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Broker Report

February 2020

News
NYSAR license plates available
Customizable NYSAR license plates are available for purchase through the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles website, your local DMV office or by calling the NYS DMV office at 518.486.9786. Learn more!

NAR REALTOR® Broker Summit
Join the National Association of REALTORS® in Los Angeles on March 31-April 1 for the REALTOR® Broker Summit. The two-day event allows you to connect with industry experts, discover technologies and business strategies from real estate leaders that will offer you practical and actionable ways to position your brokerage for success. Learn more.

Government Affairs
NYSAR urges state lawmakers to fund new fair housing program in state budget
NYSAR issued letters urging Gov. Andrew Cuomo and leaders of the state legislature to include new funding in this year’s state budget to establish and maintain a state fair housing tester program. NYSAR also included support for specialized training and certification requirements for fair housing instructors and increasing the maximum state fines for fair housing law violations. To read the letter, click here.

Learn how “Good Cause” Eviction hurts tenants, building owners and homeowners
NYSAR strongly opposes state legislation (S.2892/A.5030) that would establish a “good cause” eviction standard statewide, essentially providing tenants with a lifelong lease and imposing an annual rent increase cap of 1.5 times the CPI. This would apply to all non-rent regulated buildings with four units or more. Watch and share these videos released by the Rent Stabilization Association explaining the issue and harmful impact of “good cause,” also known as “just cause” eviction. NYSAR’s strong opposition to this bill is a top legislative priority.

RPAC
Dorothy Botsoe receives the Lawrence B. Caldwell RPAC Service Award
Dorothy Botsoe of the Hudson Gateway Association was presented with the prestigious Lawrence B. Caldwell RPAC Service Award, the highest honor presented by the REALTORS® Political Action Committee of New York, during the NYSAR Mid-Winter Business Meetings. Dorothy has been an RPAC Major Investor for nearly 20 consecutive years and has invested over $60,000 in her lifetime. She is a current member of the NAR RPAC Hall of Fame at the $25,000 tier and will be inducted into the $50,000 tier this May as part of the NAR Meeting in Washington, DC. In addition, Dorothy sits in the RPAC of New York Hall of Fame, serves as an RPAC of NY Trustee and she continues to generously invest at the Platinum R Level ($10,000 annually) and serves as an RPAC ambassador, advocating on behalf of RPAC at her local board and all across the state of New York. NYSAR’s 59,000+ members thank Dorothy for her commitment and dedication in support of RPAC.

REALTORS® raise record $33,000 at RPAC VIP Lounge
Once again the RPAC VIP Lounge held at The Desmond as part of NYSAR’s Mid-Winter Business Meetings was a success for RPAC! The one-day event raised a record of $34,000 and featured manicures, massages, psychic readings, character artists, delicious food, beverages and more. Thank you to the 130 attendees for investing in RPAC and making this lounge a record success. Congratulations to all the silent auction winners!

RPAC of New York inducts Hall of Famers
Congratulations to the following NYSAR members on their induction into the RPAC of New York Hall of Fame in recognition of their generous $15,000 total lifetime investments in RPAC:

  • Michael Kelly, NYSAR
  • Marcene Hedayati, Hudson Gateway
  • Miguel Berger, Greater Capital
  • Donna Littlefield, Buffalo Niagara
  • Michael Johnson, Buffalo Niagara
  • Tony Smith, Long Island
  • Jennifer Stevenson, St. Lawrence
  • Timothy Sweeney, Ulster
  • Yoshi Takita, Long Island

NYSAR members sign the NAR RPAC YPN Pledge
Thank you to New York’s latest investors to enroll in the NAR RPAC YPN Pledge to invest $10,000 into RPAC over 10 years – Karissa Thompson of Greater Rochester, and Rich Herska and Anthony Domathotii (not pictured), both of Hudson Gateway. From left, NYSAR YPN Chair Kira Knapp Witherwax, Herska, Thompson and Vice-Chair Mark Donnelly.

Thank you all for leading by example with your generous support of RPAC!

Contributions are not deductible for income tax purposes. Contributions to RPAC are voluntary and are used for political purposes. You may contribute more or less than the suggested amount. You may refuse to contribute without reprisal and the National Association of REALTORS®, the New York State Association of REALTORS® or any of its local boards or associations will not favor or disfavor any member because of the amount contributed. 70% of each contribution is used by your state PAC to support state and local political candidates. Until your NYSAR PAC reaches its PAC goal, 30% is sent to National RPAC to support federal candidates and is charged against your limits under 2 U.S.C. 441a; after NYSAR PAC reaches its RPAC goal, it may elect to retain your entire contribution for use in supporting state and local candidates. Contributions are not deductible for income tax purposes. Contributions to RPAC are voluntary and are used for political purposes. You may contribute more or less than the suggested amount. You may refuse to contribute without reprisal and the National Association of REALTORS®, the New York State Association of REALTORS® or any of its local boards or associations will not favor or disfavor any member because of the amount contributed. 70% of each contribution is used by your state PAC to support state and local political candidates. Until your NYSAR PAC reaches its PAC goal, 30% is sent to National RPAC to support federal candidates and is charged against your limits under 2 U.S.C. 441a; after NYSAR PAC reaches its RPAC goal, it may elect to retain your entire contribution for use in supporting state and local candidates.