File #: Res 0596-2015    Version: Name: Repealing vacancy decontrol. (A.1865)
Type: Resolution Status: Adopted
Committee: Committee on Housing and Buildings
On agenda: 2/26/2015
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to approve, A.1865, in relation to repealing vacancy decontrol.
Sponsors: Jumaane D. Williams, Margaret S. Chin, Vanessa L. Gibson, Corey D. Johnson, Brad S. Lander, Donovan J. Richards, Deborah L. Rose, Ydanis A. Rodriguez, Robert E. Cornegy, Jr., Daniel R. Garodnick, I. Daneek Miller, James G. Van Bramer, Stephen T. Levin, Ben Kallos, Andrew Cohen, Carlos Menchaca
Council Member Sponsors: 16
Attachments: 1. Res. No. 596 - 2/26/15, 2. 2/26/15 - Stated Meeting Agenda with Links to Files, 3. Committee Report 3/2/15, 4. Hearing Testimony 3/2/15, 5. Hearing Transcript 3/2/15, 6. Committee Report 3/10/15, 7. Hearing Transcript 3/10/15, 8. Committee Report - Stated Meeting, 9. March 11, 2015 - Stated Meeting Agenda with Links to Files, 10. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 3-11-15, 11. Minutes of the Stated Meeting - March 11, 2015
Date Ver.Prime SponsorAction ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsMultimedia
3/11/2015AJumaane D. Williams City Council Approved, by CouncilPass Action details Meeting details Not available
3/10/2015*Jumaane D. Williams Committee on Housing and Buildings Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
3/10/2015*Jumaane D. Williams Committee on Housing and Buildings Amendment Proposed by Comm  Action details Meeting details Not available
3/10/2015*Jumaane D. Williams Committee on Housing and Buildings Amended by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
3/10/2015AJumaane D. Williams Committee on Housing and Buildings Approved by CommitteePass Action details Meeting details Not available
3/2/2015*Jumaane D. Williams Committee on Housing and Buildings Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
3/2/2015*Jumaane D. Williams Committee on Housing and Buildings Amendment Proposed by Comm  Action details Meeting details Not available
3/2/2015*Jumaane D. Williams Committee on Housing and Buildings Laid Over by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
2/26/2015*Jumaane D. Williams City Council Referred to Comm by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
2/26/2015*Jumaane D. Williams City Council Introduced by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
Res. No. 596-A
 
 
Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to approve, A.1865, in relation to repealing vacancy decontrol.
 
 
By Council Members Williams, Chin, Gibson, Johnson, Lander, Richards, Rose, Rodriguez, Cornegy, Garodnick, Miller, Van Bramer, Levin, Kallos, Cohen and Menchaca
Whereas, The serious housing emergency that has led to the enactment of the rent regulation laws continues to exist in New York City; and
Whereas, The latest Housing and Vacancy Survey conducted by the United States Bureau of the Census reveals a vacancy rate of only 3.45 percent in New York City; and
Whereas, New York State's rent regulation programs, known as rent control and rent stabilization, cover about 1 million apartments in New York City; and
Whereas, Rent-regulated housing represents most of the City's affordable housing; and
Whereas, Vacancy decontrol is the process by which a property owner removes a rent-regulated unit from the regulatory system when the permitted rent of the vacant unit increases above $2,500 a month; and
Whereas, The New York City Rent Guidelines Board stated that about 133,173 rent-stabilized units have been deregulated due to vacancy decontrol since 1994; and  
Whereas, This practice has greatly exacerbated the City's severe lack of affordable housing by taking thousands of affordable units off the market; and
Whereas, The lack of affordable housing creates a financial hardship because many households are paying at or over 30% of their income towards rent; and
Whereas, This financial hardship has forced many tenants to relocate, live in substandard housing conditions or become unable to keep up with living expenses; and
Whereas, Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal introduced A.1865 to repeal vacancy decontrol; and
Whereas, This bill is  necessary to preserve New York City's affordable housing for future generations; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to approve, A.1865, in relation to repealing vacancy decontrol.
 
JLC
LS 2375/2014
2/26/15- 7:08p