Photo Courtesy of Kevin Coughlin/Office of the Governor
I’m confident the measure passed today is the strongest possible set of reforms that the Legislature was able to pass and is a major step forward for tenants across New York,” Gov. Cuomo said.
By Michael V. Cusenza
Over the last seven days, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has signed landmark legislation on rent reform and access to Empire State driver’s licenses.
The State Legislature on Friday passed the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019—or what State Senate leaders have characterized as the strongest affordable housing and tenant protections legislation in New York history. According to the Senate Democratic Majority, the new law will make the rent regulation system and tenant protection initiatives permanent, rather than having them sunset as was the policy in the past. The legislation also repeals high-rent vacancy deregulation as well as “vacancy bonus” and “longevity bonus” provisions. This omnibus bill also reforms potential rent increases for major capital improvements and for individual apartment improvements to better protect tenants. Additionally, the legislation extends certain tenant protections statewide, implements protections for mobile and manufactured home tenants, and empowers qualified localities throughout the state to implement the rent stabilization system.
“At the beginning of this legislative session, I called for the most sweeping, aggressive tenant protections in state history. I’m confident the measure passed today is the strongest possible set of reforms that the Legislature was able to pass and is a major step forward for tenants across New York,” Cuomo said.
The Senate and Assembly on Monday passed the Driver’s License Access and Privacy Act—or Green Light NY—which restores the right to obtain a license, regardless of immigration status, that existed prior to Sept. 11, 2001. According to Senate leadership, Green Light NY will allow non-commercial driver license or learner’s permit applicants to be able to submit additional proofs of identity to be eligible for a non-federal license. It also waives the social security number requirement if the applicant signs an affidavit that they have not been issued a social security number and provides the Department of Motor Vehicles with discretion to approve additional proofs of identity and age. The legislation also protects the data of the applicants from unwarranted release.
The Cuomo administration reached out to the U.S. Solicitor General Noel Francisco asking him to review Green Light NY “to ensure that undocumented individuals who apply for driver’s licenses or identification cards would not be unintentionally exposed to a federal government seeking to use their information for deportation.” However, it seems that Francisco never responded to the inquiry. Counsel to the Governor Alphonso David noted that since NY Attorney General Tish James stated that “she believes there are ‘safeguards’ in the bill, and it can be defended; in other words, it cannot be weaponized to be used against undocumented individuals” Cuomo would sign the bill.
On Tuesday, State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach) defended his vote in favor of the contentious legislation.
“Overall, the benefits of enabling undocumented immigrants to apply for licenses far outweigh the argument that those who are in this country illegally should not be able to receive them,” the senator said. “The Green Light Bill makes good fiscal and good public policy sense, and I see it as an important safety measure, particularly in terms of traffic safety.”
