Joint Statement From Senate Majority Coalition Co-Leaders John J. Flanagan And Jeffrey D. Klein

Today’s announcement by the state’s Division of Housing and Community Renewal that more than $22 million is now available to address the problem created by “zombie properties” and expand home ownership opportunities across this state is welcome news for communities dealing with blight and a depreciation in property values.

These funds were fought for and approved by the Legislature last session, and are available as a result of the state’s settlement with J.P. Morgan Chase.  We believe very strongly that settlement funds should be used to build up and lift up our communities, and we applaud Governor Cuomo for using these monies to spur homeownership and cure blight through the Neighborhood Revitalization Program.

This is a critical issue, and today’s announcement is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done legislatively to correct a problem with zombie properties that impacts both upstate and downstate.  As leaders of the Senate Majority Coalition, we are committed to working together to get a result that improves the quality-of-life for homeowners and their families, and strengthens each of our communities - - and to do so before our session concludes next week.