State Senator Brad Hoylman has suggestions for helping in recovery efforts for those harmed by the huge gas explosion that blew up a couple of buildings on 2nd Avenue and 7th Street in Manhattan on March 26, 2015.
Keep Housing Affordable in NYC
Sunday, March 29, 2015
Monday, March 23, 2015
Lakeview Mitchell-Lama struggling to stay affordable
City and State has a terrific article on Mitchell-Lamas - focusing on the Lakeview development on 5th Avenue near East Harlem.
IN RISING MARKET, VITAL MITCHELL-LAMA PROGRAM AT CROSSROADS
Excerpt: "[Th]e city must prepare for the return of the market conditions that caused the last wave of Mitchell-Lama losses by creating and funding incentives for owners to maintain their commitment to affordability,” as well as help with repairs in buildings remaining in the program, Waters and Bach wrote in the [Community Service Society] report."
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
NYC Mayor strongly supports repeal of vacancy decontrol
To tackle the affordable housing crisis, the City and State must work cooperatively. Even though I know the discussion of the future of rent regulation will occur post-budget, I must emphasize now the importance of renewing and strengthening rental protections that expire this year.
"If they are not renewed and strengthened, many thousands of apartments will become unaffordable. And many thousands of people will lose their homes.
"I also want to state clearly my belief that we must end vacancy decontrol. It is a major contributing factor in the loss of rent-protected units in the City.
Click on "read more" for the full text of the rent law part of his speech.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Sign the Petition for Stronger Rent Laws to NYS Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie
The rent laws expire in June, so tell our lawmakers in Albany we need stronger laws to protect and preserve affordable housing. We have already lost hundreds of thousands of rent stabilized and rent controlled units due to weak regulations -- we cannot afford to lose one more.
SIGN and SHARE : Bit.ly/RentRegsWork
Thursday, February 19, 2015
New Tenant Harassment Prevention Task Force
The Mayor, NYS Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, NYS Homes & Community Renewal Commissioner (includes DHCR) Darryl Towns, and NYC HPD Commissioner Vicki Bean announced the creation of a Tenant Harassment Prevention Task Force, to go after landlords who use illegal means to displace tenants. Their press release and press conference say:
City and State agencies will work together to
- look for patterns,
- pro-actively go after landlords who are repeat offenders,
- respond to 311 calls and calling in all relevant agencies to inspect jointly and share information,
- investigate for criminal charges (not just housing court penalties),
- impose steeper penalties.
Watch it at https://www.youtube.com/
Click on "read more" below for a paraphrased recap of the press conference.
Click on "read more" below for a paraphrased recap of the press conference.
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Don't subsidize penthouses with our tax money.
Watch NBC-TV Video, NY Daily News, the Real Deal, WPIX 11,
the Observer: Progressives March Against Tax Break for Luxury Developments.
By | 02/18/15 2:40pm
the Observer: Progressives March Against Tax Break for Luxury Developments.
By | 02/18/15 2:40pm
Progressives rail against the 421-a tax abatement outside One57 today. (Photo: Ross Barkan/New York Observer)
EXCERPT: "The tax abatement, known as 421-a, offers tax exemptions for developers that build multifamily housing in the city. Critics from groups like New York Communities for Change, Make the Road New York and Vocal New York charge that the tax break, created in the 1970s to spur development at a time when the city’s fiscal health was waning, is antiquated, allowing powerful developers to reap millions in tax breaks while creating housing exclusively for the wealthy."
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