More than an estimated 1,000 NYC residents descended upon the state Capitol in Albany yesterday to urge lawmakers to renew and strengthen rent control laws that are set to expire on Monday.
EVG reader Peter Brownscombe was there and shared these photos…
The Wall Street Journal reported the following today:
The powerful New York City real-estate industry, which is aligned with the state Senate’s Republican majority, opposes many of the regulations, saying they don’t help tenants or landlords. Many lawmakers simply want to leave Albany without upsetting the status quo this year after a tumultuous few months marred by two corruption arrests.
Real-estate executives, city officials and state lawmakers say little has been decided, and that it is likely the current rent regulations, set to expire this year, will be extended at least for a limited period. More than 1 million units in New York City are affected by rent regulations, according to a 2011 study by the Furman Center at New York University.
People familiar with the talks don’t expect the de Blasio administration to get its way on a key issue: ending “vacancy decontrol” — the practice of exempting regulated apartments from rent controls once their rents hit a threshold, currently $2,500, and letting them go for market rates. Mr. de Blasio wants to end vacancy decontrol and put a cap on rent increases, a move championed by liberal lawmakers as crucial to strengthening rent laws.
The Mayor's Office tonight sent out a link to this petition — Support Affordable Housing in New York City
[Image via the Mayor's Office]
Well, the 421-a tax abatement that REBNY loves expires in June as well so fuck them. REBNY needs BOTH the NYS Assembly and the NYS Senate to renew that as well so we will see. BTW, Cuomo is a major dick, his poll numbers are tanking for a good reason.
ReplyDeleteWow, that is wonderful. I thank the people that made the trip, I wish I could have joined them.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos.
ReplyDeleteFive decades of rent regulation laws have not helped make New York City affordable for ALL New Yorkers. Affordable for some, yes, but certainly not for all. I am curious how many applications will go out for the 16 affordable units currently available for the new housing on Houston or the micro-units at Carmel Place on 27th St.
ReplyDeleteNY State government to NYC, we need you hard working people as our cash cow, you support the economically dying rest of the state with your taxes. We only pass laws that force more of the lower and middle income from NYC and replace those people with high salary corporate types and their trust fund children. We don't care about the towns and small cities in the rest of the state and the growing meth industries and the destroyed lives of those communities. We will keep being pro-real-estate because we think that is the only way to make money in our shallow view of the world. Signed Republicans of Albany.
ReplyDelete2 million people who are 'subsidized' from cradle to grave. And people who make 80k and cant find an apt want help too? Ridiculous. And the commenter above- you expect the Repubs in Albany to help you? The Dems own NYC. The Dems know they have you vote. The Repubs will never get it. So both parties do as they please. 2 million. And these apts never hit the market.
ReplyDeleteThank you Anon @ 9:41AM.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all no home is forever.
Secondly, the amount of cognitive dissonance amongst the plebs is staggering, even the supposedly older and wiser. Subsidized housing is not and cannot ever be affordable housing. You people are under a spell, literally. Guess what happens when you stop living off someone else's dime? Right. I'm not saying it's nice. I'm not saying it's "good." But it's real.
Lastly, the business of America is business. Your socio-economic superiors in Albany don't care about you. President Rubberlegs, who Sovietized your economy and gave you rent regulation to begin with didn't care about you. And you know what? I don't care about you.
And I love these initiatives for affordable housing for the middle class. Affordable housing for the ... middle class? What the hell does it mean to be middle class then? Oh, maybe you're not so middle class as you thought you were. Borrowed time, people. Borrowed time.
We are all subject to laws which come out of the Republican controlled state government in Albany. Minimum wage is based on what Walmart wants to pay in a depressed part of the state not on what a living wage for those living anywhere near NYC. Just like Federal vs State laws, Albany has the final say on a lot of important decisions which impact out city. Giving out full liquor licenses to anyone that wants one as long as it is in in the New Las Vegas once called the lower east side, brings tax revenue to the state. These people don't have to suffer the consequence of the misery of their actions while we do. NYC is a Dem town but we still do not control our own destiny with Albany calling the shots. State law makers have put all their tax income in one basket being NYC tax payers and such businesses like bars. Albany's idea of bringing jobs to small city/town upstate is to build prisons. These prisons are filled with inmates from guess where? Answer NYC. As an added bonus the families of the inmate have relocated to these small cities and towns and are on public assistance which these places cannot afford (remember there is a very low tax base there). So small places upstate are paying higher property taxes while their homes have lost value dramatically since the State government decided to ship it's big city problems up north. Idle youth in a small town which offers them nothing but boredom will get into trouble, and the crime rate goes up. Meanwhile in NYC gentrification and urban planning has pushed the middle and working class further out into the far reaches of the outer boroughs to make room for condo's and night life.
ReplyDelete"Subsidized housing is not and cannot ever be affordable housing"
ReplyDelete1. 421-a tax abatement.
2. Mortgage interest tax deduction.
Subsidized Socialist housing at its finest. REBNY and Rent Stabilization Association trolls, please go back to your holes and stay there.
From the WSJ. You know, that Commie, Pinko paper.
ReplyDelete“New Picture of Rent Burden on Tenants in Stabilized Apartments
Census data show burden is about same as that faced by tenants in market-rate apartments”
http://www.wsj.com/articles/new-picture-of-rent-burden-on-tenants-in-stabilized-apartments-1434016801
Let me try again? Who paid for this trip? Do these people have jobs? The burden is not the same. Paying 30-40% of a govt check is not the same. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteThe help has to live somewhere....
ReplyDelete