Assembly Passes Legislation To Protect New York City Loft Tenants From Unfair Eviction And Ensure Compliance With Safety Standards

The Assembly's passage last week of several bills to safeguard tenants living in New York City lofts from unfair eviction and unsafe building conditions while expanding rental protections for tenants currently living in mixed-residential structures throughout the city.

The Assembly approved legislation to extend the city's Loft Law, while prohibiting loft owners from recovering units occupied by long-term tenants.

The Assembly also passed a bill that would designate buildings zoned for commercial purposes with three or more families residing within from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2009 as interim multiple dwellings and require owners to comply with fire and safety codes in order to receive a certificate of occupancy.

"For decades, many neighborhoods throughout our city have benefited from the creative spirit of artists who have put their time and money into refurbishing loft buildings for workspace and residences" said Silver (D-Manhattan) "This legislation will protect these vibrant, creative and dedicated residents from losing their apartments to building owners who would seek to push them out of their homes in order to charge increased rents. The Assembly is committed to extending and strengthening the Loft Law, the mechanism by which artists can retain affordable housing."

"Through the hard work of artists in Brooklyn neighborhoods such as DUMBO, Williamsburg and Greenpoint, many buildings have been refurbished for needed residential and work space," said Lopez (D-Brooklyn). "It is past time that these artists are afforded the same protection from arbitrary evictions and inadequate fire and safety compliance as loft tenants in other parts of the city. By passing this legislation, the Assembly has taken an important step towards guaranteeing safe and affordable housing for the artists who have contributed so much to their communities."

"Just as the artistic community is vital to the life of New York City, the Loft Law is essential for so many of our artists," said Glick. "By extending and expanding Loft Law protections, the Assembly remains committed to ensuring the viability of affordable housing for these hardworking, creative people who have put so much of their lives into improving these buildings for work and living space."

Now this bill (Assembly Bill A05667 and Senate Bill S5881) urgently needs to be on the Senate's agenda.

Please urge Senators and Governor Paterson to put this bill up to a vote!

David A. Paterson
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224

518-474-8390

http://161.11.121.121/govemail

Larry.Schwartz@chamber.state.ny.us,

Peter.Kiernan@chamber.state.ny.us,

Haley.Plourde-Cole@chamber.state.ny.us

Senator Squadron, the bill's sponsor:

admin@danielsquadron.org or by phone at 646-472-5712.

Albany Office:
946 Legislative Office Building
Albany, New York 12247
Tel: 518-455-2625

Brooklyn District Office: Phone: (718) 802-3818

Manhattan District Office Tel: 212-298-5565

Governor Paterson:

Letter to NY Senators

Dear Senator XX,

I’m writing about the Loft Law (Senate Bill S5881), passed by the Assembly on June 17th (Assembly Bill A05667) and is now before the Senate. I ask that you support this legislation and votein favor of this bill.

Thousands of NYC residents, individuals and families, desperately need
protection under this new legislation. Without it, they face eviction.

Thank you for supporting this vital legislation.

Name
Constituent
District X

Letter to NY Constituents

Dear Friends, Neighbors and Fellow New Yorkers,

An urgent matter needs your immediate attention

BEFORE Senate sessions end next week!

The Loft Law (Assembly Bill A05667 and Senate Bill S5881) passed the
Assembly on June 17th and is now before the Senate.

The GOP and the Dems are currently tied, neither party has a majority of
Senators or vote. Senators on both sides of the aisle MUST hear from
their constituents that they support this bill.

The purpose of this bill is to extend provisions of the Loft Law to
buildings which have been occupied residentially by two or more families
for any 12 consecutive months during the period starting January 1, 2008 and
ending December 31, 2009.

This legislation would create a new window period for recognition of the
rights of loft tenants whose occupancy was not covered by the original,
1983, Loft Law and thus will protect thousands of NYC residents who are
now facing eviction.

