NY Legislative Leaders Reach Deal On State Budget, Rent Control

ALBANY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- New York's legislative leaders have reached a budget agreement with Gov. Andrew Cuomo that includes an extension of rent controls for more than 2 million tenants.

The deal includes a framework for a four-year extension of rent regulations. It also provides for a one-year extension of mayoral control of New York City's public schools. The 421a tax abatement program for real estate developers will also be extended for six months.

The state's rent regulations had expired June 16 but were temporarily extended as lawmakers continued to negotiate.

Assembly Democrats wanted to strengthen rent rules so fewer apartments could become market rate, otherwise known as the "decontrol threshold."

The deal addresses that, Cuomo said.

"There will be a four-year rent extension with increases in the decontrol threshold," Cuomo said.

The governor called it an "unprecedented package that protects tenants."

"Before 2011, you should know, the pattern was to roll back rent protections every time there was a sunset," he told reporters, including WCBS 880's Rich Lamb and 1010 WINS' Sonia Rincon. "2011, we changed that pattern, actually increasing them, and this is the second time rent protections will actually be increased."

But critics are already saying the deal is not good enough, CBS2's Dick Brennan reported. The Alliance for Tenant Power called it a giveaway to landlords.

Democratic Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Republican Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan joined Cuomo for the announcement Tuesday. The legislative leaders still have to get approval from their respective conferences.

Heastie said he expects the Assembly's majority Democrats to approve extending rent control.

The agreement also includes property tax rebates for homeowners upstate and on Long Island and continues the property tax cap. It also would provide $250 million in state aid to private schools.

Cuomo also announced he'll appoint the attorney general for one year as a special prosecutor for any police killings since they reached no agreement on legislation.

In announcing the deal, Cuomo praised Flanagan and Heastie for their work in reaching an agreement, which came nearly a week after the legislative session was scheduled to end.

Flanagan and Heastie replaced former Senate Leader Dean Skelos and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver this year after both were arrested on corruption charges.

"This was a very difficult year," Cuomo said. "There were extraordinary developments. I don't think you can find another year in the state's history where you saw the number of changes and the major changes that were made in the legislative year, the change in leadership, etc.

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In:
• Andrew Cuomo
• Sonia Rincon
• Rich Lamb