By Assemblyman Ari Brown
New York State once symbolized the epitome of opportunity, prosperity, and growth. Today, it is the outward migration capital of the world, driven by policies that stifle the construction of much-needed housing. The state is plagued by endless mandates and regulations that make it harder, more expensive, and less desirable to build homes, leaving families struggling to find affordable living spaces.
I’ve worked in the construction industry for decades and have seen the evolution of New York’s real estate and housing landscape, and let me tell you, what we are experiencing now is nothing short of disastrous. It wasn’t always this way. When I began, building was about opportunity. Builders were attracted to the state, and homes went up rapidly to accommodate the growing demand. But today? Builders are fleeing, and new construction projects are becoming increasingly rare. Why? Because the state government—led by the governor and the Democrats—has created a hostile environment for construction and landlords alike.
Take, for example, the recent gas ban and electrification mandates set to take effect on Dec. 31, 2025. Starting next year, new residential buildings up to seven stories will be required to go all-electric, banning fossil fuel-burning equipment such as gas stoves, fireplaces, and propane. This mandate is a massive blow to builders and developers statewide. It forces costly changes on projects that were already in motion, raising construction costs for everyone involved. This only makes housing more expensive, further exacerbating the crisis.
Meanwhile, fire sprinkler mandates have been pushed through without regard for their impact on affordability. While fire safety is important, the reality is that these mandates add unnecessary layers of cost and complexity to many construction projects. Builders are already working in an environment full of uncertainty, and these additional mandates only serve to increase construction costs and slow down progress.
Then, there are the wetlands protection rules—a measure that expanded the mapped wetland area from 1.2 million to 2.2 million acres. While this is purportedly for environmental protection, it imposes severe restrictions on where homes can be built. Property owners are now forced to deal with added red tape, limiting their ability to develop their land, all in the name of preserving wetlands. This has had a chilling effect on homebuilders who are already facing challenges in bringing projects to fruition.
Despite all of this, Gov. Hochul and the Democrats continue to talk about “affordable housing.” They claim they are doing everything in their power to solve the housing crisis, yet their actions tell a different story. Hochul’s Pro-Housing Community Program promises funding to municipalities to increase housing production, but how can any of this be taken seriously when the state’s regulatory environment actively discourages builders from constructing new homes?
This is a classic case of “bait and switch.” They claim to want more housing, but their policies are doing the exact opposite. If they truly wanted to increase the housing supply, they would begin by removing the barriers that are causing the housing crisis in the first place. Instead of burdening builders with more mandates, the state should focus on reducing the cost of construction, simplifying the permit process, and cutting back on the regulations that make building in New York so costly.
Take Good Cause Eviction as another example. While this law only applies in New York City for now, it is expected that upstate municipalities will follow suit, making it even harder for landlords to operate and contributing to the flight of developers from the state. This anti-landlord mentality only exacerbates the housing shortage by discouraging investment in rental properties.
As the state continues to implement these absurd, overreaching mandates, the message to builders and developers is clear: New York is no longer a place where construction and innovation can thrive. Builders are already leaving New York City, but now the entire state is feeling the effects of these misguided policies.
I’ve been in this industry for more than 50 years, and I can say with certainty that these policies are destroying our economy. If we want to see the housing crisis in New York addressed, it’s time for the residents of this state to wake up and demand better. We need leadership that is willing to roll back these harmful policies and create an environment that fosters growth, affordability, and opportunity. It’s time to throw these clowns out of office and elect officials who are committed to rebuilding our state, not strangling it with needless bureaucracy.
If we don’t act soon, the outward migration trend will continue. Families and businesses will keep fleeing to other states that are more hospitable to growth and opportunity. Let’s not let New York become a place of the past. It’s time to reclaim our future.
Lawler And Colleagues Urge FEMA To Lift Pause On Nonprofit Security Grant Funding
This week, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) joined Reps. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Gabe Amo (RI-01), Michael McCaul (TX-10), Jared Moskowitz (FL-23), and Max Miller (OH-07) to lead a group of 78 other colleagues in a letter urging the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) to reverse its decision to pause the drawdown of federal grant funding that includes the vital Nonprofit Security Grant Program.
The Nonprofit Security Grant Program provides critical funding to nonprofits at high risk of a terrorist attack, specifically faith-based institutions, and houses of worship, to enhance their physical security and provide access to training to protect communities from the growing threat of hate and violence.
“The Administration has made clear its goal to protect Americans from terrorist threats both foreign and domestic, as well as to respond to the rise in hate crimes. Supporting the NSGP is critical to fulfilling that goal. The program has long enjoyed bipartisan support, with lawmakers across the political spectrum recognizing that protecting places of worship and community institutions is not a partisan issue,” wrote the lawmakers.
“At a time when hate and violence against faith-based communities across this country are at historic levels, the NSGP has provided life-saving funding to protect faith-based communities and institutions,” the lawmakers wrote to FEMA Acting Administrator Cameron Hamilton. “From bollards to prevent vehicular attacks, reinforced doors to keep intruders out, CCTV cameras to monitor threats, and emergency alert systems that allow rapid response, the NSGP has ensured faith-based institutions are equipped with vital tools to prevent loss of life in the case of an attack. It is critical that those institutions that have already been awarded an NSGP grant are allocated the expected funding.”
“The Nonprofit Security Grant Program is a lifeline for vulnerable institutions, and ensuring the swift and efficient disbursement of these funds is essential to safeguarding communities in the face of growing threats,” said Lauren Wolman, Anti-Defamation League (ADL)’s Director of Federal Policy and Strategy. “We thank Representatives Gottheimer and Lawler for leading this bipartisan effort to ensure that as the Administration enhances oversight of FEMA grants, they remain acutely aware of the unprecedented levels of antisemitism and heightened security needs of at-risk communities.”
Many Members signed from various states. NY Members who signed the letter include: Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Andrew Garbarino (NY-02), Laura Gillen (NY-04), Daniel Goldman (NY-10), Timothy Kennedy (NY-26), Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), Grace Meng (NY-6), Joseph Morelle (NY-25), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Pat Ryan (NY-18), Tom Suozzi (NY-03), Paul Tonko (NY-20), and Ritchie Torres (NY-15).
