Cymbrowitz To Hold Rent Regulation Hearings In NYC & Albany
Assembly member Steven Cymbrowitz (D-Sheepshead Bay, Manhattan Beach, Brighton Beach), Chair of the Assembly’s Housing Committee, will hold public hearings in May in New York City and Albany to give tenants, agencies and other stakeholders the opportunity to air their concerns and talk about how they would like to see the current laws strengthened.
The state law that governs rent-regulated apartments is set to expire on June 15th. There are 2.1 million rental units housing nearly 5.5 million tenants in New York City, with nearly half of those units being subject to rent regulation.
The City hearing will examine the renewal and reform of the rent regulation laws along with steps the Legislature can take to protect tenants of regulated and market-rate units across the city and state. The Housing Committee’s intent is to solicit the latest data from the appropriate regulatory agencies and to provide tenants and stakeholders with a forum to share their experiences and concerns regarding the current laws and improvements that are needed.
A second hearing will be held in Albany that will provide additional opportunity to address the need for rent regulations and affordable housing across the state.
“Preserving neighborhood affordability, and protecting the people who live in the city and across the state, continue to be among the Assembly’s top priorities. We welcome the public’s thoughts as we consider how best to enhance tenant protections and address the housing needs of New York’s rent-regulated tenants,” said Cymbrowitz.
The NYC hearing is slated for 11 a.m., Thursday, May 2, at 250 Broadway in Lower Manhattan.
The State hearing is slated for Thursday, May 9 in Albany.
Wright Announces Women of Distinction Awards
Assembly member Tremaine Wright (D-Bedford-Stuyvesant, Northern Crown Heights) announced this week the date for the annual Women of Distinction Awards.
The annual event is dedicated to recognizing extraordinary women in New York City who are blazing new trails in their fields and motivating and inspiring women across the country to pursue their dreams.
The event is slated for 7 p.m., Friday, April 12, at 1368 Fulton Street, Skylight Gallery in Bedford-Stuyvesant.
Rose Announces Congressional Art Competition Entries from Local High School Students
Congressman Max Rose (D-South Brooklyn, Staten Island) is asking high school students who reside or attend school in New York’s 11th Congressional District to submit their original artwork for the 2019 Congressional Art Competition.
The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982 to provide an opportunity for members of Congress to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of their young constituents. Since then, over 650,000 high school students have been involved with the nationwide competition.
Once all of the submissions have been received, the Congressman will select one winner whose artwork will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for a year. The winner will also be invited to Washington D.C. for a Congressional Art Competition Reception with other winners from all across the country. Runners up will have their artwork displayed in Congressman Rose’s Staten Island and Brooklyn District Offices.
“One of the best parts of my job is being able to go down to Washington and share stories of the incredible people who call Staten Island and South Brooklyn home,” Rose said. “I mean it when I say that this is the best district in the entire country, so I can’t wait for the opportunity to show off our students’ talents in the halls of Congress—although I know picking a winner won’t be easy!”
Artwork submissions are due by Monday, April 15th, 2019 to the Congressman’s District Office at 265 New Dorp Lane, Staten Island, NY 10306.
Artwork must be two-dimensional, and can be no larger than 26 inches high, 26 inches wide, and 4 inches deep. For more information on submission requirements, students can visit the Congressman’s website or call the district office at 718-667-3313.
Mosley Slams 2019-2020 State Budget’s Lack of Funding For Public Education
Assembly member Walter T. Mosley (D-Fort Greene, Clinton Hill,Crown Heights) denounced this year’s state budget on the lines of the lack of funding toward public education.
On Monday, State lawmakers passed the 2019-2020 State Budget, that included $1 billion total increase in school aid, with $618 million increase in Foundation Aid. However, this is far below the New York State Board of Regents recommendation of $2.1 billion increase, including $1.6 in Foundation Aid.
The news comes just week after local and state officials rallied for Gov. Cuomo and top state officials to pay out more than $1.2 billion owed to City schools and $4.1 billion Foundation Aid statewide, as a result of the 2006 decision in the Campaign for Fiscal Equity (CFE) lawsuit.
A 2006 ruling ended a 13-year legal battle between the State of New York and the CFE parents who filed suit, claiming that children were being denied opportunities to receive an adequate education. The State Supreme Court ultimately ruled that the State violated students’ constitutional right to a sound and basic education by underfunding schools in urban districts.
“While this budget accomplishes much for New Yorkers, I cannot in good conscious vote in the affirmative on the revenue portion. I cannot support a bill that fails our public school children, and this budget falls far short of the $1.2 billion in foundation aid that the state is required to pay from the Campaign for Fiscal Equity decision. This portion also fails to fund TAP GAP for SUNY and CUNY students, further hurting those who are attempting to continue their education.
“There is certainly some good in this budget, but without these crucial provisions, I cannot return to my constituents and share with them that I supported a bill with so much missing,” added Mosley.
