“This past year has been incredibly difficult for all of us. Many families lost their source of income and small businesses struggled to stay afloat. Since the start of the pandemic, I’ve been committed to helping our communities forge a path forward, and that means using my voice to do what’s best for North Country residents. That’s why I couldn’t in good faith vote to extend the eviction and foreclosure moratorium once again while our small landlords and businesses continue to be left in the dust (A.7175-A).

“To date, we have yet to provide direct support to the small landlords who are still without the rent income they need to pay their own bills. It is not the fault of the small landlords that their tenants are unable to pay their rent but have henceforth shouldered the burden. The state has received federal funding and it is well past the time that we assist the small landlords who have continued to provide housing for their tenants, despite not receiving any assistance to do so.

“As we reopen and return to some sense of normalcy, we must now focus on fixing the financial damage that has been done, not add to it. It is a travesty that the state has yet to put together a plan to push this money out the door and keep housing stable not just in the North Country, but to the entirety of New York State. To that end, I sponsored legislation that would address the additional housing expenses small landlords have been burdened with, such as mortgages, taxes and utilities, and clarify the qualifications for supplemental costs associated with the emergency rental assistance program (A.7280). I’ll continue to put the needs of the North Country first and push for smart legislation that helps our whole community get back on its feet.”