NY Senate Passes Building, Safety Code Enforcement Legislation

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — The New York State Senate has passed legislation to address systemic code enforcement failures across the state. The bills are based on a report about problems that singled out four communities in the Hudson Valley: Newburgh, Ramapo, Mount Vernon and Albany for their different problems.

The investigation headed by state Sen. James Skoufis (Orange, Rockland) found failure to prioritize building and fire safety code enforcement that created dangerous environments for residents and first responders, like the illegal apartments that led to firefighter fatalities in the Bronx in 2005. SEE: New Report Shows NY Code Enforcement 'Hellscape.'

"Bad actors are preying on vulnerable populations, and the current system is failing to stop their reckless behavior," the report summarized.

Skoufis said he considers the Town of Ramapo in Rockland County the "worst offender" because its disregard for code enforcement is deliberate. SEE: Firefighters, Officials Call for State to Intervene in Ramapo, Spring Valley Code Enforcement

The report held up one Hudson Valley program up as a model for the state: Rockland's Code Initiative.

"On behalf of the Rockland County Illegal Housing Task force, we are so thankful for Senator James Skoufis," said Rabbi Justin Schwartz, chairman of the task force. "He kept his word by making code enforcement a priority and forcing the entire Legislature to look at this issue for the first time with the seriousness that it requires. These bills will help save both first responders and residents alike. By taking this action, the deaths of New York firefighters from the 'Black Sunday' tragedy won't be in vain. Finally, we are going to be able to get municipalities to do what they're supposed to."

But lawmakers still need to give counties the power to step in when municipalities fail to enforce the laws, said Rockland County Executive Ed Day.

"This package of legislation is a step in the right direction towards protecting the health and safety of residents in Rockland and across New York State," Day told Patch. "We are thankful to Senator James Skoufis, who closely studied many of the actions we have taken locally through our Rockland Codes Initiative (RCI) and Rental Registry programs in the Rockland County Department of Health when writing the New York State Senate’s Committee on Investigations and Government Operations Report which led to much of this legislation.

"Rockland County has led the way on these issues, and we are pleased that Senator Skoufis has seen fit to replicate them on the state level. However, there is a critical piece of legislation missing from this package, that which would allow county intervention on unenforced code violations when local municipalities have failed in their duty. Senate Bill S7300A, which is sponsored by Senator Skoufis, does just that and we urge the State Senate and Assembly to vote on its passage immediately."

The package of bills is a good start, Skoufis said.

"When I started chairing the investigations committee, I was very clear about my goal to ensure that we produce substantive investigations that will have an actual impact on New Yorkers," Skoufis said. "The passage of this legislation is a demonstration of just that. I look forward to continuing to produce robust, meaningful reports that benefit the people of this state.”

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