By Dan Murphy
Yonkers Assemblyman Nader Sayegh spoke out against a proposed law that would require towns and cities like Yonkers give homeowners the option to add Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) to their homes in areas that are zoned only for single-family homes. ADUs are additional apartments built into existing one-family homes that can be constructed in converted basements, garages or attics, or they can be a separate smaller structure adjacent to the main residence.
The law was originally to be included in the state budget, ensuring its passage, until Sayegh and others spoke out against it, explaining that if passed the measure would harm the character and property values of single-family home neighborhoods in Yonkers and throughout the state, while requiring local communities to change their zoning laws to allow accessory dwelling units.
“I will fight this legislation to protect the financial investment Yonkers residents have made in their homes and to preserve housing choice for people who want to live in a single-family home neighborhood,” said Assemblyman Sayegh. “I cannot support legislation that effectively ends single family home ownership rights and costs New York homeowners untold millions of dollars in losses as the value of their properties goes down, and they would.”
Sayegh says the legislation also removes local government control of zoning near train stations, saying they must allow apartment buildings in those neighborhoods. The legislation is sponsored in the State Senate by Peter Harckham who represents parts of Westchester and Putnum Counties, and in the Assembly by Harvey Epstein, who represents the west side of Manhattan.
After the opposition, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s decided to remove accessory dwelling units (ADU) legislation from her Executive Budget for 2023.
Assemblymember Sayegh has also spoken out against Con Edison’s outrageous rate increases and proposal for another 17% rate hike. “The complaints are pouring in and they are completely justified. Consolidated Edison (ConEd) is required to forecast and plan ahead to avoid wild swings in consumer bills, when they are warned in advance that energy prices are spiking. They were warned, and they did a terrible job following that requirement.In Yonkers, January bills were up an average of 58% from the previous bill for typical energy usage.”
Many of the members of the NYS Legislature, including myself, “believe we can do what the Department of Public Service will not, pressure the state’s utilities to stop using consumers as an open wallet for executive pay and share holder benefits. I encourage you to file a complaint about the utilities billing practices,” said Sayegh.
Finally, Sayegh, a former President of the Yonkers Board of Education, called on Governor Hochul to end of the mask mandate for students. “The Omicron wave peaked on January 7 and it was prudent then to slow the return to classrooms and require masks when classes resumed.Now, we’ve had a 97% drop in cases in New York. There is no reason in the Science to wait until after the mid-Winter break in classes to lift the mask mandate in schools. I am calling on Governor Kathy Hochul to end the mask mandate today.With over two years of experience with COVID-19, our local public health and school officials, teachers and parents are more than capable of managing the response to any future outbreak in their community.Meanwhile, I continue to support the Governor’s efforts to encourage parents to have their children vaccinated and will continue to advocate for this in Yonkers and New York State as this is the best way to protect the health of our children and grandchildren.Furthermore, now is the time to end vaccination mandates. Shortages of health care workers and other worthy professionals resulting from such mandates pose a greater risk to our health and safety,” said Sayegh, who attended an Unmask Our Kids Rally in Downtown Yonkers last week.
