AS YOU MAY REMEMBER, THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE FAILED TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON A COMPREHENSIVE HOUSING PLAN LAST YEAR - AND THAT ISSUE HAS BEEN A MAJOR STICKING POINT OF BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS WITH REAL ESTATE, LABOR AND TENANT INTERESTS ALL AT PLAY.

NOW ALL EYES ARE ON THE GOVERNOR AND DEMOCRATIC LEADERS TO SEE IF THE ISSUE WILL BE ADDRESSED IN THE ENACTED BUDGET.

AND WHILE DEMOCRATS TRY TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT, REPUBLICANS UNVEILED A HOUSING PROPOSAL OF THEIR OWN LAST WEEK.

OUR TEAM WAS ON THE GROUND AT THE CAPITOL TO LEARN MORE.

AT A PRESS CONFERENCE LED BY STATE SENATE MINORITY LEADER ROB ORTT, REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS BLASTED DEMOCRATS FOR THEIR APPROACH TO THE STATE'S HOUSING CRISIS.

THE PROBLEM IS WE HAVE NOT HEARD REAL SOLUTIONS TO THIS CRISIS.

WHAT WE'VE HEARD -- WE'VE ACTUALLY HEARD, BESIDES SORT OF POLITICAL DOUBLESPEAK FROM THE DEMOCRATS AND FROM GOVERNOR HOCHUL, WHAT WE'VE HEARD ARE THINGS THAT WOULD ACTUALLY DOUBLE DOWN ON WHILE WE'RE IN THIS CRISIS TO BEGIN WITH.

AMID ONGOING NEGOTIATIONS, THE DEMOCRATS AND THE LEGISLATURE HAVE CONTINUED TO AFFIRM THEIR POSITION ON THE NEED FOR TENANT PROTECTIONS.

THE HOUSING DEAL, AS WE'VE ALWAYS INDICATED, MUST BE HOLISTIC AND MUST INCLUDE TENANT PROTECTIONS AND ALIGNED WITH THE PRINCIPLES OF GOOD CAUSE.

AND I DO BELIEVE, AGAIN, WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME PLANET.

WE'RE ALL WORKING TOWARDS TRYING TO GET THAT GRAND PLAN THAT WILL NOT ONLY ADDRESS AFFORDABILITY BUT ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF SUPPLY AS WELL AS THE NEEDS OF TENANT PROTECTIONS.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE, REPUBLICANS ARGUED FOCUSING ON TENANT PROTECTIONS WOULD ONLY WORSEN THE STATE'S HOUSING CRISIS.

THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT MINDSET.

THEY'RE TRYING TO PUSH WITH GOOD CAUSE EVICTION.

TENANCY FOR LIFE.

IT WOULD ABSOLUTELY COLLAPSE THE RENTAL MARKET IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

THIS PROPOSAL IS A REAL ANSWER AND A REAL SOLUTION.

THE REPUBLICAN PROPOSAL INCLUDED PLANS TO MAKE SQUATTING A CRIME, CREATE A FIRST-TIME HOME BUYER TAX CREDIT, PROVIDE MEANS TESTING FOR RENT-REGULATED HOUSING AND MORE.

REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR PAMELA HELMING, A RANKING MEMBER OF THE HOUSING COMMITTEE, TOLD THE REPORTERS THE CONFERENCE IS URGING DEMOCRATS TO WORK IN A BIPARTISAN WAY TO HELP FIX THE STATE'S HOUSING CRISIS, WHILE ALSO ASSERTING THE REPUBLICAN PROPOSAL WOULD BE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT GOOD CAUSE EVICTION, I THINK WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES, HOW MANY NEW HOUSING UNITS IS THAT GOING TO BRING TO THE TABLE?

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE ALTERNATIVE PLAN THAT, AGAIN, WILL CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR TENANTS, MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROPERTY OWNERS, MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN FINDING HOUSING THAT'S MORE AFFORDABLE.

ON A TAX INCENTIVE PROGRAM, DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE SAID THEY WERE OPEN TO FURTHER DISCUSSION ON EXTENDING THE 421-A PROGRAM IN THEIR ONE HOUSE BUDGET PROPOSAL.

AND REPUBLICANS SEEM TO AGREE.

THE LAWMAKERS INCLUDED AN EXPANSION TO THE PROGRAM IN THEIR HOUSING PROPOSAL.

SO, YES, THERE IS A HOUSING CRISIS.

AND WHILE WE WORK ON THAT CRISIS, AND WHILE WE WORK WITH DEVELOPERS TO BUILD THE HOUSING THAT IS NECESSARY TO GET OUT OF THAT CRISIS, SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO TAKE YEARS, EVEN IF WE WERE TO PUT A SHOVEL IN THE GROUND TODAY.

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