
Advocates outside Gov. Cuomo's office Wednesday (photo via Coalition for the Homeless)
Housing advocates have done a job shirked by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders this session and crafted a plan for how the state should spend $1.9 billion on affordable and supportive housing over the next five years.
The governor and Legislature agreed to dedicate $1.9 billion in the April 1 budget, but negotiations on how to actually fully allocate the funds fell apart at the close of the legislative session in June. The details of the spending was to be determined through “memorandum of understanding,” or MOU, among Cuomo and legislative leaders. By the end of the session, they outlined $150 million in spending through two narrow MOUs, leaving a lot of money on the table and many people frustrated, including housing advocates and providers, local elected officials, and others.
Advocates, lenders, and developers now say the affordable housing pipeline has begun to dry up due to uncertainty about what the state’s priorities will be once a larger MOU is negotiated. This is one big reason that they crafted their newly-released blueprint for how to spend the money and why they organized another rally outside the governor’s office on Wednesday morning.
“We hope this will kickstart negotiations,” said Rachel Fee, executive director of The New York Housing Conference, a group involved in putting forward the suggested MOU. “All they have to do is sign this,” she said of the proposal. Other groups of the ten involved in putting forward the MOU proposal include the AARP, the Center for NYC Neighborhoods, the Community Preservation Corporation, Enterprise Community Partners, and the Supportive Housing Network of New York.
Advocates say that the state is missing out on 1,000 units of new affordable, senior, and supportive housing every month that the MOU goes unsigned. “People don't know what the state wants so the pipeline isn't moving,” said Fee. “Do they want elder housing and if so how much and where do they want it? So, it is very important they agree and get the money out the door.”
State cash will be used to subsidize the building and maintainence of affordable and supportive housing across the state. Exactly how it does that will be determined by the MOU. Supportive housing is designed to give homeless people, especially those dealing with mental illness or substance abuse, affordable housing paired with the services they need to maintain to live healthy lives. Some funds will go to maintaining existing affordable housing stock and neighborhood revitalization. Other funds will be used to assist the construction buildings of various sizes. Until the state actually lays out which initiatives will be funded and how much is to be spend on each, those interested in utilizing the subsidies either have to guess or wait.
Cuomo administration spokesperson Rich Azzopardi indicated that the governor is waiting for the Legislature to negotiate.
“It was the governor who advanced this unprecedented state commitment to affordable housing and, like these advocates, we’re seeking to get this MOU signed and this much-needed funding out the door as soon as possible. We urge the Legislature to join us in this effort,” Azzopardi told Gotham Gazette.
During a briefing on Tuesday at City Hall, New York City Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen, who heads the city’s housing efforts, said that it was “a tragedy” that the state failed to agree on a complete MOU during this past session. “I would be thrilled if they came to an agreement on what projects they wanted to fund,” Glen said, adding, “It would be a big tragedy for New Yorkers if the state wasn't able to put together a fully-funded affordable housing plan.”
Advocates say they are trying to avoid such an outcome long-term by presenting a plan that takes into account the major concerns aired by all sides during negotiations over the MOU. New York City, meanwhile, continues with its own affordable housing plan - the Tuesday briefing was called to inform reporters and the public that the administration is on track with its 200,000 unit, ten-year affordable housing plan.
Fee said that the proposal includes all of the priorities put forward by Cuomo and legislative leaders. The plan has a framework to provide parity in investments in housing upstate as was pressed for by Senate Republicans, including $9 million for main street revitalization projects and a measure allocating $100 million for roof replacements for aging New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) housing stock as pushed for by Assembly Democrats.
The administration was able to push $150 million in funding for supportive housing out the door before the end of session but advocates say it does very little to provide certainty for developers about the state’s future plans.
Fee said that her group is hopeful the Legislature could use the suggested MOU as a quick, ready-to-use starting point for negotiations to get a deal signed before “everyone goes on vacation in August.”
