Hochul And Mamdani Collaborate On Increasing Housing Across New York

BROOKLYN, NY — Gov. Kathy Hochul stood alongside city leaders, housing advocates, and labor representatives and delivered a blunt message: New York must build again, and faster.

Speaking at a “Let Them Build” event at the Major R. Owens Health and Wellness Community Center at 1561 Bedford Ave, Hochul said excessive red tape and duplicative environmental reviews have slowed housing, childcare centers and infrastructure projects for years, driving up costs and deepening the state’s affordability crisis.

“Somewhere along the way, we got married, buried by bureaucracy,” Hochul said.

Housing Crisis Framed As Failure Of Delay

Hochul said New Yorkers are paying the price for stalled construction, with working families facing higher rents and fewer housing options.

She called the housing shortage the predictable result of a system that discourages building even when projects are widely supported.

“Because homes are too scarce, prices are too high,” Hochul said.

State officials estimate that it takes 56% longer to build a project in New York than in other states. Hochul said regulatory delays add roughly $82,000 to the cost of building a single apartment unit, costs that ultimately show up in rent.

Governor Targets Environmental Review Process

Hochul traced the problem to state environmental review laws enacted more than 50 years ago, when air and water pollution went largely unregulated.

She said those protections remain essential but argued that the review process has become duplicative, forcing projects that already meet environmental standards to repeat years of analysis.

“You literally do it over twice,” Hochul said.

The result, she said, is years of delay that discourage developers and stall projects communities want, from housing to parks to childcare centers.

Proposal Would Speed Projects With Local Support

Under Hochul’s plan, projects that already comply with state and local environmental regulations and have community approval would be allowed to move forward without redundant reviews.

In New York City, the changes could allow construction of up to 250 housing units citywide — and up to 500 units in medium- and high-density areas — without triggering the full review process.

“We are not rolling back environmental protections,” Hochul said. “We’re not saying anything goes.”

Instead, she said, the state would step aside when communities have already said yes.

State And Local Leaders Line Up Behind Plan

Hochul pointed to rare alignment among mayors, borough presidents, and local governments across the state.

She said associations representing cities, towns, villages, and counties are backing the effort and asking Albany to cut red tape and give local governments tools to build.

“Give us the tools, cut the red tape, and let us get to work,” Hochul said, summarizing the message she said she has heard from local leaders.

Mayor Mamdani Said Delays Are Costing The City

After Hochul’s remarks, she introduced Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who said New York City’s environmental review process alone can take as long as two years — before construction even begins.

“That’s not two years to lay the foundation or install the elevators,” Mamdani said. “That’s two years just to get through the environmental review.”

He said the slow pace is pushing residents out of the city, hurting businesses, and weakening the city’s economy.

“When people can’t afford a place to live, they can’t imagine a future in their city,” Mamdani said.

City Review Process Could Be Cut By 75%

Mamdani said reforms to the City Environmental Quality Review process could reduce review times by as much as 75% while maintaining environmental protections.

He said the changes would allow the city to protect the environment while making the process faster and easier to navigate.

“New York City is ready to build,” Mamdani said.

Hochul Casts Push As Continuation Of Prior Efforts

Hochul said the proposal builds on a major housing deal passed four years ago, which she said preserved 71,000 homes, unlocked 80,000 new units and opened the door to 350,000 homes statewide.