Intro. 0653-A Extends NYC’s Rent Stabilization Law of 1969 for Three Years
Intro. 0001-B Designates Animal Care Centers of NYC Facility in Queens to Be Named “Paul A. Vallone Queens Animal Care Center”
New York City Mayor Eric Adams today signed two pieces of legislation — one to extend the New York City Rent Stabilization Law of 1969 and another honoring late public servant Paul A. Vallone by naming the Animal Care Centers (ACC) of NYC facility in Queens the “Paul A. Vallone Queens Animal Care Center.”
In response to the New York City Department of Housing and Preservation Development’s (HPD) Housing Vacancy Survey, highlighting a historically low 1.4 percent rental vacancy rate, Intro. 0653-A, extends the city’s vital rent stabilization law to April 1, 2027 and underscores the need for support from all levels of government to build more housing in New York City.
Intro. 0001-B honors public servant Paul Vallone — who passed away on January 28, 2024, and served as deputy commissioner for external affairs at the New York City Department of Veterans Services (DVS) and previously represented District 19 in Queens in the New York City Council — by naming an ACC location in Queens after him. As a councilmember, Vallone was a champion for animal welfare and advocated for improving the conditions for animals in New York City.
“Our rent stabilization laws are critical to the security of working-class New Yorkers who live in rent-stabilized housing. With a historic-low 1.4 percent vacancy rate, our administration again calls on our colleagues in Albany to say ‘yes’ to more affordable housing, and to help us deliver more housing for the city and our state,” said Mayor Adams. “Paul Vallone was a longtime friend, but, more importantly, a true public servant who served our city throughout his career. Over his time in office, the blue-collar community Paul represented knew they had a fighter from the neighborhood representing them at City Hall. He was a committed advocate for veterans, serving those who have served our country, and fought to protect animal welfare. The Paul A. Vallone Queens Animal Care Center will forever cement his legacy to public service.”
“Our city is facing a housing emergency with a dire shortage of available homes that impacts all New Yorkers. The signing of this legislation into law extends the New York City Rent Stabilization Law of 1969 to ensure rent regulation protections can continue unimpeded within our city,” said Speaker Adams. “We all must remain focused on pursuing the many necessary solutions to confront the housing crisis that makes our city less affordable to all New Yorkers. I’m also proud of my legislation to rename the Animal Care Center in Queens after former New York City Councilmember Paul Vallone. A passionate advocate for animals and their welfare, former Councilmember Vallone was pivotal in the passage of a law requiring full-service animal shelters in every borough. This renaming is a fitting tribute to his longstanding commitment to animals and our entire city.”
“Our severe housing crisis is evident by the historic low vacancy rate from the 2023 Housing Vacancy Survey and the pressures New York City renters are facing every day as they try to find safe, affordable housing across the five boroughs,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer. “Declaring a housing emergency to extend and protect rent stabilization, while also working collaboratively with our legislative partners to turn the tide on our decades-long housing crisis, is essential to ensuring that we can continue to be a city accessible for all. I thank Speaker Adrienne Adams, Housing and Buildings Chair Pierina Sanchez, and the entire City Council for their leadership in this effort. I am also heartened to see our friend, the late Councilmember Paul A. Vallone, honored in ensuring future generations know about his commitment to New York City.”
“Today’s bill signing is not a moment to celebrate, but a moment to double down on efforts to fix the city’s housing crisis once and for all. Not in the future, not in the next legislative session, but this year,” said HPD Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr. “Declaring a housing emergency and extending rent stabilization another three years is a necessary step to protect some of the most vulnerable renters from unaffordable rent increases, but it does not get us out of this crisis. Today and every day, we are renewing our calls for all levels of government to step up and deliver the tools we need to build housing at the scale this crisis demands. Everyone must step up.”
“As we reflect on the life and legacy of our colleague and friend, Paul Vallone, it is both an honor and a privilege to witness the establishment of the Paul A. Vallone Queens Animal Care Center with this legislation,” said DVS Commissioner James Hendon. “Paul’s commitment to improving welfare of animals across this city, coupled with his parallel dedication to our veterans, is a testament to his remarkable character and I am humbled to have had the opportunity to serve alongside him.”
“Paul Vallone dedicated much of his life and public service to the well-being of animals and ensuring each borough has a full-service animal shelter — furthering his family’s legacy and remaining an inspiration to us all,” said New York City Mayor’s Office of Animal Welfare Director Alexandra Silver. “Once the bright, welcoming new Animal Care Center bearing Paul Vallone’s name opens later this year, Queens will have an animal shelter that reflects his and our city’s humanity.”
Intro. 0653-A — sponsored by New York City Councilmember Pierina Sanchez — underscores the Adams administration’s urgent calls for action at every level of government to combat the housing crisis as state lawmakers consider a package of new affordable housing tools and as the administration's historic “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity” nears the start of the city's public review process. To address this crisis, the administration has worked to use every tool at its disposal to accelerate housing production and deliver the affordability New Yorkers need and deserve. In 2023, Mayor Adams announced the city had closed on financing for the creation of an all-time record 14,227 new affordable homes and directly connected more New Yorkers to homes than ever before in the city’s history, bringing nearly 13,000 households into affordable units.
To accelerate housing production and deliver relief to New Yorkers, the Adams administration has advanced a number of creative solutions, including its “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity” proposal to build 100,000 additional homes through significant pro-housing reforms to the city’s zoning code; an office conversation accelerator; new proposed rules to streamline approvals for sustainable housing; and several pilot programs to help fund the creation of accessory dwelling units, help move New Yorkers out of shelters and into renovated apartments, and fuel mixed-income development in neighborhoods across the city; among other innovative efforts.
Intro. 0001-B — sponsored by New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams — will honor Paul A. Vallone and build on the administration’s efforts to support animal welfare across New York City. Last year, the administration broke ground on the new ACC in Baychester. The $92 million project — anticipated to open by the end of 2025 — will provide necessary animal care and adoption services in the Bronx that supports a safe, healthy, comfortable, and humane environment for animals, staff, and visitors. The ACC in the Bronx is one of several animal adoption and shelter projects the administration is working on throughout the city, including new facilities in Manhattan and Brooklyn. In October 2022, the city celebrated the completion of a new center on Staten Island. The new Paul A. Vallone Queens Animal Care Center will open by the end of 2024.
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