Senator Helming Statement on Supreme Court blocking part of New York’s eviction moratorium

Senator Pam Helming, ranking member of the Senate Housing, Construction and Community Development Committee, issued the following statement:

“The priority from day one should have been getting rent relief funds out ASAP to help small landlords and tenants. New York failed to do that and was among one of the last states to launch its program. Still, only about four percent of these funds have been distributed. What’s worse, these problems were avoidable. The funding could have gone out sooner if the Senate Democratic Majority acted sooner.

It is my hope that Senate Democrats will not use the Supreme Court’s decision to cause further delay and attempt to extend New York’s eviction moratorium again. I strongly oppose that.

I also continue to urge the Senate Majority to deliver Senate bill S.6481 to the Governor, which I co-sponsored, so we can earmark the $100 million in state funds in the ERAP program to mom-and-pop property owners whose tenants vacated their units while owing rent. And we must continue to prepare for the efficient reopening of local housing courts.”