Second Time's the Charm? NY Legislature Angles For Broad Housing Deal.

The New York Senate and Assembly are pushing for a housing plan that encourages development while also protecting tenants from eviction. Last year, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie proposed a list of policies to expand affordable housing and implement eviction protections, but an agreement with Governor Kathy Hochul could not be reached. Now, with the state's annual spending plan due soon, the Senate and Assembly are calling for a housing deal that addresses both development incentives and tenant protections. However, Governor Hochul believes these topics should be addressed separately. The Senate supports advancing tenant protections aligned with the core principles of Good Cause Eviction, while the Assembly is committed to enacting statewide policies that protect tenants from arbitrary rent increases and unreasonable evictions. Both bodies have proposed funding for affordable housing programs and rental subsidies. Governor Hochul's plan includes funding for housing development on state-owned land. The Senate's budget plan also includes amendments to expand eligibility for emergency rent payments and remove the requirement to repay the grant. The Senate and Assembly have not endorsed a bill to increase rents on vacant units, but they are open to adjusting the cost of renovations that can lead to rent increases. The housing coalition Housing Justice for All is focused on a housing deal that includes statewide good cause eviction protections. [Extracted from the article]