See Assembly bill summary:
http://www.assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A05667 (Same for Senate:
http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/menugetf.cgi)

Senator Squadron has sponsored the bill and is currently trying to
push it through the senate.

PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO CALL or WRITE YOUR LOCAL SENATOR

and OTHERS NY SENATORS AND TELL THEM THAT YOU SUPPORT

the Loft Law BILL S5881.

For more information see Loft Law Blog:
http://loftlaw.wordpress.com/

Send a letter to your Senator:
http://loftlaw.wordpress.com/2009/06/13/send-a-letter-to-your-ny-state-senator/

NY Senators Contacts:
http://www.nysenate.gov/senators

Key Senator Contacts:

Bill Sponsor: Senator Squadron:
District 25 (All of Lower Manhattan, Soho, Lower East Side, Edge of
Brooklyn and Queens)
http://www.nysenate.gov/senator/daniel-l-squadron/contact

Senator Ruben Diaz (Senate’s Housing Committee Member) District 32,
Bronx
http://loftlaw.wordpress.com/2009/06/12/ruben-diaz-senates-housing-committee-member/

Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson (District 36, Bronx)
http://loftlaw.wordpress.com/2009/06/11/please-contact-senator-ruth-hassell-thompson-district-36/

Liz Krueger (D) District 26, Manhattan’s East Side
http://loftlaw.wordpress.com/2009/06/12/liz-krueger-d-district-26-manhattans-east-side/

PLEASE ALSO FORWARD THIS LETTER TO ANYONE ONE YOU KNOW LIVING IN NYC.
THE MORE CALLS AND LETTERS THE SENATE RECEIVES THE BETTER THE CHANCES
THE BILL WILL PASS.

Thank you for your immediate attention, many individuals and families
depend on this new legislation.

--

Loft Law Amendment Passed NYS Assembly Today ...

... and is not before the Senate. With less than a handful of days in this period's session.

A05667 Summary:

BILL NO    A05667A

SAME AS    Same as S 5881

SPONSOR    Lopez V (MS)

COSPNSR    Lentol, Millman, Cymbrowitz, Gottfried, Kavanagh

MLTSPNSR   Abbate, Benjamin, Colton, Glick, Jacobs, Ortiz, Perry, Rosenthal

Amd SS281, 282, 284, 285 & 286, Mult Dwell L; amd S3, Chap 349 of 1982

Includes certain buildings, structures or portions thereof occupied for
residential purposes for a period of twelve consecutive months during the
period commencing January 1, 2008 and ending December 31, 2009 as the residence
or home of any three or more families living independently from one another as
interim multiple dwellings; extends effectiveness of provisions of the loft
law.

---

A05667 Actions:

BILL NO    A05667A

02/17/2009 referred to housing
03/02/2009 amend and recommit to housing
03/02/2009 print number 5667a
03/10/2009 reported referred to codes
05/12/2009 reported
05/14/2009 advanced to third reading cal.570
06/17/2009 passed assembly
06/17/2009 delivered to senate
06/18/2009 REFERRED TO RULES

---

A05667 Votes:

