Recently, my friend and GTCC member, Doug Dunlap, sent me an op-ed article that had appeared in the New York Post, authored by Betsy McCaughey. Ms. Caughey holds a PhD in history from Columbia University, has been a college instructor and served fellowships with think tanks, the Manhattan Institute and the Hudson Institute. She probably gained the most notoriety in her career by serving one term as Lt. Governor of New York.
The article claimed that the Biden administration and Governor Kathy Hochul of New York are trying to overturn local zoning laws to enable the building of high-rise apartment buildings with “affordable” units in single family suburban neighborhoods. Apparently, on January 19, the Biden administration announced a new policy that will require all towns across America to submit “equity plans” that demonstrate how each town proposes to enable equitable, affordable housing and transportation to be built. “ Towns that don’t meet the cookie-cutter requirement for economic diversity will lose federal funding,” according to Ms. McCaughey.
Similarly, New York Governor Kathy Hochul is proposing a state law termed the “Housing Compact.” If passed, the law would compel all towns in the New York metropolitan area to increase its housing stock to meet a uniform, state-imposed target (number of houses ) and rezone for high density housing within one-half mile of every Metropolitan Transit Authority train stop. If the town fails to meet the state-imposed targets, the State will allow developers to ignore local zoning laws and build high density housing, anyway.
Let’s hope this scheme does not migrate south, beyond the borders of New York state. It remains to be seen if Governor Hochul can force this legislation through the legislature, but it demonstrates the mindset of certain elected officials.
Eric Rockel
Vice President, GTCC