New York Mayor Eric Adams is at the mercy of the state Legislature for much of his housing agenda. But with just four days left in the legislative session, the proposals he’s pushing face slim odds. A wide-ranging housing deal remains elusive, with one-off approvals of so-called low-hanging fruit also unlikely. Legislative leaders were not optimistic Wednesday that a broader housing agreement could be reached by the end of next week. But they still threw cold water on the idea of picking off and moving individual proposals. It's far from settled what a housing “Big Ugly” — where contentious issues are rolled into one unwieldy end-of-session bill — would look like. For now, the legislature has formed a 20-member working group on housing to try to reach consensus, according to several people familiar with the matter, some of whom were skeptical the group will actually move the needle. The two housing committee chairs, Sen. Brian Kavanagh and Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, are part of the group. Other members include Sens. Michael Gianaris, Julia Salazar and Liz Krueger, and Assemblymembers Kenny Burgos, Jaime Williams and Ed Braunstein. For Adams, failing to win any of his Albany housing priorities — from the ability to convert old office buildings into housing, to an extension for buildings covered by the expired 421-a tax break — would be a major loss for his goals. The 421-a extension is one of the less controversial housing issues being discussed, according to people familiar with conversations in the legislature. But its fate now appears to be tied to agreement on other measures, including some form of tenant protections — potentially something in the vein of the controversial “good cause” eviction bill. “The urgency is now,” Adams said Thursday with his top housing aides, unions and advocates at a development site in Gowanus, Brooklyn. The neighborhood was rezoned in 2021 for a projected 8,000 housing units, about 3,000 of which were affordable. But much of that is at risk of not getting built without the 421-a extension, developers, City Hall and housing advocates say. Other projects that won City Council approval through the city’s lengthy land use process are in the same boat, like the 1,050-unit River Ring project by Two Trees in Williamsburg. HAPPY FRIDAY. WHERE’S KATHY? In New York City, Onondaga County and Albany, delivering remarks at a ribbon cutting ceremony for Nappi Wellness Institute. WHERE’S ERIC? In New York City, meeting with Macquarie Group CEO Shemara Wikramanayake. He will also deliver remarks at a flag-raising ceremony for Italy and at a Department of Citywide Administrative Services government “Hiring Hall” event. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I’m just low maintenance; I’m the easiest person to deal with.” — Mayor Adams at a housing event in Brooklyn, taking an off-topic question about negotiating with union leaders.
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