Today, Assemblyman John McGowan (R,C-Rockland) supported Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) at a press conference at the Capitol alongside Town of Hempstead Supervisor Don Clavin, Eric Swenson from the Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee and members of the Assembly Minority regarding Gov. Hochul’s high-rise plan. The Assembly Minority voiced their concerns and opposition to the plan as it is seeking to remove control of local municipalities’ decision-making on the direction of neighborhoods and instead will build multi-story apartments and condos.

“Suburbs all across New York are in jeopardy of losing their small, safe town feel with the complete government override Gov. Hochul is proposing. Her high-rise plan ultimately tells local governments they will not have a voice in the construction of ten-story apartment buildings in what was once the local park in the neighborhood,” said McGowan.

“What her plan fails to address is that– many towns are not properly equipped or staffed with enough emergency first responders to handle a large influx of people entering the town; the same issue applies to town sewers and waste management. Accommodating for these concerns would come with a major tax increase, which New Yorkers simply cannot afford. Our communities are not ready to handle such a plan, which is why I stand with my colleagues and say no to Gov. Hochul’s senseless housing agenda,” McGowan concluded.