CapCon: How Heastie sees housing, Hochul's Views on The View, On The Bill

Plus, why big tech companies argue Hochul's social media plan won't work, and City Council members push for universal after-school programming.

Good afternoon — it’s Wednesday, and Good Samaritan Day.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2024

TODAY’S CAPCON: Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie tells reporters what needs to happen to reach a deal on housing, while Gov. Kathy Hochul shares her views on The View. Plus, a different look at Hochul’s social media proposal, an afterschool funding push, and On The Bill looks at vaping products targeted at children.

🔨 Is Tomorrow a Session Day? Yes.

☁️ Tonight’s Weather: Albany: Clouds, mid-30s New York City: Mostly clear, around 50 (National Weather Service)

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Heastie spoke with reporters Wednesday (Dan Clark/Times Union)

🏛️ Assembly speaker says housing deal has layers, “hope springs eternal” for on-time budget

💵 A major legislative package to expand housing development in New York would be easier to negotiate, HEASTIE said Wednesday, if stakeholders make progress on wage agreements.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Heastie said other elements of the package could fall into place if labor unions and the Real Estate Board of New York can work that out.

“I think REBNY and the unions have to come to a wage deal, and I think if they come to a wage deal, the other elements can be discussed,” Heastie said.

The Assembly and Senate released their one-house budget proposals earlier this week, and both had their own housing proposals, as we told you Tuesday.

• HOCHUL said Tuesday that it would be “unacceptable” for her and lawmakers not to strike a deal on housing this year.

• They couldn’t come to an agreement last year, pushing talks to this year.

The state budget is due at the end of the month, which isn’t a very long time for most people. But in Albany, that can be a lifetime.

It’s also not the end of the legislative session. Lawmakers could work on a housing deal after the state budget is done. 

• But spending would likely be involved in a housing package, making it harder to negotiate outside the budget.

I asked Heastie if he was open to negotiations on housing post-budget, or if he’d prefer to pass it in the spending plan.