END CRIES “FOUL” AS GOVEROR CUOMO CUTS DEAL WITH SILVER TO “LINK” PLAN TO DUMP “RENT CONTROL” WITH “PROPERTY TAX CAPS”.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Manhattan, New York, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) June 1, 2011 --

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END CRIES “FOUL” AS GOVEROR CUOMO CUTS DEAL WITH SILVER TO “LINK” PLAN TO DUMP “RENT CONTROL” WITH “PROPERTY TAX CAPS”.

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New York, NY, June 1st 2011: Governor Cuomo shocked many supporters today by announcing his intention to “link” the flawed “Property Tax Cap” bill with a scheme to eliminate Rent Control in the tri-state area. END has repeatedly urged Mr. Cuomo to abandon “Property Tax Caps” due to their proven failure to raise revenues, as attested to by a 30 year Congressional Budget Office study. More seriously, by linking this term of the proposed Budget, the Legislature would be forced to Veto Rent Control without the necessary debate. The latter proposal is aimed at moving lower income residents out of Manhattan into the adjacent boroughs, as admitted by Mr. Anderson the advocate for the Builders in a NY1 debate today. Tim Collins, the head of the Rent Control advocacy group, provided compelling statistics about why property owners have continued to benefit via subsidies and capital improvements and how New Construction is exempt from regulation. Collins rationally affirmed that the occupancy rate in Manhattan is 97% and that workers would not be able to live in NYC without some form of Rent Control. Collins rejected the “income” ceiling provision of $300,000 per family stating that Rent Control was “never intended to be based on income, it is about quality housing”.

END also cited the Rent Control deal propounded by Assemblyman Sheldon Siliver of a 10% rise in rent rates as “a hidden deal for the Property owners. “Someone has to stand up for the people of this city”, Kathryn Jordan, END President stated. END has asked the governor to abandon Property Tax Caps altogether and to use the funds that have now been expended on “advertising” to stimulate job growth. End provided a specific campaign proposal to the Governor’s team but his response was to “pummel” the public with “ads”. “Rent Control needs to be reformed. There is no reason why someone who is bringing in $300,000 in income cannot pay fair market rent.” New Yorkers spend around 32% of their income on rent and housing. END’s concern is that “linkage” will “eliminate a much needed open debate” on the issue and some expert positions that document why “Caps” on taxes will help the NY economy.

“The Governor is dismissing our democratic right to be heard and debate these issues by cutting back door deals with Mr. Silver and the large Commercial Property Owners who played such an important role in Mr. Cuomo’s election. The cultural life of Manhattan will disappear overnight if we do not protect our artists and young talent who obviously cannot afford seven figure apartments. There are also other segments like Older and Disabled residents whom Mr. Anderson seems to think should live elsewhere”. END has proposed that an amended Rent Control proposal be explored where people who can afford regular housing are exempt but lower income persons are protected. “Disparate impact” would mean problems for the City and would delay securing any Budget this year. “The very idea that Anderson and the developers are willing to force out the artists, young people (many whom are unemployed) and lower income workers who keep corporate America running, out of Manhattan into the other boroughs is onerous. We have to maintain a certain segment of our housing for those who are not in the top income bracket. And anyone making $300K a year should not be in public housing or rent controlled buildings.” END argued.
While a certain amount of dealing must occur to gain bipartisan support of the Budget, this Pro-Property owners proposal would totally decimate Minority and other protect class rights to “equal protection” under NYC Housing Laws, and would shove the artistic community out of NYC altogether.

More information can be found online at http://WWW.ENDDISCRIMINATIONNOW.COM

ASSEMBLYMAN SILVER     Congressional Budget Office     DISPARATE IMPACT     Governor Andrew Cuomo     MANHATTAN RENTAL MARKET     Occupancy rate     PROPERTY TAX CAPS     rent control