Dems renew push for rent-control renewal

ALBANY -- Democrats in the state Legislature revved up their push Monday for renewing rent-control regulations in New York City, prompting Republicans to step up their calls for a statewide property-tax cap. But the sides remain nowhere near a deal for now.

In a signal that Democrats intend to make rent control a top priority, the Assembly passed a bill last night to not only renew rent-control laws but also expand them by repealing provisions that allowed landlords to remove some apartments from price controls. Current laws, which affect about 2.5 million tenants, are set to expire June 15.

Though he stopped short of saying the Legislature should trade off a tax cap for rent control, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, (D-Manhattan), laid the rhetorical groundwork for it. "Those who would argue that we need rent regulations should understand that we need a property-tax cap because they're both about keeping people in their homes," Silver said.

The GOP-controlled Senate passed a bill, backed by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, that would limit the growth of local property taxes to 2 percent per year, unless overridden by a local vote. The GOP has been lukewarm on rent control, though it hasn't ruled out striking a compromise.

"While the current rent laws expire on June 15 and we do have plans to address the issue in the weeks ahead, upstate and suburban homeowners have waited years for the property-tax relief they need and deserve," said Scott Reif, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre). "We would urge the Assembly to take up and pass the governor's hard property-tax cap, as the Senate has already done, so middle-class families can finally get some relief from high property taxes."

Cuomo supports both the tax cap and rent control, giving advocates on either side hope that a deal can be forged. But lawmakers are adjourning Wednesday for a two-week Passover-Easter break.