Council Members Corey Johnson, Donovan Richards, and Jumaane Williams (from left to right) in front of City Hall. Image Credit: mfy.org
UPDATE: On February 1, 2017, the City Council voted 47-0 to approve four bills that would help protect tenants of three-quarter houses in New York City. During the vote, Council Member Donovan Richards called three-quarter houses a wide spread problem that would not be cured by the bills and that the City would need to track progress on the issue to determine future responses. Council Member Ritchie Torres called predatory operators of three-quarter houses the “scum of the earth,” and expressed pride to be involved in the “game changer” legislative package.
Resolution 1035-2016, on which testimony was heard at the same committee hearing, remained in the Committee on General Welfare. The resolution would call on the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance to promulgate a rule that would increase public assistance rental allowance levels. (more…)
Image Credit: William Alatriste
Intro 30-A gives HPD liens a stronger position. On August 14, 2019, City Council passed Intro 30-A providing that the City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s (“HPD”) orders to vacate the premises, and the subsequent costs to relocate the displaced tenant would now be considered high status tax liens on the property. The law is intended to discourage the negligence of building owners and give HPD an ability to recover relocation expenses of those tenants that were forced to vacate. These liens will have a first position over all other liens and encumbrances on the building and lot except for other tax liens and assessments.
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The report closes in on housing needs for low- and extremely low-income households and proposes four initiatives on how to provide affordable housing for these households. On November 28, 2018, New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer released its NYC for All: The Housing We Need report showing the scope of the City’s affordable housing crisis. According to the report, the city’s population grew nearly half a million between 2009 and 2017 and city employment increased by over 800,000 jobs. While the city has experienced population and job growth, the growth of residential units has failed to keep the pace with a net increase of only 100,000 residential units for the 500,000 people. (more…)
Image credit: New York City Council.
City Council bills target lead levels. On May 10, 2018, Speaker Corey Johnson and 19 City Council Members introduced a package of 23 bills to eliminate lead poisoning in the five boroughs. The package of bills, the largest lead laws since 2004, seeks to strengthen, expand, and establish new protections on the city’s lead laws. (more…)
Mayor Bill de Blasio. Image Credit: Benjamin Kanter/Mayoral Photo Office.
Due to City’s low vacancy rate, rent stabilization laws have been extended. On March 27, 2018, Mayor Bill de Blasio signed legislation to extend rent regulation laws for the next three years. The laws will remain in effect until April 1, 2021. State rent stabilization laws continue to be effective when the vacancy rate is below 5%. The City’s vacancy rates are determined and measured by the Housing and Vacancy Survey, which is conducted every three years. According to the 2017 Housing and Vacancy Survey, New York City has a 3.63% vacancy rate. Mayor de Blasio’s legislation affirms that New York City is in a housing crisis. The legislation demonstrates to Albany that the City is in need of the State’s rent stabilization laws. (more…)
