Feds worried about city sewer funding, but not de Blasio

Dana Rubinstein

In an unusual exchange of roles, the federal government is warning the state against a possible diversion of infrastructure funding from the city, while the New York City mayor is unconcerned.

In a letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo's environmental conservation commissioner on Wednesday, Environmental Protection Agency regional administrator Judith Enck wrote that the $511 million in E.P.A. water management funding that Cuomo and the state authority he controls are trying to direct to his Tappan Zee Bridge replacement project might hurt New York City, "a municipality that has multibillion dollar needs in the area of wastewater treatment systems."

"According to New York City’s 10-year capital strategy, the New York City Municipal Water Finance Authority is relying on the issuance of a minimum of $900 million in bonds ... through 2017 to help finance its water infrastructure needs," wrote Enck. "At a minimum, we believe it is advisable to consider the likely impacts that funding this project will have on the City’s ability to fund its 10-year Capital Strategy.”

The city, however, remains confident that the state will deliver its $900 million either way.

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2014/06/8548037/feds-worried-about-city-sewer-funding-not-de-blasio