Council member urges quick passage of REST Act; downtown revitalization public workshops scheduled
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Summary
Councilmember Menace said the state REST Act could let Poughkeepsie expand rent stabilization without another vacancy study and urged residents to contact state legislators; he also reminded the public of June 9 Downtown Revitalization Initiative workshops for $10 million in state funds.
Councilmember Menace told the Poughkeepsie Common Council on June 3 that the state Rent Emergency Stabilization for Tenants (REST) Act would allow the city to expand rent stabilization without conducting another vacancy study, saving the city time and money and enabling immediate tenant protections.
Menace said the council previously passed a memorializing resolution in support of the REST Act and that he travelled to Albany for a press conference pushing the bill’s sponsors. He said the city had spent “tens of thousands of dollars” and legal time on prior vacancy studies and related court challenges from landlord groups and that the REST Act would let the city “opt in” without repeating that process. Menace asked residents to call or email State Senator Rob Rolison and Assemblymember Jonathan Jacobson to urge support; he said as of his last check neither had signed on but that the bill was gaining additional sponsors.
Menace also updated the public on the Downtown Revitalization Initiative, a $10 million state economic development grant awarded to the city. He said public workshops would be held June 9 at the Academy on Academy Street (2–4 p.m. and 5–7 p.m.) to collect public input on how to allocate the funds. Menace praised city staff and the city administrator for running the DRI process and said meetings will be recorded and livestreamed.
Menace tied the housing and economic work to broader anti-displacement goals: keeping people in their homes reduces homelessness and complements downtown investments he described as part of a coordinated strategy involving zoning, a new business improvement district and planned investments. He asked residents to contact state legislators before the session ended in about a week to help secure REST Act passage.
No formal council vote on the REST Act occurred at the June 3 meeting; Menace’s remarks were an appeal to constituents and a summary of actions the council had already taken in support of the bill.