The groups’ MOU may not be the catalyst needed to move negotiations forward. Three legislators familiar with negotiations told Gotham Gazette that discussions have been tied to separate deal making on the expired 421-a tax abatement meant to spur rental housing that includes a set percentage of affordable units. Many legislators expect the housing funds will continue to be held hostage until a deal can be reached to replace or renew 421-a. Developers are anxious to see the incentive return to play, they say. On Tuesday, Glen and other city housing officials said that the lack of 421-a is hampering affordable and market-rate rental housing development in the city.
“Negotiations over 421-a got in the way,” said Fee. “They love to package things in Albany. We support a tax credit to boost the private market but we can't wait for a deal on that. They need to sign the MOU now.”
The coalition's proposed spending plan looks like this:

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by David King, Albany editor, Gotham Gazette
@DavidHowardKing @GothamGazette

Sen. Jeff Klein (photo: John Nilsen/Governor's Office)
The five-member Independent Democratic Conference was under siege. Mainstream Democrats, liberal activists, and the Working Families Party were out to punish IDC members for having empowered Senate Republicans and for preventing a progressive agenda from advancing in the New York State Senate. In 2014, the groups fielded candidates to challenge Bronx Senator Jeff Klein, head of the IDC, and newly-minted IDC member Tony Avella, senator of Queens, in party primaries. It began as an aggressive attempt to oust two of the five members of the IDC, including its leader.
Leading up to the September elections, pressure mounted as former City Council Member Oliver Koppell raised cash in his bid to defeat Klein and former city Comptroller John Liu lashed into Avella for his “betrayal.”
“Let’s help a real Democrat defeat a fake one,” read the Daily Kos’ June 2014 endorsement of Liu.
But on June 26 of that year, Klein issued a joint statement with Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat dealing with his own challenge from the left, pledging that the IDC - made up of Sens. Klein, Avella, Diane Savino, David Valesky, and David Carlucci - would partner with mainline Democrats for a new governing coalition.
“Therefore all IDC members are united and agree to work together to form a new majority coalition between the Independent Democratic Conference and the Senate Democratic Conference after the November elections in order to deliver the results that working families across this state still need and deserve,” Klein said in the statement.
Dean Skelos, the Republican Senate majority leader at the time, didn’t buy it. He issued a statement saying, “This ‘agreement’ is nothing more than a short-term political deal designed to make threatened primaries go away.”
The Working Families Party and mainline Democrats dropped their support for Koppell and both he and Liu were defeated.
In 2015, Klein and the IDC continued their deal to empower Senate Republicans and carve out as much power for themselves as possible. In the following months the IDC pushed its agenda more forcefully, inserting issues like paid family leave into the Senate Republican budget proposal and advocating for a larger minimum wage increase. In the waning months of the 2015 legislative session in Albany, Klein’s push for those issues seemed to irk Cuomo, but, in retrospect, may have helped him evolve his position on the issues.
In 2016, paid family leave and a $15 minimum wage seemed to suddenly become Cuomo’s top priorities despite his having dismissed them the year before. Both issues passed with bipartisan support with the new state budget on April 1.
Now, Klein and the IDC face a strikingly different election year than in the previous cycle, even while control of the state Senate - and with it, full control of state government by Democrats - remains at stake.
The 63-seat Senate is currently made up of 32 Democrats and 31 Republicans. However, Republicans maintain control and are able to appoint Sen. John Flanagan as majority leader thanks to the support of Simcha Felder, a Democrat from Brooklyn who caucuses with Republicans, and the five members of the IDC, who have a coalition agreement with the GOP.
Heading toward this year’s elections, The Working Families Party has not made much noise in opposition to the IDC. Senate Democrats, even those with the most resentment toward the IDC, admit relations with the IDC have improved drastically and hold out hope that Klein will switch sides in 2017. The general perception of the IDC as obstructionists has all but dissipated. Bad feelings still fester and trust is hard to come by, but this year two IDC members may face challenges only from Republican candidates.
