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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 23, 2014

Contact: Assemblymember Kavanagh - Pressoffice.ad74@gmail.com, 212-979-9696
Senator Savino - Matt Cannon, 518-366-8585
Councilmember Rosenthal - Sbuhle@council.nyc.gov, 212-873-0282 x205

TOMORROW PRESS EVENT: EXPANDED RENT FREEZE PROGRAM FOR
NEW YORKERS WITH DISABILITIES BECOMES LAW
1,000 More Households Expected to Be Eligible
ALBANY Tomorrow, Thursday July 24th at noon on the steps of City Hall,
Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh and Councilmember Helen Rosenthal will be joined
by New Yorkers with disabilities, legislative colleagues, disability rights and housing
advocates, announcing enactment of legislation to expand the Disability Rent Increase
Exemption (DRIE) program, signed into law yesterday by Governor Andrew Cuomo.
The bill, which was sponsored by Senator Diane Savino and Assemblymember
Kavanagh, will enable New York City to offer the benefit to about 1,000 new
households. The de Blasio administration and City Councilmembers, led by
Councilmember Helen Rosenthal, have already indicated that they will adopt the
expansion. The bill is co-sponsored by Council Members Jumaane Williams, Inez
Dickens, Eric Ullrich, James Vacca, Andrew Cohen, and Brad Lander. The Council is
scheduled to vote on the expansion at its 1:30pm state meeting tomorrow. The expanded
benefit will also be available in other localities that choose to adopt it.
The DRIE program freezes rents for people with disabilities living in rent-regulated
housing with low incomes who pay one-third or more of their income in rent. Landlords
are compensated for the difference between the full rent and the frozen amount through
property tax abatements. Currently households with one member are disqualified if their
income exceeds $20,412; for households of two or more, the limit is $29,484. The new
law raises the annual income limit for all tenant with disabilities to $50,000.
WHAT: Press Conference on Legislation Making Many More New Yorkers with
Disabilities Eligible for Rent Increase Exemption
WHEN: Noon, Tomorrow, Thursday, July 24, 2014
WHERE: Steps of City Hall, Manhattan
WHO: Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh, Councilmember Helen Rosenthal, New
Yorkers with disabilities who will benefit from the new law, fellow city and state
legislators, other local officials, and disability rights and housing advocates.
# # #