New York state lawmakers are considering a plan to bolster tenant protections in New York City and extend an expired tax break for developers as part of a last-ditch effort to salvage a deal on housing policy, according to people with knowledge of the proposal.
Senate Democrats met privately Tuesday to discuss a version of a “Good Cause” eviction bill that would mandate the new protections only within the five boroughs, with other local governments across the state able to opt in if they so choose, according to four sources with direct knowledge of the closed-door discussions but not authorized to speak publicly about the private discussions.
That measure would likely be tied to an extension of a modified version of the tax break known as 421-a, which goes to housing developers who commit to reserving a certain percentage of units for income-restricted tenants. Lawmakers allowed the program to expire last year, with some arguing it was a giveaway to wealthy developers.
It’s not clear whether the latest proposal has enough support for passage before the end of the state’s legislative session, which is scheduled to end this week. It’s also unclear whether Gov. Kathy Hochul would support the emerging proposal.
The Assembly’s Democratic majority had not yet met to discuss the measures as of early Tuesday evening.
The proposal is “still coming together,” Assembly Housing Committee Chair Linda Rosenthal said in a text message.
State legislators cautioned that the proposal was still fluid, with several key provisions — including metrics that would determine the strength of the tenant protections — still in flux.
Progressive lawmakers and tenant advocates have spent years pushing for the Good Cause eviction bill, which would place a legal limit on annual rent increases and prevent landlords from evicting tenants or not offering them lease renewals without a bona fide reason allowed for by law.
Hochul, meanwhile, put forward a wide-ranging housing plan…
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