In response to Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie’s opening speech, Paulette Soltani, Political Director of VOCAL-NY and on behalf of the Housing Justice for All campaign, responded:
“Today Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie responded to what homeless New Yorkers and tenants have been saying for years: our state is in crisis and it’s time to end homelessness once and for all.
After years of inaction by the Governor–and years of unnecessary harm felt by New Yorkers living in shelters or on the streets–the Speaker’s message today signals a path forward to help over 92,000 New Yorkers get housing.
Guaranteeing a home for every New Yorker will take resources and we know where to find them: It’s time to tax billionaires and end wasteful subsidies to corporate landlords. We want to thank Speaker Heastie for his leadership and we look forward to working with our allies in the State Assembly to eliminate rent hikes and evictions, fully fund public housing, and finally end homelessness.”