Senator Jesse Hamilton warns the "American Dream" has become an "American Nightmare" for New York renters

New Yorkers facing huge rent increases, as a large percentage of their income goes towards rent - call for Rent Resolution that Works for All

(Albany, NY – June 16, 2015) – Yesterday evening, Senator Hamilton delivered passionate remarks on rent regulation laws (video link below). Opposing the Senate Republican Majority’s version of rent regulation, Senator Hamilton began by saying, “As I stand here today many constituents in my community are living the American Nightmare right now. The American Dream being denied to many in the middle class who are now becoming the working poor. Many individuals in my district are paying more than 50% of their income to rent.” This disparity lends itself to a growing homelessness crisis as more New York City families face unaffordable housing costs.   

Senator Hamilton continued by relating the daily Pledge of Allegiance in the Senate chamber’s words – “with liberty and justice for all” – to the  actions the Senate takes on rent regulation, remarking that,  “I wonder if we truly understand and mean what we say. ‘With liberty and justice for all.’ What is happening now is not justice for all.” Senator Hamilton highlighted the fact that studio apartments were renting for as high as $2,200 a month. As a consequence of not raising the minimum wage, some were living three families to a three bedroom apartment.

Urging Senate colleagues, “to come together as a Senate family and do the right thing by the working class and middle class, who are now being pushed to the margins in New York State, ” Senator Hamilton continued that “it is not a Democratic issue and it is not a Republican issue. It is a human issue.”

Senator Hamilton concluded his remarks by underscoring the importance of an outlook focused on bridging the Update-Downstate divide, not painting issues as Democratic or Republican, and being able to work together as New Yorkers. Senator Hamilton explained his basis for voting on issues as common decency, remarking that “everybody should be able to live in the state, raise their family, have good schools, and have affordable housing.”

Video available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CaxqTxUBjY