Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Announces Sandy Property Tax Relief Legislation and Holds Press Availability

April 23, 2014

Mayor de Blasio: I would like to thank the lieutenant governor for his leadership, of course. I want to talk about, in a moment, my appreciation for the governor for all that’s being done here today. But thank you to the lieutenant governor. Thank you to all my colleagues in government, and all the county executives that are here, and the state legislators, and all the members of the executive branch, and everyone involved in New York Rising.

This is really something encouraging and extraordinary – the collaborative effort that’s leading us forward as we prepare for a very different world than the one we knew a few years ago. And, Governor, the New York Rising effort obviously indicates strongly your commitment to all the communities that were hit by Sandy, to all the communities that have to prepare for this challenging future. You know, as many people know, the governor and I started working together, now it’ll be twenty years ago next May, I think it is.

Governor Cuomo: You’re getting old.

[Laughter]

Mayor: Aw – it’s great to be with you. When we started working together at the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, the notion that there was something challenging this whole world in terms of climate change was just, just starting to be felt fully. But if you said back then that today we’d have to be – all of us – so profoundly focused on resiliency in all we do, I would’ve thought maybe that was an alarmist vision. Today, we know it’s common sense that resiliency has to run through all of our thinking. And, Governor, your leadership, not only in the aftermath of Sandy and helping communities get back on their feet, but on the way you’ve talked from the beginning in a very sober, realistic way about this challenge, I think it’s helped all of us around the state to put resiliency thinking front and center into the work we do.

We all have this dual reality. We have to continue to help people back on their feet – and lord knows, after almost 18 months, I can say on behalf of so many people in New York City, we’re still struggling to make sure people are whole and their lives are fully back together. But the work of resiliency is here and now. It’s every day. We don’t get a memo that tells us when the next storm is going to hit or what it’s going to look like. So what’s happening today is so important and I commend it.

I’m also here because we have to do a little more to help some folks who are struggling. And I’m very proud today to talk about the property tax relief legislation that’s being introduced into the legislature at my request. And I want to say at the outset, I want to thank you, Governor, for your support for that legislation. It means a lot to the people of New York City. Because, ironically, a lot of people have struggled to get back on their feet, to rebuild, often at great expense to themselves, and what happens upon getting back on their feet, rebuilding their home, unfortunately according to our current tax laws, they would be assessed at a much higher level and suddenly be hit with a much higher property tax after all the trouble they had gone through.

The legislation I am putting forward is crucial because it will allow us to provide property tax relief to not have these good, hard working people penalized simply because they were able, finally, to get their homes rebuilt and get back on their feet. We don’t want to put them into a situation where their good efforts are suddenly penalized, especially after 18 months of hard work.

We’re going to continue to work closely with the governor, to work closely with the state on all of the efforts of rebuilding. We know that some of this is about making sure that people have the financial relief. Some of it is the work we do on a bigger level in government rebuilding community institutions. There’s a whole host of things – all the while focusing on the work of resiliency as well.

I want to thank everyone – just a point of privilege if I may – the hard working folks at the New York City legislative office in Albany, who have really worked intensely with the governor’s team, with the legislative leaders on this property tax relief bill. And I’m thrilled to say that right off the bat we have strong bipartisan support for this notion. And I think that’s a great example of what can happen when there’s that spirit of unity in this capitol on behalf of people who have been through so much.

So I just want to say, Governor, this is a really encouraging day for the state of New York. I know throughout the day you’ve heard wonderful, innovative ideas of people moving forward from the grassroots. I know you believe – and I’ve known this about you for two decades – you believe in uplifting and supporting the grassroots, people innovating on the ground knowing what will work best for them, and that the role of government is to be there with them as they do that. So it’s a good day for New York State. Thank you, again, for all the support you’ve given New York City and it’s my honor to be here with you.

Governor: Thank you, brother.

[Applause]

Governor: Let’s give another round of applause to Mayor Bill de Blasio for being here today.

[Applause]

. . .

NY Rising Press Availability:

Mayor de Blasio: I just want to first say, I'm thrilled to be joined by Dan Zarrilli, who's running our recovery and resiliency office, and Sherif Soliman, who runs the legislative office for the city of New York in Albany. Let me just say up front that it was very gratifying today to be here for the awards ceremony, for the projects from Staten Island, and from southern Brooklyn. These are areas I've spent a lot of time in since Sandy hit. I think community leaders are really putting together great ideas for recovery and resiliency, and I was thrilled to see this additional support. Going to them, I was also thrilled to hear the really innovative ideas coming out of the Rockaways, coming out of Red Hook, things I'll certainly be following up on. 

