Fight Pataki’s Housing Vetoes!
On April 27, Governor George Pataki vetoed dozens of items in the state budget, immediately prior to leaving on a trip to Israel. The money he vetoed includes:
- Nearly $7 million for Legal Services and Legal Aid offices, which represent poor people in housing, benefits, and other cases.
- Over $250,000 for the Citywide Task Force on Housing Court, an organization vital to tenants without lawyers who go to Housing Court in eviction cases.
- Close to $2 million for housing the homeless.
- $1 million for the Neighborhood and Rural Preservation programs for the development of affordable housing.
This year, the Senate and Assembly leaders engaged in open negotiations to pass a budget within Pataki’s pre-announced spending limit, but did not allow the governor to control the process as in past years. In retaliation, he vetoed many items proposed by legislative leaders Sheldon Silver and Joseph Bruno. This has angered them so much that many advocates feel that Pataki might have to face a veto override vote, or will have to negotiate on the vetoed items in order to get any other legislation that he wants this year.
Because there will be negotiations, targeted lobbying now will make a difference. Please call or fax the governor, the legislative leaders, and your own state representatives.
Governor George Pataki
Albany Phone (518) 474-8390, (518) 474-7516
Albany Fax (518) 474-3767
NYC Phone (212) 681-4580Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver
Albany Phone (518) 455-3791,
Fax (518) 455-5459
NYC Phone (212) 385-6611,
Fax (212) 385-6619Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno
Albany Phone (518) 455-3191,
Fax (518) 455-2448