D Sharon Pruitt
Overlapping authority among state and city agencies might be one of the reasons that obstacles persist for the estimated 99,000 New Yorkers who use wheelchairs, as well as other people with disabilities.
Some advocates believe that whatever rent regime is ultimately approved by state legislators, the state agency charged with enforcing them will need more resources to do so.
As of now, New York State has no rent regulations. But it has plenty of blame to go around.
Ambitions to kill it are dashed. Hopes to reform it are faint. The smart money is now on legislators renewing 421-a as is for a very short spell. Here’s a preview of what we’ll be arguing about in, say, December.
Mayor de Blasio, Gov. Cuomo, Speaker Heastie and others have made their positions on rent regulations and 421-a known. Now we hear from the head of a breakaway Democratic faction.
Advocates disputed media reports that efforts to reform 421-a and repeal vacancy decontrol—two priorities of Mayor de Blasio—were dead, as a report found a huge loss of affordable apartments from 2002 to 2014.
As tenants rallied in Albany to call for saving and strengthening rent regulations, one Asssembly member called for changes to assist the overlooked regulated tenants of three non-NYC counties.
For months tenant advocates have waited and wondered what Gov. Cuomo’s position on rent regulations would be. Now they’ve gone from wondering where the governor stands to fretting about whether he can deliver.
Major Capital Improvements allow rent-stabilized landlords to exceed authorized rent increases when paying off a new roof, boiler or other large expense. Long-standing tenant complaints about fraud are part of the debate over renewing state rent laws.
There are an estimated 10,000 to 100,000 feral cats in New York City living in some 13,000 colonies. A broad effort is underway to trap the animals and neuter them, rather than kill.