“Last time I was approached a year before by Senator [Michael] Gianaris and the Working Families Party, but both pulled their support along with the mayor and governor after Klein pledged he'd go back to the Democrats,” Koppell told Gotham Gazette in a recent interview, referring to the head of the mainline Democrats’ Senate campaign committee, Gianaris, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Cuomo. “No one approached me this time,” Koppell added, noting that he would not have run anyway.
Asked about their relationship with the IDC, the WFP sent Gotham Gazette a statement from state director Bill Lipton. "Given that the IDC and [mainline] Dems share views on so many issues, it's always been our hope that Democrats could unite to better represent working families in the State Senate,” it says.
The Senate Democratic Conference did not respond to a request for comment.
Sen. Savino, an IDC member who represents parts of Brooklyn and Staten Island, said she thinks advocates and Senate Democrats “took a step back and asked ‘what are they trying to accomplish, and what did they accomplish? What was the IDC advocating?’ and they saw it is for things like medical marijuana, dealing with the foreclosure crisis, paid family leave, and increasing the minimum wage.”
Klein told Gotham Gazette that the last two years have proven out his rationale for the IDC as it successfully achieved major progressive victories through bipartisan negotiation.
“I think I said all along since we formed six years ago that we wanted to use the IDC as a vehicle for change and the only way we would be able to achieve it is in a bipartisan fashion,” Klein said in an interview. He pointed to the gridlock in Washington and noted that there are “sit-ins” in Congress over gun control while “We passed the SAFE Act here in New York with bipartisan support.”
Klein noted that it took time and consistent advocacy to move not only the $15 minimum wage increase and paid family leave but other IDC priorities like the zombie properties bill, which gives homeowners more rights to fight foreclosure while expediting the foreclosure process on abandoned properties, and legislation to stop the sale of synthetic drugs.
Koppell said he thinks the passage of the minimum wage and family leave changed perceptions of the IDC. “I think it reduces blame the IDC faces for being obstructionists. The Republicans stopped blocking some things and it helps the IDC,” he said.
Just before the primary election in September 2014, Koppell, reeling from the loss of WFP and mainline Democratic support, told Gotham Gazette that if he was victorious it would mean the IDC was “dead.”
"I will tell them they can come back as full-fledged Democrats and if not, I will tell them: 'as far as I am concerned, you will have a primary opponent and I will finance it,’” Koppell said at the time.
Five members and staffers of the mainline Senate Democratic Conference told Gotham Gazette that relations between their conference and the IDC are significantly better now and that lines of communication have been established ahead of possible Democratic victories in the fall elections. Democrats are hoping that a presidential election year surge in voter turnout will help them retake the chamber.
Asked about an improving relationship, Klein was quick to praise Republican Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan. “I said early on that the IDC is not an exclusive club and it isn’t about us, it is about governing. It is hard to say we didn’t get things done this year. It’s been fantastic working with Senator Flanagan. He has been more focused on policy than any other Republican leader.”
Klein also noted that he worked well with Senate Minority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins in efforts to pass the $15 minimum wage, paid family leave, and other priorities. “I worked extremely well this year with Senator John Flanagan and yes, this session we were able to work well with Andrea Stewart-Cousins - it is a much better relationship, but I think the Republican Conference has been even better and a lot of credit has to go to the relationship with Senator Flanagan, again.”
Asked to comment on Flanagan’s relationship with Klein, a spokesperson for Flanagan, Scott Reif, said, “People want Democrats and Republicans to work together to get results, and that's exactly what Senate Republicans and the IDC have been able to achieve for the citizens of New York. Senator Flanagan enjoys a strong working relationship with Senator Klein, and he has tremendous respect for him as a legislator and as a leader."
