President’s Message – May/June
They walk among us…
Everyday gladiators fight for YOUR privilege to have a career, sell real estate, and protect your clients’ rights.
On April 26, we had our Virtual Lobby day. Our Avengers met with Senators and Assembly people who serve our capital region and beyond. We collectively showed support for legislation for the betterment of the real estate profession and fair housing. The legislation we supported consisted of transparency in co-ops, the creating of a testing program to root out illegal discrimination, adding “implicit bias” training to continuing education, and increases to education and requirements to broker educations. Our voices were also behind legislation expanding access to affordable housing by offer tax incentives.
More importantly this year we strongly made our voices heard regarding statewide good cause eviction with rent control measures. More importantly, GCAR is fighting this fight right here in our backyard in the City of Albany. Mayor Kathy Sheehan is attempting to make Albany the first city in New York to have good cause eviction. WE NEED TO FIGHT THIS HARD; the ramifications will be detrimental to all involved. Good cause eviction will quite possibly put mom-and-pop landlords out of business. It will put a cap on raising rent which can affect a landlord’s desire to remodel or make repairs. Additionally, it will virtually allow a tenant to move in and never leave, restricting a landlord’s ability to not renew a lease or give a tenant notice.
Additionally, GCAR leadership met with the NYSAR’s Issues and Mobilization Committee to help in the good cause eviction fight in Albany. We expressed our concerns about “good cause”, and NYSAR pledged $100,000 to help us. Together NYSAR and GCAR are heading up the fight in Albany. Be on the lookout for calls for action and an extensive campaign to help get our voices heard. THIS IS HAPPENING IN OUR BACKYARD; WE NEED TO BE HEARD!
Did you know that your RPAC champions have successfully fought and won 90% of the legislation we have supported? We don’t win them all but those are really good odds. If we want to make an impact. We have to make our positions heard and understood. You can do that by responding to calls for action, going to lobby day, going to an event, or making an investment in RPAC. Just $25 is your “fair share”. Your fair share to ensure that you can still have a career. It helps protect your clients’ rights to buy a home. It helps protect our industry! That is just a little ask for so much protection.
We should thank the gladiators that walk amongst us. I would like to thank the GCAR committee members and our RPAC major investors. Your continued commitment to our industry is invaluable.
My humble thanks,
Jeffrey Decatur