And I want to say, especially, one of my chief reasons for being here today was to promote the property tax relief legislation that we're putting forward for homeowners who have rebuilt – who were devastated by Sandy, have rebuilt – and we want to make sure will not be penalized because they were able, over a year and a half, to finally get themselves back on their feet. We don't want to have them hit with yet another challenge of a sudden increase in their property tax bill – really appreciate Governor Cuomo's support for that legislation, appreciate support we're getting, bi-partisan support, throughout the legislature. We're very very optimistic that that legislation will pass in the near term. So, this is something that's going to be important for a lot of New Yorkers who are finally getting back on their feet after Sandy. 

With that, can I take questions first on anything Sandy-related, and then we'll be happy to do any other topics.

Question: [inaudible]

Mayor: Thank you. 

Question: [inaudible]

Mayor: Yes.

Question: [inaudible]

Mayor: Well, it's for folks who have now rebuilt, and because of the rebuilding, their assessment would go up, and therefore their property tax would go up. In other words, the property would be treated, under current tax law, as an improved property, a more valuable property – bang! They'd be hit with a tax increase. We want to make sure that doesn't happen. Folks who have finally gotten their homes back together did it after immense struggle, and in most cases, immense personal expense, and we want to make sure they're not set back yet again. So, this legislation would give them immediate relief. Again, we are very appreciative of the support of the governor's, crucial support of the legislative leaders has been very generous and quick in coming. So, we feel very good about getting this passed quickly so that we can get relief to people right away. 

Question: [inaudible]

Mayor: I'm sorry, again?

Question: [inaudible]

Mayor: It's drafted. We're working out the final arrangements for introduction and sponsorship, and that will be happening in the coming days. 

Question: [inaudible]

Mayor: First of all, I want to say – I've been talking constantly to folks at HUD, my staff has been talking constantly – this is a, literally a day-to-day relationship. We're constantly in touch on a variety of things we're doing together. Now, I think some of the press reports have portrayed the possibility of a change in policy, but there really has not been a change yet. There's not – we've very carefully discussed this with HUD, we've looked at what they've said formally – there has not been a change. What I said the other day, I stand by. I think it's self-evident that the original legislation was meant to provide assistance to people in New York State and New Jersey who were devastated by Sandy, and then aid the resiliency efforts going forward. I think that's self-evident. I think that's what's ultimately going to determine the outcomes, and I feel good about where it's going. But most importantly, I don't want to ever say that HUD took a step when they didn't take it. HUD, in our working with them, has been entirely supportive and cooperative. Anything else on the tax plan, or anything else on Sandy?

Question: [inaudible]

Mayor: Let me speak carefully, because, I – you know, I think it's important when there's a lot of moving parts to not overstate. I feel very optimistic about this legislation being passed. Certainly in this immediate legislative session, meaning by the end of June at latest. I'm hopeful, you know, for the soonest possible date. And I think the kind of support we've seen so far suggests we have a good shot at an early date. We're going to immediately then act to amend the property tax bills for those individuals. But either way you slice it, the same amount of money will be returned to their hands, regardless of whether the legislation were passed in May or June, the same amount of money will be refunded to the individual homeowners.

Question: [inaudible]

Mayor: This is for the city of New York only, and, you know, we think it's crucial, considering how many people had their homes destroyed in New York City.

Question: [inaudible]

Mayor: Well, we're starting with one year, and then we'll come back around at the end of that time frame and see where things are.

Question: [inaudible]

Mayor: No, I'm not familiar with it, so I'll just be careful about not commenting on something I don't know the details of.

Question: [inaudible]

Mayor: I've just heard of it. I haven't seen the memo, I haven't seen the details. Look, my position has been historically that I think there's areas that need immediate reform. I supported the legislation, I know the governor supported it intensely – to no longer have a criminal penalty for the display of a small amount of marijuana. I think that's a common sense change we have to make. Certainly, our focus has been, Commissioner Bratton's focus has been, is going after serious crime, and we've moved away from some of the policies that I think were unfortunately creating a rift between police and community, but also taking a lot of time and energy away from addressing serious crime –obviously the reforms we've made in stop and frisk in other areas. So, I need to see the details. I think the district attorney has some of the same concerns that I have and Commissioner Bratton have about the history here, but before I comment on the details in his proposal, I'd have to see the actual memo.

Question: [inaudible]

Mayor: Well, I – life is long. And so what I'd say is, first of all, the governor and I – as I mentioned in the session – you know, in about a year, it'll be 20 years of knowing each other, working with each other, we talk all the time. It's a – you know, when you have a relationship of that depth and history, it doesn't matter if sometimes you disagree. There's plenty more things you agree on. He's been very willing to be helpful on the property tax relief. He's been very supportive in terms of the speed cameras and a number of other areas. So, I feel very good about the working relationship, very good about our communication, the consistency of our communication. Look, I've said that when you look at everything that came out of the budget process, I feel great about what we were able to achieve for New York City, you know, with the governor's help. And it didn't matter if there were some differences along the way. In the end, the funding is there for pre-k. The preventative measures for – to stop homelessness are being moved. The rent cap for HIV and AIDS, which is a crucial initiative for us – all of those people happen more happening now – so from my point of view, I always say the product is what you really need to measure by, but in terms of product, this relationship's in a very good place. 

