Laura
07-26-2007, 09:07 AM
Advocate seeks to protect disabled from rent hikes
BY SID CASSESE
sid.cassese@newsday.com
July 25, 2007
A long-time tenant advocate from Great Neck is leading an effort on Long Island to lobby the State Senate for a bill to increase protection for the disabled from hikes at rent-controlled apartments.
With the Senate set to reconvene tomorrow to consider the congestion pricing bill that New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is pushing, a bill sponsored by Sen. Martin Golden (R-Brooklyn) to enhance the exemption for the disabled is locked in committee and would need Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno (R-Brunswick) to call it to a vote.
Currently, disabled residents with incomes of up to about $18,000 enjoy the rental exemption, while seniors can earn up to $27,000 and still get the break, said advocate Julia Shields, who worked as a Long Island organizer with the New York State Tenants and Neighbors Coalition.
"It's discriminatory," said Shields.
But Rob Herz, director of the Committee on Aging, which Golden chairs, said the situation is more complicated.
"The $18,000 figure isn't totally accurate, and there are other considerations, such as who will pick up the tab," Herz said. "There's a different concept between the two and a different population and it's all affected by any outside income."
Shields said her lobbying effort is primarily a mail and telephone campaign aimed at Golden; organizers want him to push Bruno to get the bill out of committee and then onto the floor.
Shields said she also would like to get the support of Long Island's GOP senators.
Tom Dunham, a spokesman for Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre), said the senator likes the bill, but will look at it more closely later. Dunham also noted that only the congestion pricing bill would be considered by lawmakers tomorrow.
Sen. Charles Fuschillo (R-Merrick) said through a spokesman that he supports the disabled exemption bill and would vote for it this week if it comes up, though no one had contacted him about it.
"It's a shame that they won't pass this bill," said Shields. "We have a lot of disabled tenants, especially in Great Neck Plaza."
Herz, though, said there is no urgency to pass a bill today. The Assembly has passed a bill, but it doesn't go into effect until July 1, 2008.
"Moreover, I don't see how it can come up this week in good faith, while we are continuing to work on it," said Herz. "But in six to eight months, we should have it done."
Copyright 2007 Newsday Inc.
BY SID CASSESE
sid.cassese@newsday.com
July 25, 2007
A long-time tenant advocate from Great Neck is leading an effort on Long Island to lobby the State Senate for a bill to increase protection for the disabled from hikes at rent-controlled apartments.
With the Senate set to reconvene tomorrow to consider the congestion pricing bill that New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is pushing, a bill sponsored by Sen. Martin Golden (R-Brooklyn) to enhance the exemption for the disabled is locked in committee and would need Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno (R-Brunswick) to call it to a vote.
Currently, disabled residents with incomes of up to about $18,000 enjoy the rental exemption, while seniors can earn up to $27,000 and still get the break, said advocate Julia Shields, who worked as a Long Island organizer with the New York State Tenants and Neighbors Coalition.
"It's discriminatory," said Shields.
But Rob Herz, director of the Committee on Aging, which Golden chairs, said the situation is more complicated.
"The $18,000 figure isn't totally accurate, and there are other considerations, such as who will pick up the tab," Herz said. "There's a different concept between the two and a different population and it's all affected by any outside income."
Shields said her lobbying effort is primarily a mail and telephone campaign aimed at Golden; organizers want him to push Bruno to get the bill out of committee and then onto the floor.
Shields said she also would like to get the support of Long Island's GOP senators.
Tom Dunham, a spokesman for Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre), said the senator likes the bill, but will look at it more closely later. Dunham also noted that only the congestion pricing bill would be considered by lawmakers tomorrow.
Sen. Charles Fuschillo (R-Merrick) said through a spokesman that he supports the disabled exemption bill and would vote for it this week if it comes up, though no one had contacted him about it.
"It's a shame that they won't pass this bill," said Shields. "We have a lot of disabled tenants, especially in Great Neck Plaza."
Herz, though, said there is no urgency to pass a bill today. The Assembly has passed a bill, but it doesn't go into effect until July 1, 2008.
"Moreover, I don't see how it can come up this week in good faith, while we are continuing to work on it," said Herz. "But in six to eight months, we should have it done."
Copyright 2007 Newsday Inc.