The New York Legislative session, in the State Capital ends, one week from today on June 2nd. With Veto-proof Majorities in the Senate, and an indomitable grip on the Assembly, Democrats have been busy holding Meetings and making Deals, in hopes of delivering on a variety of Legislative Proposals that affect New York City and its Business community.
While many Bills have already passed the Senate, State Assemblyman Robert Carroll (D-44th District, Brooklyn), noted that it’s typically easier to pass Legislation through the 63 Member Senate than it is in the 150 Member Assembly.
“Maneuvering things through the Assembly—it’s more people—so it’s more difficult sometimes,” he said. “The Senate is more transparent in their actions. You only need 33 votes.”
Here are the key pieces of Legislation that are likely to Pass, are still being fought over, and are Unlikely to gain Support in this current Legislative session.
In the works:
- NYCHA Public Housing Preservation Trust Bill, S699A (Kavanagh), A7805 (Cymbrowitz)
Leadership at the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and Mayor Eric Adams (D) have lobbied Albany to pass a Bill that would alter the Federal Funding stream, and Finance the Repair of 25,000 Public Housing Units.
State Sen. Brian Kavanagh (D-26th District, Manhattan) and State Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz (D-45th District, Brooklyn), the Chairs of the Senate and Assembly Housing Committees, are optimistic about their Legislation, which would create a New Public Housing entity within NYCHA that would act as a Trust and Trigger additional Federal Subsidies.
“NYCHA has done a terrific job in meeting with legislators to explain the bill over and over, as many times as the elected [official] needs,” Cymbrowitz said.
State Assemblyman Harvey Epstein (D-74th District, Manhattan), Chair of the Subcommittee on Retention of Homeownership and Stabilization of Affordable Housing, said he Voted against the Legislation in Committee because many NYCHA Resident leaders are Opposed. But he added that he expects it to pass both Houses in the coming days. “It seems like there’s real movement on that bill,” he said.
- Hotel Conversions, 7C (Kavanagh) A6262 (Cymbrowitz)
Kavanagh successfully pushed through Passage of his Hotel conversions Bill this week. The Legislation would amend Zoning and Housing Code Regulations for older City Hotels and pave the way for Developers and Government Agencies to convert Empty Hotel rooms into Permanent Affordable dwellings. Now Kavanagh needs Assembly support to bring it to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s desk. “This seems like a bill I can see getting done at the last minute because there's a lot of people who support it,” Carroll said.
Cymbrowitz said the main issue holding up Support from skeptical Members in the Assembly, is whether the Converted Hotels would still need to go through the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) at the City level. “ULURP is the issue,” Cymbrowitz said. “Both are still in play; certainly the [public housing] trust is.”
- Raising MWBE No-Bid Threshold Limits, S9351 (Sanders) A10459 (DiPietro)
Three years ago, Albany raised the Threshold on No-Bid Contracts from $250,000 to $500,000. This allowed City Agencies to make up to $500,000 worth of Procurement of Goods and Services from Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) before entering a Competitive Bidding process.
On the behest of Adams and Hochul, Albany Legislators are again looking to raise the Threshold cap, this time to $1 million. A New Cap would allow nearly 11,000 City MWBEs to compete for more lucrative City Contracts before the formal Competitive Bidding process opens to the Full market of Small-Business and Corporate Contractors. Last year City Agencies hit MWBE Procurement lows not seen since 2013.
“I think there’s a real lane to get that done this year,” Epstein said. “We just increased it to $500,000 two-or-three years ago, but it makes sense to go to a million [dollars], at least.”
General Contractors Bailout, S8844 (Sen. Reichlin-Melnick) A. 10109 (Zebrowski)
State Contractors have lobbied Lawmakers to allow Bigger budgets for Public Construction Projects, citing the rising Cost of Building Materials. Under the proposed Legislation, the State would Reimburse Firms for Material Cost overruns. Contractors have argued Rising Material Prices and Supply Chain Delays have sent the Cost of Construction Projects into the sky and left them at risk of Default. A source close to Senate Leadership confirmed the Bill “is still on the table.”
But Epstein noted a Bill such as this One requires huge Outlays of Money from the State, and that with April’s Budget season behind them, it’s unlikely Legislators in Albany want to take up an Expensive Bailout Bill. “It’s hard to figure out where the funding would be available for that,” Epstein said. “We have lots of crises going on right now.”
Board of Elections Reform Package
The Senate Democratic Majority passed numerous Reforms this week to New York City’s Board of Elections system. A Bill by Sen. Liz Krueger (D-28th District, Manhattan) would revamp the Structure of the New York City Board of Elections, shrinking the Number of Commissioners from 10 to Two, one Democrat, one Republican, and create a New Position of Executive Director of Elections, who would be selected through a National search.
Other Elections Reforms passed in the Senate Package include: Mandatory Training Curriculum for Elections Officials; a Poll Worker Training program; increasing Pay for Election Inspectors; prohibiting Conflicts of Interest; and supporting Voters with Food and Refreshments as they wait in line. While these Bills were popular in the Senate, it’s unclear whether they’ll find passage in the more diffuse Assembly.
“These are very tough bills to get done,” Carroll said. “I have a new maxim in Albany, which is 'Every man and woman for themselves.' I have blinders on.”
Rejected
- Multiple Dwelling Units, S8783 (Kavanagh) A9802 (Epstein)
It doesn’t appear the State will Legalize the Underground Market of Unregulated Basement Apartments in New York City. The Bill would allow the City to grant Amnesty to Property Owners who come forward and show they manage Accessory Dwelling units: Underground Basement spaces that have been Illegally Converted into Apartments.
Kavanagh called the Bill his “top priority” in an interview earlier in the month, but a source close to Senate Leadership gave a brief assessment of the Bill’s chances: “Not happening.”
- 21st Century Antitrust Act, S933A (Gianaris) A01812 (Dinowitz)
Deputy Senate Majority Leader Michael Gianaris’ (D-12th District,Queens), golden piece of Legislation is at risk of Defeat. Gianaris’ 21st Century Antitrust Act would Redefine what constitutes a Monopoly in New York and change the Pre-Merger Review process to give the State more Authority over determining whether companies have reached Monopoly status. It would also Inaugurate an “abuse of dominance standard” used in the European Union for Legal Enforcement of Monopoly Tactics.
While the Bill passed the Senate this week by a close 36-25 Vote, the Bill does Not look like it will pass the Assembly. The Bill also died in the Assembly last year.
With only a few days left, Epstein noted that Lawmakers are more focused on passing Legislation pertaining to strengthening Gun Law Regulations and Protecting Abortion access.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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