ALBANY, NY (Erie News Now)--WITHIN GOV. Kathy Hochul's $233 BILLION BUDGET PLAN, SHE AIMS TO GIVE LOCAL COMMUNITIES MORE CONTROL OVER HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.  

“When I presented a transformative housing plan last year, a lot of the members of the legislature said they wouldn’t support it. Others said they wanted local control for housing decisions. Okay, let’s put that to the test,” said Hochul. 

GOV. HOCHUL IS PROPOSING $650 MILLION FOR DESIGNATED “PRO-HOUSING” COMMUNITIES TO ACCESS.  SHE ALSO PROPOSES $500 MILLION TO DEVELOP HOUSING FROM STATE OWNED PROPERTY AND CONTINUING A $25 BILLION FIVE-YEAR PLAN INTENDING TO PRESERVE AND CREATE 100,000 HOMES. 

SOME REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS SAID WHILE THEY ARE NOT SURE SPENDING MORE MONEY IS THE SOLUTION, THEY SEE THE GOVERNOR HAVING MORE SUPPORT ON HER HOUSING PROPOSALS THIS YEAR THAN SHE HAS IN YEARS PRIOR.  

“I’m open to ideas, it’s certainly an issue. Affordable housing is an issue in the state so just like any other issue she brought up, it’s accurate to bring it up being a problem,” said Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay (R-Assembly District 120).

SOME DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS SAid THEY SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR’S PROPOSALS FOR HOUSING GROWTH AND INCENTIVES BUT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE SUPPORT FOR TENANT PROTECTIONS.  

“You want a housing deal, there’s got to be something in it for developers, and tenants and laborers alike for the Assembly to agree,” said Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Assembly District 83).

THE LEGISLATURE IS NOW TASKED WITH COMING UP WITH THEIR OWN BUDGET PROPOSALS.

THEY START BUDGET HEARINGS NEXT WEEK.