Legislative leaders continued meeting behind closed doors with Gov. Andrew Cuomo, one day before lawmakers are scheduled to return to the Capitol. The legislature extended its session for another week after failing to reach agreement on how to renew New York City’s rent laws. The laws are temporarily renewed until Tuesday.
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, following talks with the governor, says it’s a hopeful sign that he, Cuomo and Senate Leader John Flanagan are still in communication.
“We’re still talking,” Heastie said. “Things are better, but we’re not close.”
Heastie says a state Senate bill that would offer some increased tenant protection, is a non-starter. The bill would raise the vacancy decontrol threshold through which apartments can be brought back on the free market by $100, from $2500 to $2600. The Senate Republicans’ bill also ties in some unrelated issues like increasing the number for charter schools, something that Assembly Democrats oppose.
“It doesn’t have the issues that we’d like to see,” Heastie said. “The things that are important to us as a conference were not in the bill.”
Heastie and Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan said after a meeting late in the day Monday that they didn't know if they will have a deal to present to their members when legislators return. Heastie did not rule out the dispute lasting another couple of weeks.
