File #: Res 0141-2004    Version: * Name: Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) program.
Type: Resolution Status: Adopted
Committee: Committee on Mental Health, Developmental Disability, Alcoholism, Substance Abuse and Disability Services
On agenda: 2/26/2004
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling upon the Legislature of the State of New York to amend the Real Property Tax Law to provide rent increase exemptions to qualified disabled heads of households modeled on the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) program.
Sponsors: Helen D. Foster, Michael C. Nelson, Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., Maria Baez, Gale A. Brewer, Bill De Blasio, Erik Martin Dilan, Lewis A. Fidler, Alan J. Gerson, Robert Jackson, Miguel Martinez, Hiram Monserrate, Bill Perkins, Christine C. Quinn, Philip Reed, Diana Reyna, Joel Rivera, James Sanders, Jr., Larry B. Seabrook, Jose M. Serrano, John C. Liu, Madeline T. Provenzano, Tony Avella, Vincent J. Gentile, Eric N. Gioia, Letitia James, Melinda R. Katz, Kendall Stewart, David I. Weprin, James F. Gennaro, Margarita Lopez, Annabel Palma, Leroy G. Comrie, Jr., Betsy Gotbaum
Council Member Sponsors: 34
Attachments: 1. Committee Report, 2. Hearing Transcript, 3. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 11/10/04

Res. No. 141

 

Resolution calling upon the Legislature of the State of New York to amend the Real Property Tax Law to provide rent increase exemptions to qualified disabled heads of households modeled on the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) program.

 

By Council Members Foster, Nelson, Addabbo, Baez, Brewer, DeBlasio, Dilan, Fidler, Gerson, Jackson, Martinez, Monserrate, Perkins, Quinn, Reed, Reyna, Rivera, Sanders, Seabrook, Serrano, Liu, Provenzano, Avella, Gentile, Gioia, James, Katz, Stewart, Weprin, Gennaro, Lopez, Palma, Comrie and The Public Advocate (Ms. Gotbaum)

 

                     Whereas, Section 467 of the State Real Property Tax Law (and Administrative Code provisions enacted pursuant thereto) currently contains senior citizen rent increase exemptions (SCRIE), whereby a senior head of a household, whose household income is $24,000 or less and whose rent constitutes at least a third of that income, is entitled to exemptions from rent increases in order to keep his or her rent from becoming a greater percentage of the household income; and

                     Whereas, This program provides that landlords be reimbursed for the rent increase exemptions through means of property tax abatements; and

                     Whereas, This program assists lower income elderly persons by lessening the harsh impact of rental obligations so that their limited incomes can be devoted to other necessities such as food, clothing and health care; and

Whereas, Many people with disabilities receive income from the federal/state Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability programs, which range from a approximately $600 to $1,000 monthly; and

Whereas, There is a critical shortage of affordable housing in New York City, which is particularly bad for disabled persons who need to find shelter that is not only safe and affordable but also accessible; and

Whereas, The same rationale for ensuring that rental costs should not consume a disproportionate amount of the income of elderly persons should apply as well to disabled persons living on small incomes, whose household incomes are needed to provide other necessities such as health care; and

                     Whereas, Eligible persons should include anyone under the age of 62 with a physical or mental impairment, including, but not limited to, those of neurological or sensory organs, which substantially limits one or more of the person's major life activities, and who is regarded as having such an impairment as certified by a licensed physician; and

                     Whereas, Affected housing should include rent-regulated non-public housing, including buildings under rent control or rent stabilization and Mitchell-Lama rental buildings; now, therefore, be it

                     Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the Legislature of the State of New York to amend the Real Property Tax Law to provide rent increase exemptions to qualified disabled heads of households modeled on the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) program.