June 21, 2011
For Immediate Release
Senator Reverend Rubén Díaz Criticizes Democrats for Protecting the Rich
New York State Senator Reverend Rubén Díaz (D-Bronx) released the following statement:
"Surprise, surprise … Dean Skelos and the Republican Party are protecting the poor and the needy while Governor Andrew Cuomo and the Democrats are protecting the rich.
There are 2.5 million New Yorkers – mostly poor and needy, and mostly Black and Hispanic – who are relying on us in Albany to extend rent regulation laws to protect them against big rent hikes and unfair evictions. Rent regulation laws exist in New York so that landlords cannot take unfair advantage of their tenants. These laws protect working people against big rent hikes and unfair evictions.
Believe it or not, Governor Cuomo and Senate Democrats are pushing to extend these laws with the deregulation thresholds raised for tenant incomes to $300,000 and rent levels included up to $3,000 a month.
Are the people who pay $3,000 a month for rent poor or needy? Do we need to create legislation to protect the unfair housing rules for people who make $300,000 a year?
Who are they fooling? It is a disgrace to watch Governor Cuomo and the Democrats negotiate to protect the privileged.
I am proud to represent the people who live in the 32nd Senatorial District in the South Bronx and I work hard to protect their families and their rights. I don’t represent people who live on Fifth Avenue and I won't work to protect the wealthy.
As Governor Cuomo and my Democratic colleagues continue to press for the "rights of the rich" I thank Senator Skelos and his Republican colleagues for refusing to expand New York’s rent regulation laws protect the rich."
