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March 2023

Weekly Report for March 31, 2023

Take Action today – “Good cause” eviction still being considered in State Budget
Legislation to impose “good cause” eviction, which would cap annual rent increases on non-owner-occupied apartments under 4 units to 3% or lower and require automatic lease renewals for tenants, has become a top issue in state budget negotiations. Tell state lawmakers and Governor Hochul to oppose “good cause” eviction by Taking Action here. This petition is a coalition effort which NYSAR has partnered on called Homeowners for an Affordable New York.

New York’s state budget is expected to be late
Disagreements over changes to New York’s controversial bail law and “good cause” eviction, as well as how to expand housing in the state, are fueling what is expected to result in a state budget that extends through Saturday’s deadline. Budget talks have also centered around a potential income tax rate increase on New Yorkers who earn more than $5 million a year, an increase in the state’s minimum wage, and an expansion of charter schools primarily in New York City. Read more here.

State identifies ‘disadvantaged communities’ to receive extra climate funding
New York has finalized a list of disadvantaged communities that are mandated to receive at least 35% of the total statewide spending on clean and energy efficiency programs as required under New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), which was passed in 2019 to address climate change and achieve net-zero emissions in the state by 2050. The state has yet to establish a funding mechanism to pay for the CLCPA’s ambitious emissions reduction goals, which could cost up to $340 billion according to the state’s Climate Action Council’s report. The state published interactive maps this week highlighting the designated areas. Read more here.


Weekly Report for March 24, 2023

Take Action today – Statewide rent control being considered in State Budget
Legislation to impose “good cause” eviction, which would cap annual rent increases on all market-rate apartments to 3% or lower and require automatic lease renewals for tenants, has become a top issue in state budget negotiations. This week, the NY Post spotlighted the pitfalls of “good cause” eviction, warning that the proposal would drive small landlords out of business and “put the entire state on a path to the permanent housing crisis that rent control has produced for the city (of New York), utterly crushing new residential construction.” The State Budget deadline is April 1. Read more here and tell state lawmakers and Governor Hochul to oppose “good cause” eviction by Taking Action here.

Electrification proposals turn focus on new construction
Governor Hochul and state lawmakers appear to be aligned on new measures to phase out fossil fuel combustion equipment – furnaces, water heaters, dryers and stoves – in new homes, as their respective budget proposals included measures to require newly constructed buildings to be all-electric by as early as January 2025, with exact timetables varying. The Senate and Assembly, however, did not include the governor’s budget proposal to require existing homes and businesses to retrofit with all-electric appliances and heating/cooling equipment. NYSAR has expressed its opposition to the proposals citing concerns with grid reliability and costs to homeowners and businesses. Read NYSAR’s state budget summary here.

Queens REALTOR® Melissa Gomez provides perspective on “good cause” eviction proposal
Melissa Gomez, a REALTOR® with the Long Island Board of REALTORS®, recently provided her perspective as a small property owner while discussing the harmful impacts “good cause” eviction would have if passed into law. Speaking with the Queens Chronicle, Gomez said she is concerned about the prospect of having an “eternal tenant,” while pointing out that the proposal also does not take into consideration the increased taxes property owners must pay. Read the full story here.


Weekly Report for March 17, 2023

Senate and Assembly release their one-house budgets
The State Senate and Assembly released their respective one-house budget proposals on Tuesday signaling the Legislature’s response to Governor Hochul’s initial Executive Budget proposal released in February. The deadline to pass a final budget is April 1, 2023. Notably, neither house included “good cause” eviction legislation in their budget proposals, however lawmakers still have the opportunity to negotiate its inclusion prior to April 1 or consider the bill outside the budget. Among some of the more contentious issues being negotiated between the Legislature and Governor include increasing income taxes on New Yorkers earning over $5 million, amending the state’s bail reform laws, increasing housing development, and electrification of homes and buildings.

Housing

Both the Senate and Assembly gutted Governor Hochul’s “Housing Compact” plan by removing language that would have provided the state authority to override local zoning and proposes providing state aid incentives for regional housing growth rather than a mandated requirement. Both houses proposed $250 million for a housing-access voucher program which would subsidize rent for people at risk of eviction and/or homelessness. The Legislature also removed many of the governor’s proposals to incentivize and expand affordable housing and multi-family development throughout the state.

Climate

Both the Senate and Assembly rejected the governor’s proposal to require the electrification of existing homes, however, both houses proposed to require new construction homes and buildings to be all-electric by 2025 for smaller buildings and 2028 for larger buildings.

To read a full budget summary of these issues and more, click here.

