Blog
High Construction Costs to Blame for Lack of Renewable Energy Development
The Public Service Commission recently declined renewable energy developers’ plea to provide more subsidies for these projects, leaving New York’s renewable energy goals in dire straits. “The PSC was correct to turn down the request. Taxpayers should not be made to pay more for these projects. With that, elected leaders in Albany made a calculated…
ABC Reacts: Gov. Hochul Signs 3 Affordable Housing Bills
The following statement is attributed to Associated Builders & Contractors, Empire State Chapter President Brian Sampson Reacting to Gov. Hochul’s Signature of Three Affordable Housing Bills: “We support the new J-51 tax incentive that will help property owners navigate the high construction costs in New York and improve the safety and quality of life of…
ABC Members Guide to the Hauling & Delivery of Aggregate Supply to Public Jobs
Prevailing Wage for Aggregate Hauling This webpage serves as your guide to better understand and comply with New York State’s new requirements related to prevailing wage for the hauling & delivery of aggregate supplies. Recent Updates: DOL Releases Guidance on 50-Mile Rule The New York State Department of Labor (DOL) posted a Fact Sheet and…
ABC Empire State Chapter President Brian Sampson’s Statement on Buffalo Bills Stadium Workforce Shortage
“Whether we’re a broken record or, as Yogi Berra famously said, “it’s like déjà vu all over again”, the fact that the Bills stadium and other local projects need more construction workers should not a surprise. We’ve been clear from the beginning that these projects would need outside workers to visit Erie County in order…
2023 Construction Excellence Awards
ABC held our annual Construction Excellence Awards gala at the historic Otesaga Hotel in Cooperstown, New York. More than 200 people attended the all-day event dedicated to helping contractors connect with colleagues and acknowledge the projects built by the merit/open shop construction community. This year, the Chapter handed out more than 20 awards that covered…
An ABC Members Guide to the Roadway Excavation Quality Assurance Act
New Updates On December 1st, the Bureau of Public Work issued additional FAQs for the Roadway Excavation Quality Assurance Act. Please take time to read and understand the updated FAQ (scroll down to view). Please reach out to Tanner Schmidt at (585) 730-1814 or tschmidt@abcnys.org with any questions. Background On August 16, 2023, Governor Hochul signed…
Statement on Gov. Hochul Hunts Point Access Press Conference
Today, at a press conference in the Bronx, Governor Hochul announced funding for the final stage of the Hunts Point Interstate Access Improvement Project. We agree with the goal behind the project and applaud the health and quality of life benefits it will bring to the community. The mandated Project Labor Agreement will waste hundreds of…
New Bills Stadium Misses Minority Goals
Governor Hochul forced the Buffalo Bills into mandating a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) for the new Buffalo Bills Stadium project, claiming that a PLA would help this project hit every goal they set and promote minorities and women in construction. In some of the least surprising news we have received, not even the first set…
New York’s PLA Addiction & The Impact on Affordable Housing
Governor Hochul has announced multiple large-scale housing developments. One major announcement was the 1200 new housing units being built at 5 World Trade Center in New York City, where one-third will be affordable housing. ABC applauds the Governor for her commitment to relieving the housing crisis looming large in New York. With that said New…
Fix the PLA Problem Before Bailing Out NYCHA
The newly appointed New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) CEO has requested a $500M bailout. Common sense change must be made before even a penny of this enormous bailout is forced on taxpayers. NYCHA must stop using expensive Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) on their construction projects as they unnecessarily drive up the construction cost and…