Bklyn Lawmaker Roundup Jan. 29

Jeffries Delivers State Of The District Address

Congressman Hakeem Jeffries will deliver his second annual State of the District address at Long Island University’s Paramount Theatre. Hundreds of people from across the ethnically-diverse Eighth Congressional District will gather to hear the second-term congressman discuss issues including affordable housing, community safety, job creation and immigration reform.

Who: U.S. Representative Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08)

What: Second Annual State of the District Address

When: Thursday, January 29 at 6:30 p.m.

Where: Long Island University – Paramount Theater, 1 University Plaza, Brooklyn (Main entrance on the corner of Flatbush and DeKalb avenues).

Constituents interested in attending can RSVP at (718) 237-2211

Williams Chairs Hearing On Developer Tax Subsidy

East Flatbush City Council Member Jumaane Williams will hold an oversight hearing today to review the state 421-a Tax Benefit Program, which was designed to encourage residential development of underused land by significantly reducing the property taxes for time periods ranging from 10 to 25 years.

First enacted in 1971, at a low-mark time in New York City development, the measure was first instituted to stimulate residential development. It was later amended to also increase access to affordable housing for low-income New Yorkers.

Housing advocates argue that the tax exemption is a giveaway for developers and costs the city more than $1 billion in tax revenue per year, while others argue that 421-a is a necessary tool to meet the Mayor’s ambitions 10-year affordable housing goal.

The Rent Act of 2011 extended the 421-a tax exemption to June 15, 2015, and unless the State Legislature extends the program, the tax exemption will expire on that date. This hearing will focus on the benefits and drawbacks of the program, including a consideration whether or not the tax exemption should be allowed to sunset this June.

Those expected to testify at the hearing include members of the de Blasio administration, elected officials, housing developers, housing advocates, members of the real estate industry, and other interested members of the public.

De Blasio Ramps Up Bid For Brooklyn DMC

Mayor Bill de Blasio will announce today that the city’s host committee has $6.5 million in cash on hand against $20 million in pledges to bring the Democratic National Convention (DNC) to Brooklyn’s Barclays Center next year, the New York Times reported.

Those supporting the push to bring the convention here iclude 117 familiar names from the corporate, labor and political realms. The leaders of the group will include Anna Wintour, the editor of Vogue; Kenneth I. Chenault, chief executive of American Express; George Gresham, president of 1199 S.E.I.U. United Healthcare Workers East; the technology entrepreneur Sean Parker; and Lloyd C. Blankfein, the chief executive of Goldman Sachs, officials said.

“One of the keys to the convention’s success will be raising all the money required to put on a world-class event,” Laura Santucci, the mayor’s chief of staff, who is spearheading the city’s effort, told the medi outlet. “With a $100 million goal, $20 million in commitments and $6.5 million in the bank already, New York’s bid will be tough to match.”

De Blasio’s announcement comes as Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee , prepares to visit the city on Friday after stops in Columbus and Philadelphia – the two other finalist cities – earlier in the week.

The DNC will choose a host city in February. The convention to pick the Democratic Party nominee for president is slated for the week of July 25, 2016.