park.
— Posted by JVS on 7.11.21, backdated to 7.8.21
6.30.21 – “DOE’s Granholm highlights need for ‘place-based’ climate investments”
As reported by S&P Global Market Intelligence:
U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm signaled that the federal government would consider locally developed solutions as the Biden administration endeavors to make massive investments in climate and infrastructure programs.
Granholm made her comments during a June 29 tour of New York City, the latest in a string of visits to engage with environmental justice and labor organizations — and to pitch President Joe Biden’s plan to create jobs through clean energy and infrastructure investments.
“What I’ve learned is that every community is unique, and that as we consider how these investments flow, that there are place-based strategies that we’ve got to craft in partnership with communities,” Granholm told reporters at the offices of Brooklyn community organization Uprose. “What’s good here is not going to be necessarily good in Houston or in Louisiana or in Oakland.”
That would represent a different way of investing for the U.S. Energy Department and rest of the federal government, which has not historically funded projects in partnership with local communities, according to Granholm. She said Washington, D.C., needs to learn from local groups like Uprose, which have done the “really hard work” of identifying community needs and ensuring that they are represented in large development decisions and accrue investment benefits.
Granholm listened to and questioned members of Uprose about their role in advocating for the development of an offshore wind manufacturing hub in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. The group fended off plans to develop additional waterfront tech, retail and entertainment space over concerns it would yield gentrification and displace communities of color.
Uprose sought to preserve the “working waterfront” and create jobs in clean energy manufacturing, part of its vision for a Green Resilient Industrial District, or GRID. In January, the state selected the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal in Sunset Park for a wind turbine assembly and maintenance hub to service Equinor ASA and BP PLC’s Northeast offshore wind projects.
Uprose Executive Director Elizabeth Yeampierre said she felt positive about Granholm’s attention to place-based solutions developed by local leadership. “That’s all really promising, and that’s something that we’re hoping will be part of how DOE moves forward with our communities,” she said in an interview.
Yeampierre, who previously chaired the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Environmental Justice Advisory Council, said the federal government has historically failed to meaningfully work with community groups to allocate investments. “What the interagency group did was come in and listen, and we’d never hear from them again,” she said.
— Posted by JVS on 7.2.21, backdated to 6.30.21
Sunset Park Reports 