ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON HOUSING
SUBCOMMITTEE ON MITCHELL-LAMA

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Affordable housing has always been, and will continue to be, a major priority for the New York State Assembly. To address this issue, the Assembly has supported a multitude of programs and initiatives that would create new and preserve existing affordable housing. Among these initiatives one of the most important is the Mitchell-Lama program, which has produced tens of thousands of affordable units across New York State. In recent years, however, the number of units participating in the program has decreased. This is due to a variety of reasons that include: lawsuits filed to remove buildings from the Mitchell-Lama program; corporations paying off loans to remove their existing units from the program; and few new units being developed to strengthen the purpose of the initiative. The purpose of this hearing is to explore the issues that the program faces, and to evaluate the possible solutions to keep Mitchell-Lama housing strong.

Please see the reverse side for a list of questions to which witnesses may direct their testimony.

Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committees at the hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Oral testimony will be limited to 10 minutes' duration. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committees will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible.

Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committees would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.

In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committees' interest in hearing testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

1. What measures can the Legislature take to preserve Mitchell-Lama housing? What incentives would persuade landlords to remain in the program instead of buying out?

2. Should the efforts to preserve Mitchell-Lama housing be focused on maintaining existing units or attracting new developers to the program?

3. How can the Legislature help protect tenants in Mitchell-Lama rental and co-op buildings that leave the program?

4. Are there specific areas of New York City facing a shortage of Mitchell-Lama housing? If so, has this been caused by recent departures from the program?

5. How can the State better inform tenants of their rights, as well as the rules and regulations concerning the Mitchell-Lama buyout process? Are there recommendations for updating these rules and regulations to further protect tenants' rights?

6. What elements would constitute an equitable process for the residents of Mitchell-Lama buildings participating in the Mitchell-Lama program that are considering withdrawing from the program? What advantages and disadvantages do processes such as weighted voting, blind voting, and voting by unit pose for individuals involved in such a process?