Not long after Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan met with Gov. Andrew Cuomo Wednesday, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie had his turn in the governor’s office.
Like Flanagan, Heastie didn’t provide bountiful clues about if deals on top issues are near. But he was blunt about one thing: Session won’t end Wednesday.
“I think we’re going to be here tomorrow no matter what happens today,” Heastie said. “Even in the best of circumstances, I think we’ll be here tomorrow.”
The most pressing logjam to clear continues to be New York City’s rent laws. Heastie called a short-term extender (Assemblyman Keith Wright is proposing to extend the laws until February) a last resort.
“That will probably be looked upon as a last resort to at least try to give some comfort back to people not sure what’s going to happen with their homes,” he said. “We’re talking about 2 million people, but we’re still working on trying to get something done.”
Flanagan maintained that the Senate feels an eight-year extender of the rent laws is the best option, something Heastie and Assembly Democrats have said is unacceptable.
“He has to stake out his negotiating position, and I’m not going to fault him for that,” Heastie said of Flanagan.
Heastie said he believes the governor is trying to be helpful and get somewhere on rent.
There are other issues out there, of course. Heastie was asked about if the raise the age initiative could get done.
“All I know is today is June 17, so the calendar just says dot dot dot,” he said.
The Capitol Confidential team: