AIA Presidential Candidate Profiles

On Tuesday, 11.08.16, America will vote to elect the next President of the United States. AIA is providing comprehensive, non-partisan information on where the candidates for President stand on key issues in their 2016 Presidential Candidate Profiles. AIA does not endorse candidates but encourages all members to exercise their right to vote.

The election offers America’s architects an opportunity to have their voices heard. The goal of the AIA’s presidential profiles is to help members make informed choices based on what the candidates have said about critical issues facing architects.

The presidential profiles provide campaign platform details on issues like taxes, energy, and small businesses, along with the AIA’s position as an organization. The profiles also include a list of non-partisan resources available online.

The Board of Elections offers a useful Poll Site Locator to find your local voting place on Election Day, and get a sample of what will be on your ballot, including state and local elections.

Pulse Points

• On 09.28.16, Mayor de Blasio announced the goal of awarding at least 30% of the dollar amount of city contracts to M/WBEs by 2021. The mayor has also appointed Deputy Mayor Richard Buery as the new Director of the City’s M/WBE program.
• On 09.27.16, Governor Cuomo unveiled plans for the complete transformation of the historic James A. Farley Post Office into a transportation hub. On 10.05.16, the governor  revealed  plans to reimagine New York’s bridges and tunnels, including automatic tolling, safety enhancements, and significant investments into public art and lighting.
• On 10.05.16, AIANY spoke at a Community Board 7 meeting in support of the proposed Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation at the American Museum of Natural History, designed by Studio Gang Architects. That evening, the full community board voted to approve the project’s design. On 10.11.16, AIANY testified before the Landmarks Preservation Commission in support of the project, where the Landmarks Commission voted unanimously in its favor. You can read AIANY’s full testimony in support of the Gilder Center, here. The center will continue with the environmental review process into 2017.
• On 10.06.16, NYC published the 2016 New York City Energy Conservation Code. The fully integrated code, based on the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code and ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2013, is available for purchase from the NYC CityStore.
• On 12.01.16, the U.S. Department of Labor’s new overtime rule will take effect. Over the summer, the department finalized its update of overtime regulations, raising the salary threshold so that every full-time, salaried employee making less than $47,476 annually (or $913/week) would be eligible for overtime pay. To better understand how this rule will affect you or your firm, the AIA released a brief outline of what to expect. You can also visit the Department of Labor’s overtime rule resource page. If you have additional questions, AIANY recommends you consult with a qualified HR professional or attorney.
• The New York State Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) distributed a helpful Frequently Asked Questions for architects and engineers regarding lobbying and land-use actions. For more information and updates on the lobby law and how it affects architects, visit AIANY’s Advocacy web page. The Chapter is continuing to communicate with JCOPE and the City Clerk’s office to bring members the most up-to-date information and advocate on their behalf.