Question: [inaudible]

Mayor: You know, the – and I have to tell you, the, the attempts to stereotype the way any individual thinks, that bothers me for a lot of people, whether it's about me or about anyone else. I said – I've spoken very, very publicly on this. I said I used to believe that the horse carriages were a New York City tradition, and they should be kept just the way they were. This is going back, you know, six years. And, I talked to folks who represented the animals rights movements – movement, when I was in the City Council, even before I was Public Advocate, and they would constantly make the point that what these horses experienced, you know, the whole concept of what a more humane society should be, and little by little, I started to feel that my previous position had been wrong. And I have articulated that trajectory all along. So, I have to tell you, when this debate comes up, and I say to people, just think for a moment – what are horses doing in the middle of Manhattan traffic. Midtown Manhattan traffic. Is that really the best way to go about things? Is that a humane reality for those horses? Is that good for anyone? You know, I don’t have a lot of people arguing with me on that. I understand some people have an industry that they want to defend, but on the common sense issue – should we have horses working in the middle of Manhattan traffic – I think it’s pretty evident we shouldn’t. As I said that is something I came to my views on long before this last campaign, and long before anyone donated to the campaign.

Question: [inaudible]

Mayor: You know, it’s continuity with the things we’ve talked about before. We have a profound fiscal challenge. The part of it that was missed, I think, in a lot of the civic discourse – and I talked about it the day we did the preliminary budget – is this city government has had a structural deficit year after year. Each time enough money came out of the previous year to keep the year ahead solvent but it wasn’t a true balance. A true balance is when you have enough revenue coming in in a given year to pay your expenses. We haven’t had that for a long time. We don’t have that projected going forward. Fiscal 16, for example, already has a $1 billion running deficit. So, that is the first problem – a structural deficit over years. Second, we know there’s a lot of unpredictable realities with the federal government, a lot of challenges, some of which are going to be felt in the coming years because of some of the big changes that have happened on the federal level. And so what I’ve said about the labor negotiations is – one, of course it’s private – the details are private and respectful – but that the only way we address some of the concerns raised by our partners in municipal labor is if we find cost savings. And that’s been very clear throughout the process. So, anything that any individual union wants to achieve has to come with substantial cost savings attached.

Question: [inaudible]

Mayor: Yeah, go ahead [inaudible].

Question: [inaudible]

Mayor: It’s abundantly clear that the – take the whole package – retro, some of the raises that have been asked for going forward and other things. Right now, we’re in a structural deficit with our current – our current – staffing dynamics. So if you’re going to add to them, by definition, it would only mean a bigger deficit. So by definition, you have to find cost savings.

Questions: [inaudible]

Mayor: Whoa, whoa – one at a time. Let’s do that.

Question: [inaudible]

Mayor: Yeah.

Question: [inaudible]

Mayor: Well, on the school lunches, I believe the goal is the right one. There’s a couple of wrinkles here. One – we – as we looked into this further – our concern that it may have a boomerang effect in terms of denying us a certain amount of federal funding. So we need to understand what the economics are and we’re working on that right now. We’ve been very with the advocate, so that’s an open question that, until we resolve it, we can’t move forward. Second – let’s say that problem was resolved favorably – it’s still a major expenditure. It’s a good thing to invest in, but it’s a major expenditure. The problem is, you know, we are two weeks away now from the executive budget. A lot of things have to be resolved. We’re going to have to make a series of tough choices. In some cases, we’re going to be able to focus and prioritize some things. Other things will have to be phased in over time. You know, some things are going to move fast, some things are going to have to wait. That whole discussion will be laid out on May 8. But in the meantime, we have to understand better these federal funding dynamics.

Question: [inaudible]

Mayor: Please, yeah, the – look, I’ve felt this for a while. I’ve been asked about it many times, you can imagine. In the entire 2013 campaign this question came up many many times. I think with the force we have right now, we’re doing a great job. I give tremendous respect to the men and women of the NYPD and of course to Commissioner Bratton. They’re doing an extraordinary job. Crime remains low. And let me give them additional credit for continuing the healing process between police and community. So the resources we have now are getting the job done. And we’re in a structural deficit. So I am not in the business of adding to that deficit when I believe we can get the job done with the resources and personnel we have now. Thanks, everyone.