CapCon: Housing deal hinges on tenant protections, CapCon Q&A with Senate Labor Chair Jessica Ramos

Plus, how Wall Street did last year and what the state health commissioner thinks about another COVID-19 review.

Good afternoon — it’s Tuesday, and the spring equinox.

TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2024

TODAY’S CAPCON: A deal to expedite housing development in New York hinges on new protections for tenants. We look at the divide there; Ramos answers our questions in this week’s CapCon Q&A; State Health Commissioner James McDonald’s view on a COVID-19 review; and how Wall Street fared in 2023.

🔨 Is Tomorrow a Session Day? Yes.

☁️ Tonight’s Weather: Albany: Chance of snow, low 30s. New York City: Some clouds, low 40s. (National Weather Service)

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Tenants rally Tuesday at the state Capitol (Will Waldron/Times Union)

🏠 Where Hochul and lawmakers differ on tenant protections

🔑 Leaders in the state Legislature have made no secret of their position on housing: if the state has a hand in expediting development this year, tenants must have new protections from eviction.

That’s what both Assembly Speaker Carl E. HEASTIE and Senate Majority Leader Andrea STEWART-COUSINS have told reporters over the last week.

• That’s not a new position; lawmakers said they wanted new tenant protections in a housing package last year, but a deal was never struck.

Gov. Kathy HOCHUL has made it a priority for the state to encourage and incentivize developers to build hundreds of thousands of housing units over the next decade.

• The plan she pitched last year had a goal of 800,000 new units by 2033.

And while Hochul and legislative leaders couldn’t agree on a housing deal last year, they think this year could be different.