“There’s no doubt that everyone deserves access to safe, affordable housing. We all know that, since last March, the COVID-19 pandemic has had disastrous effects on our communities. From devastating job and income loss, societal disruption and business closings, countless New Yorkers found that, through no fault of their own, keeping a roof over their heads became even more difficult than it already was. Nobody should be left out in the cold, and I will always fight to ensure every New Yorker has a place to call home. However, I voted ‘no’ on the Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2020 because the bill is not an adequate solution to this urgent problem,” Buttenschon stated. “Generations have passed since housing insecurity was as pressing and complicated as it is today. But we can’t solve one problem by creating another. This legislation would give irresponsible tenants a free pass to not pay rent, leaving landlords unable to pay their bills or maintain their properties. Furthermore, the Tenant Safe Harbor Act already protects tenants financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic from eviction. Fighting against housing insecurity will always one of my top priorities. But, regretfully, this legislation isn’t the right solution.”
Assemblywoman Buttenschon: The Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act is Not the Answer
