BY JAY MARTIN
In politics, it’s a lot easier to
blame others than shoulder
any responsibility on your
own. Case in point — the recent
rent regulation debate in
Albany.
With the laws governing affordable
rent stabilized units
set to expire on June 15, state
lawmakers have an opportunity
to seriously tackle the
housing affordability crisis
that has befallen our city. Unfortunately
— but not surprisingly
— we are not seeing the
leadership required for such
an intricate issue.
That’s why our organization,
the Community Housing
Improvement Program
(CHIP), which represents 4,000
property owners across all fi ve
boroughs who own or manage
one-third of the city’s rent stabilized
housing stock, is putting
forth proposals that focus
on giving working class and
poor New Yorkers the housing
security they deserve.
Our members are mostly
small business owners who
understand the diffi cult balance
of maintaining safe and
high-quality affordable apartments,
with still earning a living
in such an expensive city.
Many members have worked
here for generations and have
seen the city climb out of the
depths of urban decay into a
community that attracts new
residents and visitors every
year.
Part of this success stems
from state policies such as the
Major Capital Improvement
and Individual Apartment Improvement
programs.
These key mechanisms incentivize
property owners to
maintain their buildings by
permitting them to recoup
the costs of upgrades through
small rent increases, but only
upon the submission of evidence
to regulators that the
projects met stringent guidelines.
The programs have delivered
— since the 1970s, there
has been a 90 percent drop in
blocks that are blighted with
boarded or broken windows.
But other policies, including
preferential rents and vacancy
allowances, also contribute
to the overall upward
trend in the quality of rental
housing.
And yet, Albany politicians
are more interested in currying
favor with a small subset
of activists by upbraiding
property owners than helping
There’s still hope for the red parties in New York
Earlier this year, the New
York State Conservative
Party ushered in a new era
when its long-time widely respected
chairman, Brooklynite
Mike Long, retired from his
post. He was replaced by Jerry
Kassar, a political pro who had
served as leader of the Brooklyn
Conservatives.
Now, the state GOP joined
the game of musical chairs in
its leadership.
Erie County Chairman
Nick Langworthy will replace
Ed Cox, a son-in-law to former
President Richard Nixon. Cox
held the position for a decade
but announced last week that
he would not seek re-election
this summer, and would instead
join President Trump’s
COURIER L 22 IFE, MAY 31–JUNE 6, 2019 M BR B G
New Yorkers afford their
homes. We see this lack of
leadership with the complete
mismanagement of NYCHA.
The government is the largest
landlord in the city, but cannot
get its own properties to meet
even the lowest standards of
livability.
That’s why we have recently
announced an affordability
plan that is intended to
refocus the housing debate.
Specifi cally, New York
should pass the Home Stability
Support Program. The
legislation would expand supplemental
housing aid for individuals
and families on public
assistance.
The city and state must
also support appropriate funding
levels for the NYC Rent
Freeze Program, which helps
seniors and disabled individuals
afford their rent stabilized
units. Veterans should be included
in an expanded program.
Additionally, the lowestrent
apartments should be reserved
for low-income New
Yorkers by making rent stabilized
units means-tested.
CHIP members have been
part of this city for decades,
and we will always remain
committed to our home and
yours. With only a few weeks
left of debate before a major
vote on housing reform, we’ll
do our best to make sure Albany
lawmakers actually assist
the most vulnerable New
Yorkers, not just indulge the
most vocal activists.
Jay Martin is the executive
director of the Community
Housing Improvement Program.
OPINION
Albany needs to focus on policies that matter
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re-election team.
Langworthy had been crisscrossing
the Empire State meeting
with Republican chairs,
making the case that it was
time for a change at the top and
appeared to be locking up crucial
support to win before Cox
made his announcement.
Truth be told, I have known
and respected Mr. Cox for many
years as a GOPer who led the
Brooklyn Young Republican
Club and also as a candidate for
State Assembly and City Council
running on the Republican
and Conservative Party lines
in 2008 and 2009, respectively.
Chairman Cox was a constant
presence at events supporting
local candidates, like myself.
More importantly, he is a good
man who worked tirelessly to
ensure a GOP role in a deep
blue state.
Now, the question is, can the
new leadership in both of New
York’s right-leaning parties
help reverse the one party domination
that Democrats have in
Albany and New York City.
There are some reasons for
optimism. First, Democrats
may have over-played their
hand by going too far left after
their overwhelming victories
last year, which included taking
over the state Senate.
Whether it’s pushing one
law after another that puts
more priority on protecting
criminals over law abiding
New Yorkers, or literally blocking
good jobs from coming to
our city and state as occurred
with the failed Amazon deal in
Queens, the radical progressive
agenda of many Albany Democrats
could lead to a pendulum
swing to the right among independent
voters.
Other bright spots are here
in New York City, where Mayor
Bill de Blasio has all but abdicated
his responsibilities as
mayor to wander in the corn
fi elds of Iowa, and the City
Council continues its mission
to make us the far-left capital
of the nation by dictating food
choices, banning fur, and taxing
shopping bags.
For too long, it has seemed
that our city GOP, including
the few Republican elected offi
cials, threw in the towel on
being the loyal, vocal opposition
to the Democrats at City
Hall. By not having a vibrant
two-party system, progressive
legislation has been merely
rubber stamped without real
debate.
Thankfully, some local GOP
leaders are stepping up and declaring
enough is enough. For
example, Staten Island City
Councilman Joe Borelli is
about to put his name on the
city map with his campaign for
NYC Public Advocate. Borelli,
a smart and conservative voice,
will offer a strong contrasting
vision to the current offi
ceholder, Jumaane Williams.
Borelli recently made city news
in his call for Mayor de Blasio
to resign, stating, “Chasing
the toughest job in the country
doesn’t leave much time to do
the second toughest.”
Additionally, Assemblywoman
Nicole Malliotakis —
Brooklyn’s only GOP elected
offi cial — stepped up to challenge
de Blasio in 2017 when no
one else would. She was able
to put him on the defensive on
many issues, including the unfairness
of our property tax
system and his refusal to cooperate
with federal offi cials to
deport illegal aliens that have
committed many other crimes.
Today, she continues to be one
of the very few, but vocal voices
taking on the far-left at City
Hall and in Albany.
Finally, a big challenge
and goal for the city and state
GOP is to bring millennials
into the tent. To this end,
since her election as Manhattan
Republican chairwoman
in September 2017, Andrea
Catsimatidis has proved to be
an ideal spokesperson for this
mission. Her passion and common
sense approach to politics
and government has made her
a regular on the cable news
circuit. In addition, about a
year ago she was elected New
York State GOP Regional Vice
Chairwoman representing
New York City.
So, all is not lost for our red
parties here. New Yorkers need
and deserve a real two-party
system, but for this to happen
there must be more vocal leaders
like Borelli, Malliotakis,
and Catsimatidis to inspire a
new generation of Republicans.
Chairmen Langworthy and
Kassar have their work cut out
for them, but there is hope.
Bob Capano has worked for
Brooklyn Republican and Democrat
elected offi cials.
THE RIGHT
VIEW
Bob Capano
/BrooklynPaper.com