Cuomo’s office questions whether Senate Democrats have votes for rent reform bills

State Senate Democrats who said Tuesday they have enough votes to pass a series of rent-reform bills were met with skepticism by the governor — and condemnation by Republicans.

A spokesperson for Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office told Politico that “a legislative body has the votes for a piece of legislation when they pass the bill. If the senate has the votes, they should pass the bills today.”

New York’s rental laws are set to expire in 10 days, and the set of nine bills would remove landlords’ ability to increase rents on regulated apartments and turn them into free-market units. The laws would also prevent landlords from evicting tenants without cause.

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said in a statement that over the next several days, “we must use that time to work with our partners to pass the strongest housing protections in state history.”

Protestors on Tuesday held demonstrations in front of the Assembly, Senate and Governor’s offices. Reports indicated that at least 61 protestors were arrested throughout the Capitol.

Senate Minority Republicans, however, condemned the package of bills as “disastrous for both Upstate and the New York City suburbs,” according to a statement provided to Politico by Minority Leader John Flanagan. [Politico] — David Jeans