Assemblyman Robert Smullen (R,C,I,SAM-Meco) was joined by Assembly and Senate Minority colleagues today in calling on Gov. Cuomo to release the $1.3 billion allocated by Congress for use in housing assistance. As of now, the governor has not authorized the distribution of the funds to those eligible for the assistance. Smullen urged the governor to change course and get the money in the hands of hard-hit landlords and tenants immediately.

“These funds can go a long way to ensuring people can make payments and keep their housing as we continue to fight our way out of a pandemic,” Smullen said. “Leadership that denies relief in a time of crisis isn’t real leadership, and I suspect many New Yorkers agree. The governor must release these funds to the people that need it the most immediately.”

The question of delaying payment dates and pushing back rent due has been a much-discussed issue in the wake of the pandemic and the job loss it caused. “Landlords need to get paid. This money has already been allocated to us from Washington. The time to release the hold on this funding is now, if not yesterday,” Smullen concluded.