TRD PolicyPro: Hochul signs housing bills, lawmakers revive winter eviction ban

Good afternoon, let’s take a look at today’s news at the intersection of policy and real estate:

• Gov. Hochul has signed some of the first housing bills of the year.
• A state ban on evictions is back in the policy mix.
• Lobbying efforts for and against a TOPA bill in the Senate are beginning to ramp up.
• Albany lawmakers want to send more money to New York land banks.
• In this edition we feature: Secretary of State James Sanders Jr., Jamaal Bailey, Jabari Brisport, Assembly Member Anna Kelles and others.

We heard

• Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Governor Kathy Hochul has signed two housing bills into law, the first of the year. One invoicesponsored by Senator James Sanders Jr. of the State of Queens, requires that the legal agreements binding homeowners or condo associations to a deed, known as restrictive covenants, be reviewed prior to a sale to eliminate provisions that discriminate against any protected class under state and federal law. These covenants typically determine how an owner can maintain or modify their property. A second invoicesponsored by Bronx State Senator Jamaal Bailey, creates new requirements for mortgage holders. Namely, that a payout cannot be denied, that partial payments must be accepted, and that payments must be applied immediately to a mortgage.

• Back from the dead: Assembly Member Anna Kelles and Senator Jabari Brisport introduced a bill that would ban winter evictions in New York, intended as a way to protect tenants who could end up homeless and on the streets during the colder months. As proposed, an eviction could only take place between April 16 and October 31. The legislation is a version of a 2023 bill proposed by Kelles and State Senator Zellnor Myrie that failed to gain traction despite lobbying from the Fund for the City of New York. This time, the Right to Counsel NYC Coalition is pushing for a ban.

• TOPA versus COPY: Grassroots nonprofit the New Economy Project has filed lobbying paperwork to directly advocate for Senator Zellnor Myrie’s Secretary of State endorsement Tenants’ Possibility to Purchase Act, or TOPA, a similar, statewide version of the City Council’s controversial COPA bill. The organization is the latest this year to join the lobbying effort for the bill, which currently has 21 co-sponsors. Last year, the legislation drew lobbying from a mix of supporters and opponents, including the Voices of Community Activists & Leaders, or VOCAL-NY, and the influential Real Estate Board of New York. A political official not authorized to speak publicly said the real estate industry’s fervent push against COPA also serves as a way to diminish state lawmakers’ political interest in TOPA.

• Cashing in on land banks: New York State Homes & Community Renewal Commissioner and CEO Ruth Ann Visnauskas said Wednesday during a state budget hearing that the agency has $140 million “out the door” to support New York’s 32 land banksthat redevelop and preserve affordable housing. Visnauskas expects another $20 million to be spent this year, some of which could finance New York City’s new land bank. Brian Kavanagh, state senator and chairman of the housing committee, indicated during the hearing that lawmakers want to budget more money to support the state’s land banks.

Do you have a tip or feedback? Reach me caroline.spivack@therealdeal.com.

Around the city

City Council President Julie Menin will gather with the Hotel and Gaming Trade Council on the steps of City Hall at noon. The powerful union is prepare for a possible strike on contract negotiations with the industry ahead of eight FIFA World Cup matches coming to New Jersey in June and July, including the tournament final.

Speaking of which, the City Council’s Economic Development Committee is holding its first meeting monitoring hearing on the preparations for the Football World Cup come to the region. Tune in virtually at 1 p.m., or in person at 250 Broadway in hearing room one on the eighth floor.

The catch up

Mayor Mamdani’s inaugural ‘Rental Ripoff’ hearing Thursday was a more subdued event than expected, with a resource fair and one-on-one meetings with city officials, that resembled a parent-teacher conference rather than a show trial, reports The real deal‘s Lilah Burke and Kathryn Brenzel.

Councilmember Christopher Marte’s chief of staff, Caitlin Kelmar, is an active member of the grassroots group Youth Against Displacement, which is waging a propaganda campaign on social media against one of Chinatown’s commercial landlords, Jonathan Chu. writes TRD columnist Erik Engquist.

Councilwoman Vickie Paladino reluctantly voted in favor of a residential complex in Queens by developers Apex and Barrone Management, publicly blaming one of the housing ballot measures approved in November that would have allowed the developers to refer the council’s rejection to an appeals committee, Kathryn Brenzel reports.

State Senator Julia Salazar and Assemblywoman Emily Gallagher are introducing a bill to create rent stabilization for the city’s retail tenants. Erik Engquist has some thoughts on it: he calls it “destructive” and “poorly written.”

Mayor Mamdani met with President Trump on Thursday and asked for $21 billion in federal grants for a long-stalled project to build 12,000 apartments and an entirely new neighborhood atop Sunnyside Yards in Queens, Politico reports.

A city charter review committee convened by former Mayor Eric Adams is exploring the possibility of accepting private contributions to finance its operations should Mamdani’s government try to block its efforts. reports City & State. The final charter review committee convened by Adams focused on several ultimately successful measures in the areas of land use and affordable housing.

The mayor continued to fill leadership positions in his administration on Wednesday announcement that Erin Daltonwho heads the Department of Human Services for Allegheny County in Pennsylvania, is his choice to lead the city’s Department of Social Services. On Tuesday, Mamdani selected Sideya Sherman as director of the city’s Department of Urban Planning and chairman of the city’s Planning Commission.

The Kicker

“It’s the right thing to do for renters and the right thing to do for affordable housing providers,” said Senator Brian Kavanagh, chairman of the Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development. on a proposal that would create a new diversionary court to expedite emergency assistance to tenants to cover overdue debts owed to landlords.

Read more

The Daily Dirt: Landmarks to determine the fate of the Noho parking lot

Can a land bank arrange the sale of the tax lien?

Without enough votes from the Council, COPA appears dead