County Executive Day Vows to Stand Firm Against NYS's Attempt to Bypass Residential Zoning Laws

County Executive Ed Day voiced his uncompromising opposition to the Faith-Based Affordable Housing Act introduced by New York State Senator Andrew Gounardes. If passed, the proposal will allow affordable housing developments on residential land.

While not denying that Rockland County faces housing challenges, Day's opposition to Governor Kathy Hochul's support of the legislation is that it undermines home rule by allowing affordable housing development to bypass local zoning regulations, denying the unique needs best understood by each community's municipality.

"It would be refreshing," says Day, "given that the Governor swore an oath to take her office, that she and her allies actually stop her repeated attempts to compromise it as she has done here with the proposed Faith-Based Affordable Housing Act that I believe runs afoul of the New York State Constitution. I vow to stand against any plan that undermines home rule regulations and municipal zoning ordinances. My Administration will also keep all our options open in order to stop this plan in its tracks."