In a bold move during the first Democratic mayoral primary debate, Andrew Cuomo disclosed his plan to drastically reform New York City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) in a bid to combat the city’s housing crisis.
Cuomo asserted that bureaucracy within HPD is a major hindrance to the city’s housing objectives, claiming it operates with excessive “red tape.”
He indicated his intention to completely dismantle the department, calling it an “obstacle” to the city’s goals of increasing housing availability.
The agency, which oversees the financing of affordable housing construction, the enforcement of tenant protections, and various rental assistance programs, has drawn criticism for its inefficiencies.
Cuomo’s spokesman, Rich Azzopardi, elaborated on this perspective, explaining that the ex-governor believes HPD is “too slow and too inefficient” in carrying out its essential functions.
Azzopardi stated that, if elected, Cuomo would prioritize a comprehensive review of the agency, aiming to eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy and streamline its operations.
In light of Cuomo’s recent housing plan, which aims to construct 500,000 new housing units over the next decade, there was no mention of overhauling HPD.
The plan, however, has left unanswered questions regarding how many of the proposed units will be affordable.
Cuomo’s housing strategy also includes a resistance to most up-zoning proposals in outer-borough neighborhoods, clashing with the current HPD agenda under Mayor Adams that seeks to facilitate affordable housing expansion where it has previously been sparse.
As New York City grapples with skyrocketing rents and a significant shortage of available apartments, housing issues have taken center stage in this mayoral race.
There is a consensus among many that new housing units must be constructed, but disagreement exists regarding the affordability measures that should accompany these developments.
Moderate figures like Cuomo favor less stringent requirements for developers, while more progressive voices argue for stricter affordability mandates to benefit low-income New Yorkers.
Cuomo’s campaign has gained momentum, polling as a frontrunner for the Democratic mayoral primary set for June 24, buoyed by significant financial contributions from real estate executives and landlord lobby groups.
This backing is reflected in the support from Housing for All, a super PAC funded by major landlord lobbies, pledging $2.5 million to bolster Cuomo’s campaign.
Organizations such as the New York Apartment Association, which mainly represents landlords of rent-stabilized buildings, have welcomed Cuomo’s proposal to reform HPD, perceiving the agency as a barrier to housing market progress.
Kenny Burgos, CEO of the New York Apartment Association, commended Cuomo for his commitment to “blow up” HPD, highlighting ongoing frustrations among property owners regarding bureaucratic mismanagement from the agency.
Conversely, progressive voices in the city have raised serious concerns about Cuomo’s proposal, viewing it as potentially perilous to tenant protections.
Brooklyn Councilman Lincoln Restler criticized Cuomo’s plan, arguing that the reformation could serve the interests of wealthy real estate entities over the needs of everyday New Yorkers.
Restler articulated fears that such a move would jeopardize vital tenant protections and rent regulations.
Cuomo’s opponent, Zohran Mamdani, consistently polling in second place, also voiced criticisms, asserting that rather than dismantling HPD, it requires reinforcement through staffing to fulfill its mission of protecting tenants and facilitating affordable housing development.
A government official involved in affordable housing initiatives under the Adams administration refutes claims of HPD’s ineffectiveness, pointing to recent reforms aimed at making the agency more efficient.
The official noted that HPD financed 14,706 newly-constructed affordable homes in the last fiscal year.
In the context of these developments, Cea Weaver, director of the left-leaning Housing Justice for All group, cautioned that while various challenges to affordable housing production exist, HPD itself should not be classified as a primary obstacle.
Weaver remarked that a comprehensive review, as suggested by Cuomo, might add another layer of bureaucracy rather than streamline the agency’s operations.
She concluded that what is truly needed is for HPD to be allowed to function without unnecessary constraints.
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