The New York City Housing Authority is hoping Albany lawmakers can overcome their partisan gridlock in time to approve a $75 million federal bailout before it’s too late. The agency, which wants to make 13,000 apartments eligible for federal funding for the first time, must submit an application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development by March 17, after which, the bailout plan would collapse. Albany Democrats have a 31-30 majority in the Senate and need at least one Republican to back the deal in order for it to pass. But doubts abound about whether any bipartisanship is possible. U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer, who is responsible for the $75 million NYCHA bailout in Obama’s budget, has said that the bill must be passed in the State Senate by early March if the agency is to have enough time for its application. [NYDN]