Friends —
Of the 13 people who died in our state during Hurricane Ida, 11 were residents of basement apartments who became trapped in their homes due to flooding and drowned.
Now, it’s estimated that at least 50,000 New Yorkers live in basement apartments. But because they are illegal, there are no standards in place to confirm that they are safe for use.
That means that the only way to ensure that these dwellings are safe is to make them legal, something which the mayor should have done a long time ago.
I am working to make basement apartments legal in New York, and to implement standards like better drainage systems, automatic sprinklers, and additional exits.
But I also want to note that the existence of these units is symptomatic of a larger problem with housing in our state.
It is simply too expensive to live in New York, and zoning laws make it too difficult to build new homes. In our district, over one-fourth of renters spend over half their income on rent each year. Many of the individuals who live in basement units are undocumented immigrants who are grossly underpaid by exploitative employers.
I am working hard to advance policies that will ensure housing justice for all. In 2019, we passed the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019, which helped to provide critical protections for renters.
But our state will need a comprehensive overhaul of housing policy. In addition to legalizing basement apartments, our state needs to build more affordable housing, particularly units that are close to transit. That way, everyone who wants to live in our city will be able to do so, and safely.
All my best,
Alessandra Biaggi
Paid For By The Committee To Elect Alessandra Biaggi
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