NYBC rallies support for West Side plan.

As a broad coalition encompassing all segments of the design, construction and real estate industry, a key function of the New York Building Congress is to support policies and projects that benefit the entire building community and foster long-term economic growth and prosperity for the Metropolitan region.

There is no better example of this mission in action than the Building Congress work in support of efforts to transform Manhattan's far West Side into a vibrant mixed-use, 24/7 community.

The Bloomberg and Pataki administrations jointly have developed an intricate vision that, in addition to expanded convention space, includes all the elements of a thriving neighborhood--housing, hotel and office space, parkland, mass transit, restaurants, stores and cultural and recreational facilities.

The Hudson Yards Plan has garnered widespread support from the building community, and in response, the Building Congress, working with committed partners inside and outside the industry, has been at the forefront of an aggressive campaign on behalf of the overall Plan.

In a joint venture with the Building & Construction Trades Council of Greater New York (BCTC) and the Building Trades Employers Association (BTEA), the Building Congress recently contributed $100,000 to an advertising campaign in support of the Hudson Yards Plan and the New York Sports and Convention Center.

The campaign featured television ads that ran on NY1, Fox 5 News, and UPN News evening broadcasts. The spots highlighted the immense benefits of the projects for taxpayers, working families and for the City of New York. The New York Jets organization followed with their own advertisements. In total, the ads reached 14 million households over four weeks--approximately 700,000 households each day.

The Building Congress also submitted testimony to the Economic Development Committee of the New York City Council in support of the proposed New York Sports and Convention Center.

Along with expansion of the Jacob Javits Convention Center and extension of the Number 7 subway line, the new Center is a key component of the comprehensive plan for the far West Side.

At the end of June, the Building Congress co-sponsored a Construction Industry Breakfast Forum, during which Empire State Development Corporation Chairman Charles A. Gargano and New York Jets President Jay Cross presented industry members with a detailed look at various aspects of the Sports and Convention Center plan.

The forum was attended by more than 350 industry executives and serves as a good example of the kind of program and access the Building Congress strives to provide its members throughout the year.

The forum also served as a platform to announce the formation of an industry-wide Hudson Yards Task Force led by the BCTC, BTEA and the Building Congress.

The goal of the Task Force is to press the facts and the benefits of the Hudson Yards Plan and help dispel some of the misinformation being circulated.

The Building Congress participates in efforts such as these because one of its guiding principles is the belief that such projects must be wisely planned and boldly undertaken not just to create jobs and short-term economic activity, important as that is, but to ensure the continued prosperity and prominence of New York City for decades to come.

Richard T. Anderson is President of the New York Building Congress, a nonpartisan public policy coalition of business, labor, association and governmental organizations representing the design, construction and real estate interests of more than 250,000 individuals.

For information on events, publications and membership, visit www.buildingcongress.com.

RICHARD T. ANDERSON,

PRESIDENT

NEW YORK BUILDING CONGRESS