BILL: A05667A DATE: 06/17/2009  MOTION:                       YEA/NAY: 102/042

Abbate  Y  Cahill  Y  Englebr Y  Hooper  Y  Maisel  Y  Powell  Y  Skartad Y
Alessi  Y  Calhoun NO Errigo  NO Hoyt    Y  Markey  Y  Pretlow Y  Spano   Y
Alfano  Y  Camara  Y  Espaill Y  Hyer-Sp Y  Mayerso Y  Quinn   NO Stirpe  NO
Amedore NO Canestr Y  Farrell Y  Jacobs  Y  McDonou Y  Rabbitt NO Sweeney Y
Arroyo  Y  Carrozz Y  Fields  Y  Jaffee  Y  McEneny Y  Raia    NO Tedisco NO
Aubry   Y  Castro  Y  Finch   NO Jeffrie Y  McKevit NO Ramos   Y  Thiele  Y
Bacalle NO Christe Y  Fitzpat NO John    Y  Meng    Y  Reilich NO Titone  Y
Ball    NO Clark   Y  Gabrysz NO Jordan  NO Miller  ER Reilly  Y  Titus   Y
Barclay NO Colton  Y  Galef   Y  Kavanag Y  Millman Y  Rive J  Y  Tobacco NO
Barra   Y  Conte   NO Gantt   Y  Kellner Y  Molinar NO Rive N  Y  Towns   Y
Barron  ER Cook    Y  Gianari Y  Kolb    NO Morelle Y  Rive PM Y  Townsen NO
Benedet Y  Corwin  NO Gibson  Y  Koon    Y  Nolan   ER Robinso Y  Walker  NO
Benjami Y  Crespo  Y  Giglio  NO Lancman Y  Oaks    NO Rosenth Y  Weinste Y
Bing    Y  Crouch  NO Glick   Y  Latimer Y  O'Donne Y  Russell ER Weisenb Y
Boyland ER Cusick  Y  Gordon  Y  Lavine  Y  O'Mara  NO Saladin NO Weprin  Y
Boyle   NO Cymbrow Y  Gottfri Y  Lentol  Y  Ortiz   Y  Sayward NO Wright  Y
Bradley NO DelMont NO Gunther Y  Lifton  Y  Parment NO Scarbor Y  Zebrows Y
Brennan Y  DenDekk Y  Hawley  NO Lope PD NO Paulin  Y  Schimel Y  Mr Spkr Y
Brodsky Y  Destito Y  Hayes   NO Lope VJ Y  Peoples Y  Schimmi NO
Brook-K Y  Dinowit Y  Heastie Y  Lupardo Y  Peralta Y  Schroed Y
Burling NO Duprey  NO Hevesi  Y  Magee   Y  Perry   Y  Scozzaf NO
Butler  NO Eddingt Y  Hikind  Y  Magnare Y  Pheffer Y  Seminer ER

---

The New Loft Law has a bill number: S5881

STATUS:
S5881 SQUADRON Same as A 5667-A Lopez V (MS)
Multiple Dwelling Law
TITLE....Includes certain buildings, structures or portions thereof occupied for residential purposes for a period of 12 consecutive months as interim multiple dwellings

06/15/09	REFERRED TO RULES http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/menuf.cgi

News: The 2009 Loft Law Bill May Still be Voted on by End of June:

The policy director of Senator Squadron’s Albany office said, at about
8:00 monday evening, that Senator Squadron will introduce the bill
tomorrow or the next day (Tuesday or Wednesday).

Please, let’s continue to show support for the bill to Senator
Squadron’s office and to all our other Senators. Let them know that the
bill is very important to us, and that it should be a priority for
them.

We have been working for so many years and we may still see the law’s
enactment this session, in the next few weeks, please let’s continue our
efforts.

URGENT SUPPORT FOR NEW LOFT LAW NEEDED!

Hello Friends, and Friends of Friends in NYC and NY,

We urgently need your help!

The Loft Law needs to pass before congressional sessions end THIS month. It is expected that next week the bill will be passed in the Assembly, and introduced in the Senate. Senators Squadron and Duane have shown great support. We need the votes of 30 more Senators for this bill to be enacted.

PLEASE CONTACT your local Senator and urge him/her to support and vote for this bill.

PLEASE FORWARD this information to fellow New Yorkers. A grass roots effort could very well get this passed this month! So many NYC residents depend on this new status!

A list of Senators, by district, can be found at the New York State Senate Homepage.

Thank you!

Sample Letter to Send to Your Senator

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Senator XX,

I'm writing about the Loft Law (Senate Bill S5881, Assembly Bill A-05667), which we hope will be introduced in the Senate the week of June 8. I ask that you support this legislation and vote in favor of this bill....

The bill creates a new window period for recognition of loft tenants....

Thank you for supporting this legislation.

Name
Constituent
District X


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