Andrea Stewart-Cousins's posts related to Housing

SENATOR ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS: LANDMARK SENATE FORECLOSURE BILL SIGNED INTO LAW; New Law Protects Homeowners, Prevents Similar Crises From Happening In The Future

Posted by Andrea Stewart-Cousins on Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D/WF – 35th Senate District) joined Governor Paterson today for a bill signing ceremony enacting landmark Senate legislation which protects homeowners from the ongoing foreclosure crisis, Senate bill 66007. 

Read more...

STATEMENT FROM SENATOR ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS ON CONDOMINIUM ASSESSMENT LEGISLATION, S1706-A

Posted by Andrea Stewart-Cousins on Monday, January 5th, 2009

State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D/WF – 35th District) expressed her strong opposition to Senate Bill 1706-A, which, if enacted, would change the way the property taxes are assessed for cooperatives and condominiums in Westchester County.  “As Chair of the Senate Local Government Committee, I have made the decision not to advance this bill and have no intention to do so in the future,” Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins said.

Read more...

Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins Votes To Help New Yorkers Avoid Foreclosure

Posted by Andrea Stewart-Cousins on Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

Currently, local governments are able to negotiate with citizens who due to worsening economic conditions have been unable to pay their taxes on time to pay them over time on an installment plan. This bill, sponsored by Senator Thomas P. Morahan (R-Nanuet) would permit local governments, at their option, to increase the installment payment plan for the currently 24 months to an period of 36 months until December 31, 2011 in order to help New Yorkers avoid foreclosure.

Read more...

Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins Applauds NY State Housing Grant For Children's Village

Posted by Andrea Stewart-Cousins on Thursday, December 20th, 2007

( 35th District, NY) - Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins applauded the recent announcement by the Governor that Children's Village has been approved for a $4.9 financing grant to renovate 112 affordable housing units located on its Dobbs Ferry campus. The funding is part of larger financing package that is providing a total of $43.9 million from two state housing agencies toward constructing or renovating 800 affordable housing units across the state.

Read more...

HV Press: Westchester County Affordable Housing Grants

Posted by Andrea Stewart-Cousins on Tuesday, April 13th, 2010

Governor David A. Paterson and Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins today announced the awarding of funds for critical affordable housing initiatives in Westchester County, including those for senior citizens and disabled New Yorkers. These projects include the construction of a new 49-unit affordable housing complex for senior citizens in the City of Yonkers, as well as grants to two community groups to help improve the quality of existing housing…

To Read More: Click Here

HV Press – (July 5th, 2009)

Read more...

Legislation Protecting Tenants from Abusive Practices Passes Senate

Posted by Andrea Stewart-Cousins on Thursday, June 3rd, 2010

State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D/WF – 35th District) announced today that the Senate unanimously approved legislation that will empower renters that have been cheated out of their deposits, by making it easier to take landlords to small claims court. The bill, (S4781A), allows tenants to be heard in court where their apartment is located rather than where the landlord’s business is registered.

Read more...

No Rent Increases Will Keep Tenants in their Homes

Posted by Andrea Stewart-Cousins on Friday, June 18th, 2010

Earlier this week, the Westchester Rent Guidelines Board voted against the proposal to increases rents on regulated apartments where tenants have one- and two-year leases. As a consistent and persistent advocate for tenants, I have worked with hundreds of constituents on housing issues, sponsored and attended community forums on tenants' rights, introduced major tenant protection legislation in the Senate, and, most recently, provided testimony to the Westchester Rent Guidelines Board urging them to avoid rent increases in Westchester County in 2010-11.

Read more...

Senate Bill Guaranteeing Protections for Tenants of Foreclosed Buildings Signed into Law

Posted by Andrea Stewart-Cousins on Thursday, August 19th, 2010

Prior Law Allowed Tenants to be Forced from Homes without Notice

Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins (35th District – D/WF) announced that a new law guaranteeing greater protections (S7139) for tenants of buildings in foreclosure has been signed into law. Under the new law, rent-regulated tenants are now required to receive a notice of their housing rights, along with a notice of the building owner’s foreclosure. The bill takes effect 30 days from the date of signing.

A review of the state’s prior notification requirement for renters revealed that existing law failed to effectively communicate to rent-controlled and rent-stabilized tenants that their housing rights are unaffected by a foreclosure proceeding.

Read more...

Yonkers Insider: Senate Bill Guaranteeing Protections for Tenants of Foreclosed Buildings Signed into Law

Posted by Andrea Stewart-Cousins on Monday, August 30th, 2010

Prior Law Allowed Tenants to be Forced from Homes without Notice

Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins (35th District – D/WF) announced that a new law guaranteeing greater protections (S7139) for tenants of buildings in foreclosure has been signed into law. Under the new law, rent-regulated tenants are now required to receive a notice of their housing rights, along with a notice of the building owner’s foreclosure. The bill takes effect 30 days from the date of signing.

A review of the state’s prior notification requirement for renters revealed that existing law failed to effectively communicate to rent-controlled and rent-stabilized tenants that their housing rights are unaffected by a foreclosure proceeding.

Read more...