Page 5 - aruba-today-20190615

A5
U.S. NEWS Saturday 15 June 2019

State leaders OK new rental protections for pricey NYC

By DAVID KLEPPER It’s also a stunning defeat
Associated Press for the New York City real
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — More estate industry, long one of
than one million apartment the most politically power-
dwellers in and around ful forces in the state Capi-
New York City are getting tol.
new protections against “Today the tenants will win,”
big rent increases under a said Sen. Zellnor Myrie, D-
landmark tenants’ rights bill Brooklyn, who was raised in
signed into law Friday. a rent stabilized apartment.
The measure, which passed “We have been losing in
the Democrat-controlled this building for decades,
Senate and Assembly Fri- but today, the tenants will
day afternoon and was im- win.”
mediately signed into law Landlords have warned
by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, that apartments may
strengthens the existing fall into disrepair if own-
rent stabilization and rent ers aren’t allowed to raise
control rules that govern the rent high enough to
rental increases and evic- cover the cost of improve-
tions in many older, multi- ments. The Partnership for
unit apartments. New York City, a leading
It also makes the rules per- business advocacy orga- In this June 4, 2019 file photo, Jumaane Williams, Public Advocate for the City of New York, center,
manent, eliminating the nization, said the changes speaks with tenants and members of the Upstate Downstate Housing Alliance from across the
need for leaders in Albany could backfire. state, demanding New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and state legislators pass universal rent control
to regularly renew the law, “This rent reform package legislation during a protest rally at the state Capitol in Albany, N.Y.
which was set to expire Sat- will inevitably lead to the Associated Press
urday. same loss of decent, mid- serve of the well-heeled. The changes approved Fri- “I’m confident the measure
Lawmakers voted to ex- dle-class housing that we “It’s destroying New York day will eliminate a land- passed today is the stron-
tend several protections experienced in the 1970s City, destroying its diversity, lord’s ability to take a unit gest possible set of reforms
throughout the state, in- and 1980s,” the group said which is its beauty,” said out of the system based on that the Legislature was
cluding one prohibiting in a statement. “It is not Corine Ombongo-Golden, a tenant’s income and fur- able to pass,” Cuomo said
security deposits of more enough to maintain afford- a teacher who has lived in ther restrict landlords’ abili- in a statement announcing
than one month’s rent. The ability if it means tenants a rent stabilized apartment ties to justify rent increases his signature. He called the
law will also authorize cities are living in terrible condi- in the Bronx for 17 years. through improvements and law “a major step forward
throughout the state to opt tions.” The rent stabilization and upgrades. for tenants across New
into rent stabilization rules. Tenants and advocates ar- control laws were written Passage was made pos- York.
The law is a big victory for gue that high rents are a decades ago to preserve sible last fall when Demo- Stewart-Cousins, who grew
tenants, housing advo- leading cause of income affordable housing amid crats took control of the up in public housing and is
cates and many progres- inequality in the nation’s the post-war boom. Since state Senate, giving them the first African American
sive groups that say high largest city, leading to the then, the rules have slowly a lock on power. Assem- woman to lead a legisla-
rents in New York City are elimination of affordable been eroded and thou- bly Speaker Carl Heastie, tive chamber in New York,
forcing out many lower housing and turning many sands of units have been D-the Bronx, and Senate said that after decades of
and middle-class residents. neighborhoods into the re- taken out of stabilization. Leader Andrea Stewart- siding with the landlords,
Cousins worked out the Albany is now listening to
deal, without much input the tenants.
from Cuomo, who left the “What we’re doing today
negotiations to lawmakers. says ‘we get it,’” she said.q

CAR RENTAL 5616944

Address: Paramira #30 (Oranjestad) - Email: yessrentalcar@gmail.com - Website: www.yessrentalcar.com
We Rent:
Cars- Vans - SUV