Doug Muzzio, professor of political science at Baruch College, said Democrats should temper their hopes that Klein will bring the IDC in their direction. “I’d be very wary about any deal. This is politics, don’t assume anything is based on principle, it’s based on ‘What am I gonna get?’,” Muzzio said.
Savino agreed that relationships with Senate Democrats have improved. “The rhetoric between the IDC and Senate Democrats has been toned down,” she said. “You don't see the same nasty comments. There’s been a softening of hardline stances across the board. But tell me who would have predicted that a $15 minimum wage increase and paid family leave would have gotten done while Senate Republicans control the Senate?”
With all the successes and warm feelings toward Flanagan, Klein did note that one of the IDC’s top priorities for last session and next, campaign finance reform, was blocked by Senate Republicans. Klein said he is “optimistic” that Republicans might be willing to move campaign finance legislation next year.
Earlier this month, the IDC worked with the Independence Party to create a campaign committee that will allow the IDC to funnel cash to their candidates. Klein said that this year the focus will be on defending IDC members Avella and Carlucci from general election challenges, but in the future it could be used to advance new IDC members and political positions. “I really want to try to use this campaign committee as a vehicle for change,” Klein said, adding that he may create a ten-point litmus test for candidates who seek the IDC’s support. He said backing campaign finance reform would be a part of any test.
As the battle for control of the Senate plays out, Democrats say they will continue to keep open lines of communication with Klein and the rest of the IDC in hopes that they will be inclined to rejoin the fold. There is no doubt that major resentment still exists - it appears Minority Leader Stewart-Cousins has led the communications with the IDC while Sen. Gianaris, chair of the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee, has remained on the sidelines. Gianaris and Klein have a notoriously bad relationship.
Savino said she isn’t sure how things will play out in November. “A week is a lifetime in politics. I think the Democrats will win some seats, but I don’t think anyone can predict what is going to happen this election cycle,” she told Gotham Gazette. “I think the things that happened nationally during this election cycle have made experts throw out what they think they know about politics. There is a lot of middle class anger and I’m not sure how that trickles down into local races.”
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by David King, Albany editor, Gotham Gazette
@DavidHowardKing @GothamGazette

New York City Hall
What to watch for this week in New York politics:
All eyes are on Philadelphia this week as the Democratic National Convention takes place there, Monday through Thursday. Last week saw the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, where Donald Trump was formally nominated for President, and Mike Pence for Vice President. This week, Hillary Clinton will be officially named the Democrats' presidential nominee, with her recently-announced running mate Tim Kaine for Vice President.
Though there was some drama (a minor push by anti-Trump delegates to have a roll call vote; host-state delegates from Ohio showing their displeasure with Trump; the Melania Trump plagiarism uproar; and the Ted Cruz non-endorsement debacle), proceedings went fairly smoothly at the RNC, and things were surprisingly peaceful outside, with some protest, little violence, and relatively few arrests. Trump gave a long, angry acceptance speech on Thursday night, diagnosing and promising to fix America's wounds, and quickly, and to thus "Make America Great Again."
In Philadelphia, both New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio will speak. Cuomo is the head of the New York delegation to the DNC. Other New York speakers - along with the nominee herself, Clinton, a former Senator from the state calls New York home - will be Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, Reps. Joe Crowley and Nita Lowey. On Sunday, The New York Times reported that former Mayor Michael Bloomberg will speak at the DNC on Wednesday, endorsing Clinton and warning of the dangers of electing Trump. [Read our preview of the DNC here]
Before leaving for Philadelphia, de Blasio will hold a press conference Monday morning with NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton "to make a law enforcement announcement." It will be at 10:30 a.m. at the 84th Precinct in Brooklyn.
Because most prominent New York officials are Democrats and they'll be at the DNC, it will be another fairly quiet week in New York City and around the state in terms of political events - but there are several to be aware of - see our day-by-day rundown of those and DNC proceedings below.
