Candidates outline competing housing fixes: community housing fund, renter protections, ADUs

Housing dominated the early portion of the Daily Catch forum as both Democratic primary candidates proposed concrete, though different, approaches to affordability.

Amanda Miller described a "community housing fund" financed by a buyer-paid real-estate transfer tax: under the plan she cited at the forum, buyers (not current owners) would pay into the fund and qualifying residents could receive grants or loans covering up to 50% of a purchase price for homes priced up to roughly $816,000, subject to income limits and residency/work rules. Miller said the measure would help workers and residents who have lived locally in the last five years qualify to buy locally, and she also argued for working with developers to build homes at lower price points (she cited examples near $500,000).

Debbie Heck did not reject the idea outright but expressed skepticism that a Hampton's-style model would map easily to Rhinebeck; she favored immediate tenant protections, including "good cause" eviction and support for the REST Act (rent emergency stabilization for tenants) to fill gaps. Heck also supported promoting accessory dwelling units (ADUs) as a way to add small, lower-impact housing that does not create suburban sprawl.

The candidates also clashed on the occupancy (bed) tax: Miller said occupancy taxes should be focused on where the tourist beds are and argued that the revenue supports local businesses and town services; Heck underlined that a current bed tax is time-limited (three years) and is earmarked for a local bridge and village improvements but said the town should renegotiate how such revenues are collected and spent after that period.

Both candidates spoke to workforce and family supports: Miller emphasized expanding services for young children to retain families, and Heck emphasized conserving water resources and ensuring housing policy protects existing residents who may face rent spikes.

What voters heard: the forum presented a menu of policy options (transfer taxes, tenant protections, ADUs, occupancy taxes) with differing emphasis. Miller offered a pro-growth, developer-engagement approach paired with targeted subsidy; Heck prioritized renter protections, local environmental safeguards and cautious growth.

Next steps: Each proposal would require ordinance changes, public hearings, and (for any tax or transfer-fee) legal and administrative design; both candidates described follow-up steps (budgeting, studies and outreach) rather than final policy actions.