Ellen Davidson, a staff attorney with The Legal Aid Society’s Civil Law Reform Unit recently joined The Capitol Pressroom to discuss Governor’s Hochul proposed replacement of 421-a, tax break for developers who offer affordable housing.

Davidson explained that the Governor’s proposal would simply continue the existing credit for developers and would not build any affordable housing for low-income New Yorkers.

“It’s the status quo,” she said “It does nothing to address the need for affordable housing in the income levels that really need it.”

421-a is set to expire, and allowing it to do so without a replacement would put tax dollars back into the hands of New York City. The City could use the money to develop and operate actual affordable housing or fund other successful solutions like rent subsidy programs, something Davidson would like to see.

“When you look what this program does, it is not about affordable housing, she said. “Affordable housing is used as window dressing to transfer tax dollars to developers.”

Listen to the full segment below.