After the recent passage of the FY2014-2015 New York State Budget, and for the first time in close to five years, the eligibility cap for the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) will be raised from $29,000 to $50,000. The program helps reduce the cost of rent for New Yorkers 62 years and older. The recent increase will take effect on July 1, 2014. For more information, feel free to contact the Department of Finance’s Correspondence Unit at (212) 669-3155.

As a response to the growing epidemic of smartphone and tablet thefts in New York State, Assemblyman Hevesi introduced legislation calling for a change in industry safety standards. The bill, A.09070, would provide the public with safeguards in situations where their smartphones or tablets were lost or stolen. This safeguard, commonly known as a ‘kill switch,’ would allow the purchaser of the device to remotely disable the product. The resale value of the product would thereby be reduced, and simultaneously discourage future theft of such devices. Earlier this month, influenced by this legislation, smartphone and tablet manufacturers agreed to adopt a nationwide industry standard paralleling the goals proposed by Assemblyman Hevesi and his colleagues, making the manufacturers of these products more accountable, while providing greater protection for consumers.