A pair of CNY state lawmakers from different parties is welcoming a promise from Governor Hochul's state of the state address to consider changes to strict environmental review processes that bog down critical projects.
“We’re taking a hard look at environmental review processes that haven’t been updated in half a century,” Hochul said. "Right now, they slow down the very projects that help us fight climate change and create housing."
Syracuse-area Senator Rachel May, who sits on the Environmental Conservation Committee, said the biggest problem with the State Environmental Quality Review, or SEQR process is a private right of action where people can sue if they don't like a project.
"That has been weaponized over time by people who don't want a building built next door to their house or in their neighborhood," she said. “Developers find that the cost of building goes up and up and up because they have to go through years of litigation. And that means higher financing, and often they'll just give up.”
In the end, she said developers often decide to build a new development in a greenfield, contributing to sprawl that requires people to drive more.
May says reducing these specific regulations has been her priority for years. She said she has a bill ready to go, but she's not sure the governor’s plan is a match until she sees the details.
Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay said his Republican conference has long called for easing New York’s many regulations and mandates which they say contribute to the state's high cost of doing business. He, too, wants to see more details.
“I'm not against these environmental laws. I just think they get very onerous," Barclay said. "Year after year, they add something new to them, and very often, we really can't develop anything. There needs to be better balance. If that's what she's talking about, I wholly support that.”
Barclay said he favors streamlining the SEQR process.
Overall, Barclay said he felt Hochul’s speech was light on substance. He added he's pleased to hear a commitment to make the state more affordable, which he said his conference has been pushing for years.
Republicans in the senate released their legislative agenda just ahead of the governor's state of the state address. They're calling it "Save New York," and includes the following proposals:
Provide Affordability and Economic Opportunity
- Cut personal income tax.
- Impose a three-year property tax freeze.
- Eliminate state income taxes on tips and OT.
- Impose a one-year tax and surcharge holiday on utility bills.
- Repeal Green Energy mandates such as the All Electric Building Act, EV and all-electric bus mandates, Congestion Pricing Program, Cap and Invest Program that drive up energy costs.
- Lower housing costs by shortening the permitting process and decreasing the regulatory burden on developers.
- Provide a tax credit for first time homebuyers.
- Make childcare more affordable by providing flexible savings accounts and incentivizing employers to provide childcare for their employees.
- Cut taxes on businesses.
- Reduce burdensome regulations.
- Restore and Enhance Public Safety
- Repeal disastrous legislation that has put criminals ahead of New Yorkers such as Bail and Discovery “Reforms,” “Less is More” legislation, the Clean Slate Act and the HALT Act.
- Prohibit the Parole Board from releasing violent criminals and cop killers early.
- Pass the PROTECT Act.
- Fully fund our police and create grant programs to enable law enforcement agencies to recruit qualified and skilled police officers.
- Increase hate crime penalties to address rise in antisemitism.
- Repeal disastrous legislation that has put criminals ahead of New Yorkers such as Bail and Discovery “Reforms,” “Less is More” legislation, the Clean Slate Act and the HALT Act.
- Hold Government Accountable
- Enact statewide voter ID.
- Impose term limits for offices of Governor, Comptroller, Attorney General and members of the Legislature.
- Place checks on the budget including on spending and enforcing the budget deadline.