Take Action – REALTORS® call Governor Hochul urging opposition to “good cause” eviction
On Wednesday, NYSAR promoted a Call for Action asking REALTORS® across the state to call Governor Hochul’s office to express their opposition to the inclusion of “good cause” eviction in this year’s state budget, which could be voted on April 1. The Call for Action is part of a broader coalition effort that NYSAR is a partner of called Homeowners for an Affordable New York. If you have not taken action yet, click here to send an email to your state lawmakers and Governor Hochul urging them to say NO to “good cause” eviction.

NY faces rising customer bills for gas as New York electrifies, report says
As policymakers continue to negotiate decarbonization in New York, they have so far declined to outline in detail the costs to individual households and ratepayers to shift away from fossil fuels. According to a report by the Building Decarbonization Coalition, which supports building electrification, remaining gas ratepayers could see monthly utility bills rise to $8,000 in 2050 if 90 percent of customers leave the gas system. A hybrid approach of electrification with the gas system decarbonized with alternative fuels is estimated to have a lower cost impact on ratepayers, according to the report. For more information, visit NYSAR’s website: https://nyelectrificationfacts.com/.


Weekly Report for March 10, 2023

Push for co-op fairness and transparency
“Inside City Hall” news reporter Errol Louis recently highlighted the need for more transparency and fairness in the co-op purchasing process and discussed legislation that would require a written statement of reason for rejection from co-op boards when denying prospective purchasers. NYSAR has prioritized support for enacting new laws that would create a uniform process and timeline for co-op boards to respond to prospective purchasers at both the state level and within New York City and continues to engage lawmakers to take action. Legislation (A.1778) before the State Legislature will be one of several key agenda items during NYSAR’s annual REALTOR® Lobby Day on Tuesday, May 2. Find more information and register for Lobby Day here.

City court blocks another local “good cause” eviction law in Poughkeepsie
On Tuesday, a Poughkeepsie City Court Judge blocked the city’s local “good cause” eviction law ruling it unconstitutional and preempted by state law, following similar rulings striking down local “good cause” eviction laws in Newburgh and Albany. Tenant lobbyists, however, are using these rulings to pressure state lawmakers to approve a statewide “good cause” eviction law. Tell your state lawmakers that you oppose statewide “good cause” eviction at our “Homeowners for an Affordable New York” coalition website here.

Growing calls to delay Local Law 97 in NYC
Building owners in New York City continue to struggle to comply with New York City’s Local Law 97 greenhouse gas emissions reduction mandates which are scheduled to go in effect in 2024. With growing concern over the costs to improve efficiencies in some of the oldest buildings in the country or face the possibility of fines, advocates are urging city lawmakers to delay implementation or enforcement of Local Law 97. Read more here.


Weekly Report for March 3, 2023

Take Action – Urge state lawmakers to OPPOSE ‘good cause’ eviction legislation
On Thursday, the Appellate Division of the state Supreme Court ruled to uphold a lower court’s decision to overturn the City of Albany’s local “good cause” eviction law, finding that such protections can only be approved at the state level. Following this decision, state lawmakers are considering including these additional eviction protections in the state budget. NYSAR is actively opposing statewide “good cause” eviction legislation along with a coalition of other real estate related organizations, called “Homeowners for an Affordable New York.” You can make your voice heard by visiting the coalition’s Call for Action website here and urge state lawmakers to oppose “good cause” eviction legislation.

NYSAR submits testimony opposing NYC bill restricting free market sale of multi-family properties – Make your voice heard
On February 23, NYSAR submitted formal testimony before the New York City Council in opposition to legislation (Int. 196) that would establish a right of first opportunity to purchase for not-for-profit organizations on buildings with 3 or more units prior to its listing for sale. Property owners of these buildings would be required to notify NYC HPD at least 180 days prior to any actions taken to sell the building. Once the notice of sale is provided, the bill would also establish a 120-day period in which qualified not-for-profit entities may submit offers to purchase the building, during which time, the property owner may not accept any other offers. The bill greatly impairs the ability of REALTORS® to effectively and efficiently serve consumers looking to buy and sell multifamily properties in New York City. Read NYSAR’s full testimony here and respond to NYSAR’s Call for Action if you are a NYC resident.

Poll shows NYers oppose banning of fossil fuels in new construction 53-39%
According to a Siena Research Institute poll conducted in February, New Yorkers overwhelmingly oppose (53%-39%) Governor Hochul’s proposal to prohibit fossil fuel-burning equipment in the new construction of single-family homes by the end of 2025 and for all other new construction by the end of 2028. Read more here.