New York state Governor Kathy Hochul had a proposal in her budget this February allowing Long Island homeowners to transform parts of their residence into a separate living space, similar to an apartment. Lawmakers representing the region reportedly lobbied her against the proposal, forcing her to reverse course. Finding affordable housing is a severe problem on Long Island, forcing young people to stay away. Apartment buildings are non-existent. The South Asian Times asked two of the candidates from the region running for Congress to take a stand on the issue. Plus, a resident and political activist explains the situation on the ground with regards to housing shortage and high property taxes.
By Parveen Chopra
Fellow, CUNY J-School’s Center for
Community Media’s State Election Reporting
Founding Editor ‐ The South Asian Times
Nick LaLota, running from New York’s 1st Congressional District, flanked by Attorney Deborah Misir and Town of Huntington Supervisor Ed Smyth at the Town’s Holi festivity this April.
‘Albany should not dictate local land use decisions’
Nick LaLota
Republican candidate for Congress from Long Island
Governor Kathy Hochul’s attempt at a land use power-grab failed against bipartisan opposition because it would have ended local control over land use decisions and the local accountability that comes with it. Long Islanders don’t need more unwanted mandates which exacerbate demands on our aging infrastructure. The tax and spend policies coming out of Albany make it unaffordable to live or do business in New York – that is the root cause of the affordability problem.
Government needs to cut the unnecessary spending, live within its means, worry less about ways it can overburden our aging roads and sewers, and put their focus on improving quality of life, public safety and the existing infrastructure Long Islanders depend on.
In Congress, I will fight President Biden’s inflationary agenda, work to balance budgets and reinstate the SALT Tax Deduction to get our economy back on track. I will urge Albany to make the necessary cuts to spending and taxes that will help make it possible to keep our families and businesses on Long Island.
The redrawn NY1 district map covers most parts of Suffolk County. It is represented by Lee Zeldin, GOP candidate for Governor. Nick LaLota, a former Suffolk County Board of Elections commissioner, faces Democrat Bridget Fleming, Suffolk County Legislator.
Laura Gillen, then Town of Hempstead Supervisor, speaking at India’s Republic Day celebration at Town Hall in 2019.
‘In Congress I’ll advocate increasing housing for working class families’
Laura Gillen
Democratic candidate for Congress from Long Island
It is a sad reality that there are too many families on Long Island who are struggling to make their mortgage payment each month and are facing housing instability. That’s why as Supervisor I cut taxes in the Town of Hempstead. But affordability comes down to more than just taxes. Housing on Long Island and across the nation is in a crisis. It’s a serious national issue because housing supply has not kept up with demand over the last decade.
As Town of Hempstead Supervisor, I secured grant funding for a comprehensive housing study to determine affordable housing options that could benefit residents of all kinds — seniors, recent college graduates, single parents — throughout the Town of Hempstead. I also worked with Habitat for Humanity to purchase and repair zombie homes and sell them at a reduced price to working families with a steady income who commit to staying in the neighborhood. These refurbished homes put properties back on the tax rolls, which helps lower taxes overall for everyone else.
Much of housing is addressed at the local level, but as a Member of Congress I will strongly advocate to increase housing stock for working class families.
Laura Gillen served as Town of Hempstead Supervisor in 2018-19. She is running for NY4, a seat vacated by Kathleen Rice. NY4 covers parts of Nassau County. Laura is opposed by Anthony D’Esposito, a Hempstead Town councilman.
Shaker Nelanuthala with his wife Bharathi and sons Neil and Vivek.
‘Archaic laws and local authorities’ power kill affordable housing plans’
Shaker Nelanuthala
Enterprise Agile Coach,
Resident of Glen Cove, Nassau County
My son who graduated from the SUNY Long Island system tried hard to stay in Nassau County when he first found a job in the greater NYC area but figured out that there is no place for young people in their twenties on Long Island as there is shortage of affordable housing. He moved to New Jersey and here NYS lost a taxpayer.
The decades old laws where zoning is mostly controlled by the biggest towns, Town of Hempstead, and Town of Oyster Bay and by 64 villages has created the huge disparity between what is needed in housing and what is allowed by these entities. Some of the incorporated villages like Brookville restrict built areas of homes to the land at 5%. In addition, the perception that building affordable homes brings low-income people, minorities and crime is a key factor why nothing new ever gets built.
A project that has been in limbo for an exceptionally long time is the Nassau hub in Uniondale. The original plan that the builder requested was to raise mixed use properties with a couple thousand apartments, but the Town of Hempstead only approved a couple hundred of the apartments. Another project also stuck is the Hicksville redevelopment project and affordable housing on the Sears lot. Governor Kathy Hochul could talk a big game in relaxing the zoning laws, but the plan will not go anywhere as there is little to no support from the Towns and Villages.
Another major issue that plagues Long Islanders is the property tax situation. Nassau County residents are most taxed in the whole country. A lot of tax increases have to do with the ever-increasing school taxes. Based on mandates that come from Albany with no real financial support, the school taxes have gone up significantly, sometimes exponentially over the years. Even though there are annual caps, the school boards have the power to break them, and this has caused grief for Long Islanders, especially for people who live on a fixed income.
The solution, first, Albany must stop the unfunded mandates and the second is raising state contribution towards school taxes. Currently, the state’s contribution to school taxes is around 40% and that of the residents is around 60%. By making a flip where the state picks up 60% of the tab will be a first step in the right direction!
