Council Will Also Vote on Legislation to Raise Income Threshold for Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption

Today, the Council will vote on reforms to the City Council rules. Next, the Council will vote on legislation to increase the maximum income level for the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) eligibility. The Council will also vote on a resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass legislation to link income threshold increases for the SCRIE program to changes in the consumer price index. Additionally, the Council will vote on a resolution calling on Congress to pass legislation to improve and expand care for veterans who are at risk for suicide. The Council will also vote on several Land Use items including modified plans for the Domino Sugar Factory project and development of a residential building at 606 West 57th Street in Manhattan. Finally, the Council will vote on a resolution calling on the state legislature to pass legislation to local governments, including the City Council, to establish their own minimum wages.

Rules Reform

Last month, the City Council introduced a groundbreaking package of rules reforms to make the Council more inclusive and accountable.

Highlights of the reform package include:
• Member Item Reform
• Fair Consideration of Legislation
• More Council Transparency and Public Engagement
• Enhanced Empowerment of Committees and Committee Chairs
• Creation of a Dedicated Legislative Drafting Unit
• Creation of Commission to Examine Stipends and Compensation
• Increased Transparency of Discretionary Funding

The amended package reflects feedback from Council Members, good government groups and the public provided at the May 7, 2014 hearing. Changes include:
• Clarification of the process by which a committee member may propose an amendment to a bill.
• Modification of the new two-thirds Supermajority Sponsorship rule to account for bills that might be referred to more than one committee and to not require a vote on whether to schedule when hearings have already been scheduled.
• Addition of requirements (reflecting current practice) that the Council post a calendar of all hearings and the Council rules to its website, as well as archive any video webcasts of hearings.
• Technical changes to clarify language.

“My colleagues and I have vowed to make this the City Council the most inclusive, responsive, and transparent legislative body it can be,” said Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. “Today, we are not just fulfilling that promise: We are changing the very culture of the Council to make our legislative body a better, stronger and more effective force for City government. This reform package is the result of months of hard work and represents courageous reforms New Yorkers can and should be very proud of. “

“I’m proud that the Council—under the inclusive leadership of Speaker Mark-Viverito— is moving forward with historic and comprehensive reform,” said Rules Committee Chair Brad Lander. “By taking punitive politics out of member items, ensuring fair consideration of legislation, empowering committee chairs, and opening up the Council to the public, these reforms will make the Council more fair and transparent, and will give New Yorkers a greater voice in their government.”

Raising Income Threshold for SCRIE Eligibility

The Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) program helps senior citizens on a limited income avoid burdensome living costs by freezing their rent. Current policy limits this program to seniors with an annual income of $29,000 or less. Since the last income threshold increase in 2009, seniors have faced losing their SCRIE benefits because of minor cost of living adjustments to their Social Security checks.

As part of the 2014-2015 Executive Budget, the State raised the maximum income level for Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption eligibility from $29,000 to $50,000 for a two-year period beginning July 1, 2014. The budget also provides for the reimbursement of any tax revenue lost by New York City as a result of the income threshold raise. While the SCRIE program is established under State law, the program is administered locally and thus the Council must amend various sections of the Administrative Code in order for the income threshold increase to take effect in the City. This legislation will give approximate 6,000 seniors the opportunity to enroll in the SCRIE program starting July 1, helping them remain in their homes by locking in their rent at an affordable rate. In addition, it will give peace of mind to thousand more seniors who are currently enrolled and would otherwise face the possibility of losing SCRIE coverage.

While passage of this legislation will increase the eligibility threshold for the next few years, there is no automatic mechanism to ensure that SCRIE eligibility maintains pace with cost of living increases. In addition to this legislation, the Council will also vote on a resolution calling on the state to pass legislation that would automatically provide for increases in the SCRIE income limits that are tied to the consumer price index

“Today’s vote to increase SCRIE income eligibility is a major step forward in our goal to increase stable, affordable senior housing options in our city,” said Council Member Margaret Chin As rising rents and costs of living force too many aging New Yorkers out of their homes, this legislation will allow over 24,000 more seniors to age in place and retire with dignity in the communities and neighborhoods they helped build. I thank my colleagues in the City Council and the New York State Legislature for their continued support of this essential program.”

Minimum Wage Resolution

The current minimum wage in New York State is $8 per hour, with marginal increases scheduled through the end of 2015 which will bring it to $9 per hour. These rates are not tied to the rate of inflation and do not reflect the high cost of living in places such as New York City. The Council will vote on a resolution calling upon the legislature to pass and the Governor to sign legislation sponsored by Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly member Karim Camara allowing local governments to establish and enforce their own minimum wages.

“New York City should be able to set its own minimum wage,” said Council Member Daniel Dromm (D-Jackson Heights, Elmhurst). “I am proud to have introduced this resolution with Council Member Daneek Miller. Residents who make the minimum wage, most of whom are black, Latino and women, deserve a better quality of life through higher pay. It is more expensive to live in New York City than anywhere else in the state and it only makes sense that the minimum wage reflects that reality.”

Veterans Resolution

Despite comprising only eight percent of the population, veteran suicides account for 20 percent of all suicides in the United States. The federal government estimates that 22 veterans die each day by suicide. US Senator John Walsh of Montana has sponsored legislation that would increase the availability of mental health care services through the expansion of eligibility and VA capacity. The period during which combat veterans are eligible for healthcare from the VA would be extended from five years to fifteen years. A review process for veterans who may have received punitive discharges because of mental health issues would be established, so that such discharges may be upgraded. This resolution would call upon Congress to pass this act and the President to sign it.

Land Use Approval

The Council will be voting on approval of several applications to facilitate the development of a residential building at 606 West 57th Street which will include over 20% of the units as permanent affordable housing. This motion has the support of the Land Use Committee and Council Member Helen Rosenthal, whose district includes the site of this development.

“The “wins” in approving this project are securing 225 units of lower and middle-income affordable housing into perpetuity as well as providing the community with a new public school PreK and money for the local park,” said Council Member Helen Rosenthal. “TF Cornerstone’s commitment to hire only union labor is a guarantee for good paying jobs. However, the City must be responsive to local residents ensuring that traffic safety, schools, libraries, and adequate public transportation will be provided to the growing population in this neighborhood.”

Additionally, the City Council will vote on approval of the modified Domino Sugar Factory project. The modified plan will include 700 new permanently affordable housing units in the Williamsburg community in addition to new retail facilities and job opportunities.

“The agreement on the project at the Domino Sugar site will build on the gains made by the de Blasio Administration to maximize affordable housing and open space to the Williamsburg community,” said Council Member Stephen Levin. “By working collaboratively with the Administration, we were able to secure housing that has deeper affordability and will be more accessible to families. I want to give special thanks to Mayor Bill de Blasio for locking in so much affordable housing in this project, as well as my colleague Council Member Antonio Reynoso who has stood side by side with me in advocating for the important needs of our communities. In addition, I would like to acknowledge Two Trees Management for their extensive community outreach and collaboration throughout this process.”