I am proud to share that my administration alongside the Rockland County Legislature established a new law called the Home Rule Autonomy in Housing Act, a local law instituting restrictions on outside municipalities in regard to housing programs.
Back in May, the County of Rockland declared a State of Emergency in response to the City of New York planning on housing about 340 adult males in Armoni Inn and Suites in Orangeburg. The State of Emergency prohibited municipalities from bringing and housing people in the County and this new law now codifies that protection.
New York is a home rule state and New York City, has no authority in this County. This new law formalizes and prevents outside jurisdictions from unilaterally deciding to establish or operate shelters or housing programs in Rockland. My administration felt this law was necessary to protect this County from other municipalities attempting to force their own policies, costs, and responsibilities on Rockland residents and I want to thank County Attorney Thomas Humbach for his tireless effort in crafting this law for our administration.
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The local law states that no municipality or property owner in Rockland County may participate in or establish a housing program without a license issued by the County of Rockland. Rather, this important tool will ensure our taxpayers are protected.
Violation of this law is a misdemeanor carrying up to $1,000 penalty per day and/or up to one year of incarceration. For municipal corporations, a civil penalty may be assessed for violations of this Article up to $50,000 per violation, per day.
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This County already has a housing crisis so extreme that Rockland has been unprecedently deputized by the State of New York to take over Building and Fire Code enforcement in the Village of Spring Valley.
Lifeboats are a great tool to rescue people, but a lifeboat can only rescue so many. If you put too many people into one eventually it’s going to capsize, which is exactly what has been happening in the City of New York. It is my duty to protect the general welfare of anyone in the County or coming to the County both long term and short term and this new law ensures that.
