NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A4952
SPONSOR: Rosenthal L TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public housing law, in relation to regulating the
conveyance of certain public housing
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The purpose of this bill is to protect the availability and affordabili-
ty of the New York City public housing stock.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one of the bill adds a new section. 402-a, and renumbers current
sections 402-a and 402-b as sections 402-b and 402-c of the Public Hous-
ing Law. This bill would provide that any contract for the sale or
transfer of any real property owned or controlled by the New York City
Housing Authority (NYCHA) to a private entity must be approved by the
legislature.
JUSTIFICATION:
Created in the 1930's; public housing projects were meant to be afforda-
ble homes for lower and middle class New Yorkers, now the buildings are
crumbling, there is a 5168 million yearly operating deficit, and a
decade long waiting list. In light of such constant and deleterious
conditions, the notion of selling public housing seems to some to be a
plausible solution but it is at best an ill-advised alternative. The
need for additional affordable housing in New York. City is undeniable;
however, the theory that supports the sale of current property for the
creation of new housing in poorer neighborhoods is elitist and separa-
tist. Such a plan would further the economic divide which the current
housing market can potentially spurn if allowed to grow without balance
and mechanisms such as the review and oversight this legislation
envisions.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2019-20 A.4303 Referred to Housing; No same as
2017-18: A.5785 - Referred to Housing.
2016: A.3753 - Referred to Housing.
2015: A.3573 Referred to Housing.
2014: A.4059 - Referred to Housing.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to any contract
for the sale or transfer or real property to a private entity by the New
York City housing authority on or after such date.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4952
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 27, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. L. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Housing
AN ACT to amend the public housing law, in relation to regulating the
conveyance of certain public housing
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Sections 402-a and 402-b of the public housing law are
2 renumbered sections 402-b and 402-c and a new section 402-a is added to
3 read as follows:
4 § 402-a. Conveyance of public housing; restrictions. Any contract for
5 the sale or transfer of any real property owned or controlled by the New
6 York city housing authority to a private entity must be approved by the
7 legislature.
8 § 2. Section 402-c of the public housing law, as added by chapter 335
9 of the laws of 2016, is renumbered section 402-g.
10 § 3. Section 402-c of the public housing law, as added by chapter 340
11 of the laws of 2016, is renumbered section 402-h.
12 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to any
13 contract for the sale or transfer of real property to a private entity
14 by the New York city housing authority on or after such date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09838-01-3
