Silver, joined by members of the Assembly Majority, answers a reporter's question on the Assembly rent control legislation at a Capitol news conference. Audio Excerpt 1 (22 seconds) Audio Excerpt 2 (18 seconds) Audio Excerpt 3 (27 seconds) View Transcription

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Housing Committee Chair Vito Lopez today announced anticipated Assembly action on legislation aimed at protecting tenants who live in rent regulated apartments and stabilizing New York City's middle-class housing market.

"The Assembly Majority is, once again, leading the fight for affordable, safe housing for New York's working families," said Silver. "We are absolutely committed to protecting tenants and ensuring that middle-class families are not priced out of their communities.

"This is especially important today, as New Yorkers work to recover from the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center," continued Silver. "By enacting this legislation immediately, we will help allay the fears of thousands of New Yorkers worried that just as they're getting back on their feet, their lives will again be turned upside down by the end of rent control."

In addition to legislation extending rent regulation protections until 2008 (A.11010), the Assembly Majority is seeking to eliminate "high rent" vacancy decontrol (A.11011). It has been estimated that over the last decade, 84,000 units in New York City have been removed from rent regulation through "high rent" vacancy decontrol, which allows landlords to remove apartments permanently from state rent and eviction regulation. Landlords achieve this by applying the statutory vacancy bonus and then calculating the amount that must be spent on renovations to get the legal rent up to $2,000. Once the rent reaches $2,000, the unit is permanently decontrolled. The Assembly bill seeks to end this practice.

"There is a housing crisis in New York State, particularly in New York City. The response to it requires a two-prong approach," said Lopez. "We need to preserve as much affordable housing as possible, as well as build new housing. Keeping affordable units within the rent regulation system is a key component of that effort."

"There are many pro-tenant reforms that we need to make the rent regulation system more protective of tenants and to preserve affordability," said Michael McKee, Associate Director of the New York State Tenants & Neighbors Coalition. "We need stronger protections for elderly tenants and those with disabilities. We need reform of the Major Capital Improvement program, and more - and we appreciate the Assembly passing these bills. But there is one reform that we must have this year, simply to preserve the rent regulation system, and that is to repeal vacancy decontrol.

"Tenants are right to be afraid that their tenant protections will be threatened when rent control laws come up for renewal in 2003. We must act now to fight the loss of this critical, affordable housing," said Assemblymember Deborah Glick (D-Manhattan).

"The issue of rent regulation is a top priority in my community," said Assemblyman Keith Wright (D-Manhattan). "The Assembly is committed to working for the continuation of rent regulation in order to protect tenants and stabilize our working class neighborhoods."

"I applaud the Assembly's efforts in bringing the issue of affordable housing to the forefront. Thousands of middle income New Yorkers face the possibility of being forced out of their neighborhoods, and it is only the Assembly that acknowledges this crises. It is time for the Senate and the governor to join in the fight for affordable housing," said Bob Masters, co-chair of the New York State Working Families Party.

"The high cost of living in this area can place a tremendous burden on our members. For the sake of all New York's hard working men and women, it is essential that rent regulation be extended and I applaud the Assembly's leadership for their efforts to ensure the continuation of safe, affordable housing," said Dennis Rivera, president of 1199-SEIU, New York's Health and Human Services Union.

"Our members know all too well how difficult it is to make ends meet with the high cost of housing here in New York City, especially on a starting teacher's salary. That's why we recently passed a resolution urging city and state officials to guarantee tenants' rights by renewing rent control this year," said United Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten.

"Rent control and rent stabilization laws are critical to the well-being of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers. They help create a vibrant and diverse New York City. TWU Local 100 fully supports legislative initiatives to strengthen and renew these laws as soon as possible," said Roger Toussaint, president of the Transit Workers Union, Local 100.

"On behalf of the 125,000 members of DC 37 and our 40,000 retirees, we strongly support the renewal of rent regulations this year," said Lillian Roberts, executive director of DC 37.

"District Council 37 is New York City's largest municipal employee union." Roberts said. "Our members are the everyday heroes who make this city work and 85 percent of them live here. With an average salary of $29,000 and at the low end, $18,000, our members know how crucial rent control is. They have children and are raising families in the midst of a housing crisis. They could not get along without rent control.

"With rising rents and the disappearance of moderate and low-income housing, rent control is a necessity. Without rent regulations, far more families would be homeless. Therefore, we are fully committed to supporting the renewal of rent regulations this year, because it benefits not only our members, but all New Yorkers," Roberts said.

"For the stability of our communities and to prevent the further growth of homelessness, the legislature and the governor must do the right thing - renew the state tenant protection laws and eliminate vacancy decontrol," said Dennis Hanratty, board member of the Westchester Tenants Coalition.

Rent regulation limits the rate of rent increases and the method, manner and grounds for eviction and requires services to be maintained. According to Lopez, while many people consider rent regulation a New York City issue, in reality 51 municipalities throughout the state have rent protections, including Albany, Buffalo and various cities, towns and villages in Albany, Erie, Nassau, Rensselaer, Schenectady and Westchester counties.