Senator Rachel May Hosts Housing Roundtable for Cities 2 Committee
Dan Messineo
September 8, 2023
As chair of the Cities 2 Committee, Senator Rachel May, joined by Senator Lea Webb’s staff and Assemblymember Anna Kelles, hosted a roundtable in Ithaca to discuss many of the housing challenges for Upstate New York cities. It was an informative discussion in which the group addressed affordability, quality, access, housing stock shortage, and housing insecurity, among other issues.
Senator May’s focus for the Cities 2 Committee is on New York State’s many vibrant cities outside New York City. Though each has its own unique identity, most share several challenges, like concentrated poverty, limited tax bases, under-resourced schools, and food and transportation deserts. Many also share strengths, like their diverse New American populations, thriving arts and culture and historic attractions, and affordable, walkable neighborhoods. Senator May will hold hearings and roundtables on many of these issues and work with her colleagues to find ways to lift urban communities across the state.