Cahill expects rent control bill OK
Assemblyman discounts arguments that the proposed law would discourage the building of new housing
A state assemblyman from Kingston says he expects state lawmakers to adopt a bill that would clear the way for rent control statewide.
Assemblyman Kevin Cahill, DKingston, who authored the proposed Universal Emergency Tenants Protection Act, said he expects the legislation to be passed by both the Assembly and Senate.
“I believe that the measure will see a favorable vote in both houses and will be delivered to the governor for his action this session,” Cahill said via email.
Both the Senate and Assembly bills are still being reviewed in committee, he said.
Earlier this month, Kingston Mayor Steve Noble signed a Common Council resolution supporting state legislation to allow rent control throughout New York state.
The council voted 8-1 to adopt a resolution calling on state
lawmakers to strike geographic restrictions from New York’s Emergency Tenant Protection Act of 1974 so local governments can take an active role in addressing the cost of rental housing and provide rental rights to tenants.
The Emergency Tenant Protection Act, set to expire this year, provides protections, such as rent stabilization, under which landlords are subject to regulated rent increases and tenants have the right to renew leases.
The act currently applies
only to New York City and municipalities in Rockland, Westchester and Nassau counties. Lifting the geographic restrictions would allow other counties to opt into the provisions of the act, which, in turn, would allow cities, towns and villages to decide whether they want to enact rent control.
Cahill said it is time to remove the barriers.
“The disparity in authority between counties does not make sense,” he said. “Each jurisdiction should have all the tools they believe to be necessary to secure safe, affordable housing for the people who live in their communities, without regard to the county in
which they live.”
Cahill added that housing challenges in the region vary.
“While I recognize that housing challenges we face in the Mid-Hudson Valley are not identical to those of New York City or the suburban counties, it should be for the local governments to decide how to tackle it on behalf of their constituents,” he said.
“Current law does not permit our jurisdictions to use the Emergency Tenant Protection Act, even if the local leaders (have) determined it to be the most effective tool to address a problem,” he said.
Cahill said housing activists had pitched the idea to
him.
“Local activists approached me last year to ask if I would support such legislation,” Cahill said. “I enthusiastically and immediately agreed.”
The proposal has drawn support from state Sen. Jen Metzger, D-Rosendale, who represents the 42nd Senate District.
“I have co-sponsored this legislation because I believe our local governments should have all the tools available to ensure that housing remains stable and affordable as their communities grow,” Metzger said via email. “It is ultimately their choice whether or not to use this tool, based upon the particular
needs and priorities of their communities.”
Kingston Alderman Patrick O’Reilly, who is not registered with a political party, has argued that, instead of considering rent control, Kingston should make changes to its zoning and building codes to make it easier for developers to build new housing. There also should be incentives for people to become landlords by adding accessory apartments to their homes, such as in a garage or basement, O’Reilly has said.
“And when there’s more housing, the rents will naturally come down,” he said at a recent meeting. O’Reilly argued that enacting rent control
would put a cap on the income landlords could earn on their rental units, which would remove their incentive to build. It also would keep developers away, he said.
But Cahill said that has not occurred in other areas where rent control exists.
“The EPTA does not discourage, in any way, the construction of new housing or the renovation of existing housing stock,” Cahill wrote. “There is no historical evidence to support assertions to the contrary (the communities where this has been enforced continued to see new housing growth and did not experience any diminishment of their ability to enforce housing codes.)”