(L-R) Kathy Hochul, Lee Zeldin, AOC, Eric Adams, Samy Nemir Olivares (Getty)
In the closing days of the legislative session, tenant attorneys crowded outside the offices of state Senate and Assembly leaders, calling on lawmakers to approve statewide evictions.
But the measure failed to make progress – another reminder that for real estate, elections matter.
In particular, tenants and environmental groups blamed the Assembly for getting in the way of their legislative priorities, which include charities, the electrification of all new buildings in the state, and allowing state power to build renewable energy projects. to own and exploit.
In Tuesday’s primaries, the Working Families Party backed a list of assembly Democrats who focus on climate change action, according to the city and state, with many of the candidates also citing the eviction of charities as one. priority. Several approvals by America’s Democratic Socialists overlap with those of the WFP, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has also rallied behind many of these candidates.
Blocking a charity and reviving a 421a-style tax break are two priorities for the next real estate session, and picking moderates is key to making them happen. It’s not so much that eight or ten lawmakers vote in the 213-seat legislature, but that members of the Assembly and Senate are influenced by the results of competitive races and governing with the aim of avoiding a future primary challenge.
With that in mind, here are the NYC primary racing industry professionals to watch Tuesday:
Governor
Hochul did not receive sufficient support for 485w, its proposed replacement for 421a, during the legislative session. But last week, during a speech at a New York Real Estate Board event, she pledged to push for “changes to support the industry” next session.
Challenger Jumaane Williams, who has the backing of the WFP, criticized the comments on Twitter, adding that the governor “promised a donor industry that it will make the state more real estate-friendly after the election. See the article : Jacqueline C. Romero has been sworn in as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.” Williams supported the repeal of 421a and the adoption of a good cause.
Meanwhile, Rep. Tom Suozzi with Hochul for the moderate vote. He has criticized the governor’s approach to crime, and in a recent debate accused Hochul of “irresponsibly” spending federal Covid relief funds, according to the New York Times.
Following the arrest of Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin on bribery charges, Hochul appointed Rep. Antonio Delgado to serve the remainder of Benjamin’s term and become her new running mate. Williams walks with Ana Maria Archila, who is supported by Ocasio-Cortez, and Suozzi has tapped into former councilor Diana Reyna.
An impressive win for Hochul and Delgado would make it easier for them to meet real estate priorities that the lawmakers ignored this year. Any other result would make it more difficult.
Candidates for the Republican nomination include former Westchester County Director Rob Astorino, Rep. Lee Zeldin, Andrew Giuliani and Harry Wilson. Polls show Hochul and Zeldin as the favorites.
Assembly District 82, Bronx
During the legislative session, the tenant pleaded with targeted Assembly member Michael Benedetto for not supporting eviction from charities. Benedetto claimed that Housing Justice for All and others were trying to “bully” him into supporting it. Jonathan Soto, who previously worked for Ocasio-Cortez and has the support of the Working Families Party, is challenging the incumbent, supporting both the charity and the demise of 421a. Algernon Quattlebaum, a chef and minister, is also vying for the seat.
Assembly District 32, Queens
The WFP has also given its support to Anthony Andrews Jr. about Member of the Assembly, Vivian Cook. On the same subject : Real estate interests are spent to defend Brooklyn Assembly members led by tenant activists. The incumbent, who has served in the chamber since 1991, has the support of party leaders, including Speaker of Parliament Carl Heastie, Representative Gregory Meeks, Attorney General Letitia James and Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. Andrews, a former Democratic district leader in Southeast Queens, told the Queens Chronicle that he supports the charity.
“I want to extend protection for tenants; I myself am a tenant in a rent-stabilized building and I know how much power a landlord has over your housing security,” he told the newspaper. Cook is co-sponsor of the charity eviction bill.
Assembly District 70, Manhattan
Mayor Eric Adams backed incumbent Inez Dickens, who faces a challenge from tenant attorney Delsenia Glover and Shawanna Vaughn, head of a nonprofit that works with families and children affected by gun violence and incarceration. See the article : US Attorney’s Office Issues Phone Scam Warning. Cortez and the WFP have endorsed Glover.
Adams has walked into other races to support incumbents, including Benedetto, who is being challenged by candidates backed by Ocasio-Cortez.
“Mayor Adams has said from the start that he is not a socialist. He’s a Democrat,” Dickens told the New York Post. “We are Democrats! We are not socialists!…AOC and the socialists are trying to take over New York.”
Assembly District 54, Brooklyn
Activist Samy Nemir Olivares, who was supported by both the DSA and the WFP, is challenging incumbent Erik Dilan. Dilan told City Limits that he supported the 2019 rental law and the eviction moratorium, although he is not listed as a sponsor of the charity eviction bill. DSA-backed Senator Julia Salazar dethroned Dilan’s father, Martin Dilan in 2018.
Assembly District 81, Bronx
The WFP supports Jessica Altagracia Woolford, who previously worked for Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, in her bid for Jeffrey Dinowitz’s seat.
“It doesn’t matter if we have Democrats at the helm if they’re not the kind of Democrats who are really going to fight for eviction from charity,” Woolford told City and State.
Assembly District 65, Manhattan
Illapa Sairitupac, Denny Salas, Grace Lee and Alana Sivin are all vying for the seat to become vacant for Congressional candidate Yuh-Line Niou. The DSA and the WFP approved Sairitupac. Salas told the Village Sun that he is a YIMBY “in the sense that I believe we should build more housing.”
Assembly District 66, Manhattan
The WFP and YIMBY group Open New York have endorsed Ryder Kessler’s bid to overthrow Deborah Glick. The incumbent has been an outspoken opponent of development in her district, most recently fighting the rezoning of Soho and Noho.
Assembly District 60, Brooklyn
Adams supports incumbent Nikki Lucas, who also has the backing of Rep. Hakeem Jeffries. The DSA, WFP and Ocasio-Cortez have endorsed challenger Keron Alleyne.
