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
COURIER L 30 IFE, MAY 31–JUNE 6, 2019 PS
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
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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