Cuomo Says Don't Panic Over Rent Laws
June 15th, 2011
Gov. Andrew Cuomo says tenants should not worry about a temporary expiration of the rent laws that could occur if the legislature does not reach a deal to renew the laws by midnight tonight.
“There would be no short-term emergency. Current rent laws could be continued by short-term extender legislation or even if the laws lapse for a short period of time, which they have in the past, there will not be a significant increase in rent levels or disruption in the availability of affordable housing,” said Cuomo in a statement.
Michael McKee, treasurer of Tenants PAC told the Gazette last week that a short term lapse in the laws would be no big deal.
“We have been here before; people forget that the laws expired in 1997. They lapsed for five days and the sky did not fall; they passed it retroactively,” said McKee.
But that does not mean Cuomo is OK with simply extending the existing law. “Make no mistake, to prevent a long term crisis, these laws must be renewed and strengthened. There is a full agenda for both the Assembly and Senate to accomplish and the legislative session will not end, either through regular or special session, until the peoples business is done.
So Cuomo, as was reported earlier today, is ready to keep legislators in town until a deal on rent control is reached. Legislators are itching to leave town on Friday and not return for some time…Cuomo may put a large cramp in their style.
Here is Cuomo’s full statement:
Tonight, June 15, 2011, many rent regulation laws in the State of New York are set to expire. More than one million New Yorkers live in units covered by these rent laws. If the laws are not renewed, over the long term, there would be nothing less than a housing crisis in the State. Todays expiration is generating anxiety among affected tenants and their advocates. This is compounded by the fact that the anticipated end of the Legislative session is next week.
My position has been clear. New Yorks rent laws must be extended and strengthened.
However, New Yorkers should know the facts. There would be no short-term emergency. Current rent laws could be continued by short-term extender legislation or even if the laws lapse for a short period of time, which they have in the past, there will not be a significant increase in rent levels or disruption in the availability of affordable housing.
Make no mistake, to prevent a long term crisis, these laws must be renewed and strengthened.
There is a full agenda for both the Assembly and Senate to accomplish and the legislative session will not end, either through regular or special session, until the peoples business is done.
By David King on June 15, 2011, 5:56 pmIn category: Albany, Eye on Albany | 2 Comments »

September 6th, 2011 at 7:21 pm
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