Hochul Advocates for More Housing in State of State Yet Simultaneously Blocks Thousands of Affordable Housing

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NEW YORK, NY (01/09/2024) (readMedia)-- Following Governor Kathy Hochul's State of the State Address where she repeatedly called for increasing New York's housing supply, the End Hochul's Hoax coalition is again urging the Governor to abandon her support for a commercial real estate scheme in Manhattan that is preventing thousands of units of urgently needed housing from being built today. Since 2021, Hochul has defended a plan to override New York City's zoning laws and hand 18 million square feet of expensive office space around Penn Station to a major campaign donor for development, squandering a chance to improve one of the most developable pieces of land in the state-which could create thousands of units of new housing now.

"The End Hochul's Hoax coalition welcomes the Governor's recognition that New York must do everything it can to increase housing where possible, which is why our organization continues to highlight the hypocrisy of her decision to greenlight the development of unnecessary commercial megatowers over affordable housing for New Yorkers. Unfortunately, Governor Hochul's words about increasing the State's housing supply mean nothing as long as she continues to support a corporate handout that blocks thousands of units of housing so urgently needed to help alleviate this generational crisis. The Governor must capitalize on what she is able to change now, and embrace a housing-first vision for the neighborhood near Penn Station," said Diana Gonzalez, Executive Director of New Yorkers for a Better Penn Plan.

"Governor Hochul's giveaway to Vornado is a gross misuse of public resources, and exactly the kind of outdated, ineffective policy that has contributed to New York's spiraling unaffordability crisis. Decades of policies that brazenly favor corporations have yielded little for everyday New Yorkers, who deserve better than a backroom deal that hands over valuable land without any clear benefit. If the Governor is serious about creating a better future for all, then she must rescind her reckless deal and put residents before her donors," said Mike Kink, Executive Director of Strong Economy for All Coalition.

"Increasing New York's affordable housing supply is crucial to aiding communities of color, who are being disproportionately priced out of our city in the thousands. Governor Hochul may have strongly called for more affordable housing in her State of the State address, but the stark reality is that her decision to give developers rein over the Penn neighborhood instead of prioritizing housing will only lead to more low income New Yorkers forced from their homes. Our communities cannot afford continued inaction from elected officials, which is why the Governor must end the Vornado GPP and present a true plan that actually helps New Yorkers suffering from this housing crisis now," said Alicé Nascimento, Campaign Director of New York Communities for Change.

The Governor's State of the State comes just one month after a coalition of community members, small business owners, housing advocates, the Office of the New York City Public Advocate, and other organizations launched "End Hochul's Hoax", a campaign formally demanding that Governor Hochul abandon support for the plan to hand 18 million square feet of luxury commercial space over to real estate developer Vornado Realty Trust. The coalition called on Governor Hochul to stand with her constituents and focus on a plan for the area that delivers affordable housing in the neighborhood near Penn Station-as the Governor has promised she would do where possible.

Hochul's plan currently prohibits any affordable housing from being built on most of the land owned by Vornado and requires less than 2% of the total footprint be used for affordable housing. The deal also provides minimal public space, and includes few considerations for mass transit. Her defense of the plan is especially egregious given the acute housing shortage in New York City, where the city's housing stock continues to decline. Governor Hochul is right: New York needs housing now, and the State must do everything it can to deliver on that. Hochul must stay true to her word and stop blocking the creation of housing that New Yorkers need now.