New York, NY – New York State Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal (D/WF, Manhattan) was appointed Chair of the Assembly’s Mitchell-Lama Housing Subcommittee on June 1st. This subcommittee oversees issues pertaining to the Mitchell-Lama program in New York. The program, which began in 1955, was established in order to give moderate-income families greater access to affordable housing.

“I am thrilled at the opportunity to chair this critical subcommittee and continue work on affordable housing issues throughout New York,” said Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal. “I am deeply committed to tenants rights and protecting affordable housing. The Mitchell-Lama subcommittee will provide a useful forum in which to discuss and influence both of these things in the future. It is my hope that I will be able to work with tenants, cooperators and landlords to enhance opportunities for all within the Mitchell-Lama program.”

Assemblymember Rosenthal has been a long-time advocate of affordable housing issues. This past February, the Assemblymember won a huge victory when her repeal of Vacancy Decontrol bill (A.2005) passed the State Assembly. Bill A.2005 will repeal vacancy decontrol in New York City as well as in Westchester, Nassau and Rockland Counties, thereby increasing the number of apartments available under the rent-stabilized system. The passage of this bill was hailed by tenants’ rights advocates as a great achievement for tenants throughout the city and surrounding counties.

“I also hope to slow the exodus that is occurring from the Mitchell-Lama program,” continued Assemblymember Rosenthal. “I am optimistic about what a reasoned debate on this subject can continue to accomplish, and I look forward to working with the many activists who are dedicated to preserving Mitchell-Lama housing. I hope to discuss the possibility of creating another program similar to Mitchell-Lama that could be implemented in New York and that would increase the access of moderate-income families to affordable housing.”

The New York State Mitchell-Lama bill was passed in 1955 in response to affordable housing shortages throughout New York State. The program encouraged the development of affordable housing for middle-income residents by providing developers with tax abatements and low-interest mortgages. In exchange for these perks, the law required a limitation on housing company profits, income limits for tenants and DHCR supervision.

Twenty years after the initial occupancy of an apartment, housing companies are allowed to buy out of the Mitchell-Lama program. When they do this, the companies no longer have to be supervised by DHCR and the apartments no longer need to be kept affordable for low- or moderate- income families. Almost a third of the 140,000 apartments built under the program have left or are in the process of leaving the system. However, since 2007, housing companies representing 3,666 units have refinanced and committed to remaining in the program.

Assemblymember Rosenthal represents the Upper West Side of Manhattan and parts of Clinton/Hell’s Kitchen.