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The run of the week in detail:
Monday
On Monday at 10:30 a.m. at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City Council Members Helen Rosenthal and Inez Dickens and the New York City Economic Development Corporation will host a Request for Proposal (RFP) access workshop; “We are expanding our outreach efforts to make sure that emerging and established developers like you - including M/WBE firms - know about the opportunities at NYCEDC and how to submit an RFP.” A second workshop will be held on Thursday.
On Monday at 1 p.m. in Manhattan, the City Planning Commission will host a Review Session meeting.
At 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Museum of the City of New York, the Museum and the Municipal Art Society will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the city’s Zoning Law with an event focusing on the law’s impact “with an eye towards the future.” Carl Weisbrod, Director of the New York City Department of City Planning and Chairman of the New York City Planning Commission will give remarks, and a panel of experts will discuss “the hurdles and potential improvements to zoning for the century to come.”
After his Brooklyn press conference Monday morning, Mayor de Blasio will leave for Philadelphia, where he will be until Friday. De Blasio will deliver remarks at the "Democratic National Convention Immigration Forum" at the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia Monday afternoon. He'll then attend a welcome reception held by the DNC. In the evening, de Blasio will appear on NY1 in the 7 o'clock hour before attending the evening session of the DNC -- The Democratic National Convention kicks off Monday at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. [Read more about the DNC here]
Tuesday
At 8:30 a.m. at the Greene Space at WNYC & WQXR, the Center for an Urban Future will hold a symposium on “the power and potential of women entrepreneurs in New York City.” The forum will feature a keynote speech from Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen and two panel discussions focusing on the challenges women entrepreneurs face in the five boroughs and how to boost their success, specifically in the technology sector. The event will build upon the Center's March 2016 report, "Breaking Through: The Economic Impact of Women Entrepreneurs."
At 11 a.m. Tuesday, the Commission on Legislative, Judicial & Executive Compensation will hold a public meeting at the New York City Bar Association in Manhattan. [Read about the commission's work toward making recommendations about pay for state officials here]
The Democratic National Convention continues Tuesday in Philadelphia. Mid-day, Mayor de Blasio is scheduled to participate in a National League of Cities panel discussion at Philadelphia City Hall.
Wednesday
Wednesday at 10 a.m. in Manhattan, the City Planning Commission will host a public meeting.
On Wednesday at 6 p.m., the city Panel for Education Policy will hold a public meeting at M.S. 131.
The Democratic National Convention continues Wednesday in Philadelphia. On Wednesday afternoon, Mayor de Blasio is scheduled to deliver remarks at a Democratic National Committee Labor Council Panel discussion at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
Thursday
On Thursday morning in Philadelphia, Mayor de Blasio is scheduled to participate in "City Solutions: Income Inequality" panel discussion.
At 8 a.m. Thursday, City and State Reports will host Awards in Sustainability, honoring "outstanding corporate citizens for their work in sustainability - from the construction, energy, transportation and food industries and beyond." The event will feature keynote remarks by Daniel A. Zarrilli, Senior Director of Climate Policy and Programs and Chief Resilience Officer, Office of the Mayor.
At 1 p.m. Thursday in Queens, the offices of Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, City Council Members Ferreras-Copeland, Miller, and Richards, and the New York Economic Development Corporation will host a second Request for Proposal (RFP) access workshop.
Thursday At 5 p.m in Queens, the Department of Consumer Affairs and Queens Chamber of Commerce will host a seminar for employees on their rights regarding New York City’s Paid Sick Leave and Commuter Benefits Laws.
Hillary Clinton will accept the Democratic nomination for President Thursday evening as the Democratic National Convention concludes in Philadelphia.
Friday and the weekend
Nothing on the political calendar as of now.
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Have events or topics for us to include in an upcoming Week Ahead in New York Politics? E-mail Gotham Gazette executive editor Ben Max any time: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (please use "For Week Ahead" as email subject).
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by Amanda Sherwin and Ben Max
@GothamGazette