Manhattan Assemblyman Micah Kellner, inspired by the pending arrival of the Cornell/Technion tech campus in his district, is pushing a state tax credit for angel investors. The Democrat’s bill, sponsored in the Senate by Joseph Robach, R-Rochester, would provide startup investors a credit worth 25% of investments between $25,000 and $1 million.

The startup must have revenues of less than $1 million, no more than 25 employees (60% of whom must work in-state) and fewer than seven years in New York. Connecticut has the credit, as does Wisconsin, which saw angel financing increase sixfold between 2005 and 2010, Mr. Kellner said.

“This is about creating a market for people to invest in entrepreneurship, whether you’re starting the cool new burger joint or you have the biotech venture of the future,” he said.

For years, the city has been using incomplete or out of date data in the development of this project. For example, the city has budgeted $125 million for the construction of the MTS, when the most recent estimates show that it will cost upwards of $190 million. Additionally, the Department of Sanitation has been using decade-old statistics in their planning which fails to take into account the vast changes that have occurred in the ecosystem. Many fishermen have reported catching fish like the Atlantic Striped Bass, Fluke, and Bluefish in the area, but none of the fish appear anywhere in the DOS’s plan.

The Mayor cannot be allowed to use his influence and ram this project through. If he does, New Yorkers will lose out on the transparent process they deserve. I have joined together with Council Member Jessica Lappin in submitting a Freedom of Information (FOIL) request to obtain all the data and information that exists about this project. Now the city will not be able to hide behind its false numbers.

You can read our request below:

Statement from Assembly Member Micah Kellner regarding Governor Cuomo signing the accessible taxi tax credit into law.

The bill, which passed the Legislature in June, would add 30,000 new livery vehicles that would be able to pick up street hails in the outer boroughs of New York City. Mayor Bloomberg has contends that the goal of this legislation is to expand access, but the bill fails to require any of the new vehicles to be accessible to wheelchair users and other people with disabilities. If we are going to radically change our city’s transportation system, we must embrace a plan that provides access to all people, including those with disabilities.

I commend Governor Cuomo for drawing a line in the sand and refusing to sign the bill until it provides meaningful access to people with disabilities. When the Legislature returns in January, I will work very closely with him to develop a plan that expands service to all New Yorkers, whether they are on two feet or four wheels.

You can read my letter below:

You can read my testimony below: