The City Council, Tuesday, doubled potential fines for landlords harassing tenants to $10,000 and provided that HPD post the names of property owners convicted of harassment on its website. The legislation expands a 2008 law under which there have been 44 findings of harassment, many involving small owners who defaulted on hearings. Mayor de Blasio is expected to sign the bill.
Incentives for solar electric installations were extended and increased by legislation signed by Governor Cuomo, Wednesday. Owners will be entitled to tax abatements equal to the lesser of 5 percent of the cost, the property tax due, or $62,500.
Late last week Mayor de Blasio announced a 35-year plan to reduce energy use in City buildings. The plan includes incentives for private property owners and training opportunities for managers. The most immediate impact on private building owners will likely be proposed legislation to expand the requirement to file energy benchmarking reports to an additional 16,800 buildings between 25,000 and 50,000 square feet.
Mark your calendars for these seminars:
Tonight, September 26th, ABO Executive Director Dan Margulies participates in a forum discussing land use and affordability from 6-9 p.m.at the Kimmel Center at NYU, 60 Washington Square South:
October 7th, ABO members are welcome free to a CHIP seminar, Affordable Housing 101, from 8:30 – 11 a.m. at the CUNY Graduate Center Elebash Recital Hall, 1st Floor, 365 Fifth Avenue. RSVP to rsvp@chipnyc.org;
October 29th, ABO is asking “What Price Energy? Buying It, Saving It, Making It” in a program at 12:30 during the NYARM Expo at the Hotel Pennsylvania on 7th Avenue and 33rd St. Come learn how to save money buying energy, how to get others to pay for saving it, and whether it pays to try to make your own.