NYC: Broker Bill Is Back, Non-Citizen Voting On Hold, and Council Sues Mayor Over Vouchers

While a new law to allow legal non-citizens to vote in City elections was struck down in court, New York City Councilmember  Chi Osse (D-Bed-Stuy)  announced he would reintroduce his bill to change who pays broker fees in New York City apartment transactions. A majority of Council members signed on to support the bill last year, but amidst fierce opposition from many in real estate, the bill was never taken up for a full vote. REBNY, one of the largest opponents, argued that “many landlords will choose not to hire agents, and those who do will pass the cost on to tenants in the form of higher rents.”

Meanwhile, a new City report shows  “landlords keep fewer stabilized apartments vacant than you think” as the City Council filed to join “a class action lawsuit by several low-income New Yorkers against Mayor Adams for his administration’s failure to implement enacted laws to reform the City Fighting Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement (CityFHEPS) program.”  Listen here for WNYC’s “housing roundup” summary.