Beginning with the budget negotiations, we confronted an unprecedented fiscal crisis – one our State will continue to face in the years ahead because the Governor’s failed policies will surely haunt us further down the road.

However, by passing a responsible, balanced budget, the State Legislature has provided the foundation for a stronger New York City. The New York State Assembly and Senate came together in a non-partisan spirit to override the Governor’s vetoes and avoid a "doomsday" budget scenario - which would close firehouses, cut back on garbage collection, lay-off police officers, and seriously jeopardize the quality of our public education, health care and public safety – complete with a call for $6.7 billion in new taxes!

Our bipartisan plan was more reasonable than the Governor’s, which was unfairly regressive with its massive shift of the tax burden to working families and the most vulnerable among us. The Governor’s tax hikes would have hit working families and seniors hardest – taxing those with the least ability to pay, and inevitably undermining New York’s future competitiveness. Our efforts ensured that the budget was not balanced on the backs of New York’s working people.

These are tough times for our City and our State, but the Assembly was still able to protect a wide range of things that are vital to ensuring a better quality of life. Despite these victories, however, there is a great deal of work that remains to be done before the end of the year. I believe that the Assembly has worked to fulfill its responsibilities, and I will continue to be an advocate in Albany for upholding the ideals of a progressive vision for our future.

On June 24, Assembly Members Daniel O’Donnell and Scott Stringer held a Town Hall Meeting for tenants in their Districts at Goddard Riverside Community Center regarding the rent regulation legislation that was passed in the Senate and the Assembly in the last hours of the Legislative Session. Instead of the more-or-less straight extension that had been promised, the Governor and the majority leadership in the Senate tried to launch an end-run with the ultimate goal of ending rent regulations forever. In the end, the Senate passed its own tenant-hostile bill and skipped town, forcing the Assembly to either pass their watered-down bill or let rent protections lapse entirely. The Assembly reluctantly passed the Senate and Governor’s bill, with its weakened protections. Both Assembly Members O’Donnell and Stringer, however, refused to vote for this legislation for reasons that they explained to tenants at the Town Hall Meeting.

ASSEMBLY MEMBER O’DONNELL WITH TENANTS FROM THE 69th ASSEMBLY DISTRICT IN ALBANY

Assembly Member O’Donnell told tenants that he believed that this legislation cannot in any way be considered a success. He stressed that we can and we need to do better and that he understands his responsibility to protect the working families that are trying to find and maintain decent, affordable places to live. He stressed that we cannot tolerate the Governor’s antipathy toward New York City - which clearly knows no bounds. While this chapter of the battle to protect tenants may have ended, our steadfast commitment to a better way must remain unwavering. This is one reason why he did not vote for this legislation, and why he intends to go forward from here, with his opposition to this process on the record, and with a renewed sense of energy for a bigger fight for strong meaningful protections for all tenants. Another reason, no less important, is that throughout the past six months, in meeting with many constituents and during the intense lobbying efforts that were led in Albany and here at home, he promised you that he would not settle for less. Assembly Member O’Donnell gave you his word that he would not allow New York City to be given away to the most wealthy and that he would not compromise on certain provisions and continue to fight against the irresponsible choices of the Governor so that we can finally, really, move New York forward. Assembly Member O’Donnell has urged tenants not to lose faith and has asked them to gather their energy and get prepared for another go ‘round - because this injustice cannot go unchecked or be forgotten. For complete information about the changes to rent protection laws, please call (212) 866-3970.