NEW YORK EVICTIONS RATE: While tenant advocates are rallying in Albany to push for the “good cause” eviction law — a measure that would limit evictions and rent increases on many apartments in the state — a report shows that the post-pandemic eviction crisis has been primarily located in upstate counties.
According to a new study by Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations, the highest eviction rates are registered in the Bronx, Long Island, Buffalo, Syracuse and Rochester. “Our data show that the resurgence in eviction filings following the expiration of the COVID-era moratorium has been concentrated in upstate, especially rural areas,” said Russell Weaver, director of research at the Cornell University ILR Buffalo Co-Lab, who created an interactive website released on Thursday that illustrates the study's findings. “Data show that filings remain disproportionately concentrated in low-income communities of color, making eviction a key factor in the perpetuation and reproduction of concentrated poverty in New York State.” The Senate and Assembly included the “good cause” eviction in their one-house budgets, and it will likely be part of budget negotiations around the governor’s housing proposals. — Eleonora Francica NYPA RENEWABLES PUSH: Advocates for a measure to reshape the New York Power Authority joined lawmakers in the War Room in the Capitol on Thursday to press for inclusion of their version of the proposal in the final budget deal. Supporters of the Build Public Renewables Act are pushing to include labor standards, an accelerated timeline to close down NYPA’s fossil units, mandates for NYPA to develop new projects if the state is falling short of its 70 percent renewable by 2030 target and changes to its governance structure, among other priorities. “We are very close to getting this done in the budget,” said Assemblymember Bobby Carroll (D-Brooklyn), who sponsors the bill. “Four years ago I don’t think people thought we could revolutionize NYPA — and we’re on that precipice.” Assembly leadership last year did not bring the measure to a vote as some key committee chairs expressed concerns about the proposal. NYPA leadership also opposed the bill but has backed Gov. Kathy Hochul’s narrower, less aggressive version. The Senate passed the measure for the second year in a row early this session. The Assembly did not include the bill in its one-house budget proposal but rather made a statement of general support for the idea, with backing for the labor standards and mandate to build that was missing from Hochul’s pitch. Supporters of the bill are not satisfied with the Assembly position that leaves out a 2030 date for NYPA to shut its fossil fuel plants. The authority has set a goal for 2035, which Hochul’s vision would codify. “It’s a slap in the face to environmental justice communities,” said Patrick Robbins, a coordinator with the New York Energy Democracy Alliance. “We don’t see why they should have to live with [the pollution] for longer.” They’re also concerned that without changes to expand NYPA’s board and reduce the governor’s influence any final deal would be ineffective. — Marie J. French EDUCATION: City Comptroller Brad Lander expressed disappointment over the Panel for Educational Policy, the Department of Education’s governing body, voting on Adams’ $30.7 billion budget for the DOE on Wednesday night, calling it “premature and meaningless exercise.” The panel voted to approve the budget. Lander said that the preliminary budget is “not the real budget” and noted that the state budget has not been finalized yet. He also said it is unclear whether the additional $90 million needed for new weights in the Fair Student Funding formula — which pumps money into high-need schools — will be added to the DOE budget or if “some other valuable program” will be cut. “The Mayor will release his Executive Budget in April and the Council will vote in June, leaving time for the PEP to listen to public testimony and make an informed vote,” he said in a statement. “Taking this vote now before necessary budget information is available is like grading a student’s final paper based only on their rough draft. Last year’s debate taught us that a more deliberative and democratic process for considering the budget for our public schools is needed. What happened last night was the exact opposite.” — Madina Touré
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