The governor has come to the defense of long-suffering New York City renters, announcing her support for a law passed by the City Council in November that will prevent New Yorkers from paying broker fees against their will.
On Wednesday morning, Council Member Chi Ossé, sponsor of the Fairness in Apartment Rentals Act, released a video featuring Governor Kathy Hochul giving her fulsome support of the act, while calling on the court to rule against the real estate lobby's lawsuit to squash it.
"I know what state law says and it does not interfere with Chi Ossé's FARE Act," Hochul declares. "The court should rule in favor of the City and these broker fees should end forever starting in June."
The Real estate lobby is suing to stop the FARE Act, but State law is on our side w/ @GovKathyHochul. pic.twitter.com/0sltzl5R7X
— Chi Ossé (@OsseChi) April 2, 2025
Days after the FARE Act was passed, the Real Estate Board of New York sued the City, putting the future of the FARE Act, which was originally slated to go into effect mid-June, in some doubt. On Saturday, New York Attorney General Letitia James backed up the City in the lawsuit, filing a brief saying the state doesn’t agree with the lawsuit's assertion that the FARE Act runs afoul of state law.
This leaves the real estate lobby's long-shot lawsuit pretty much dead in the water, legal experts told Hell Gate.
"The whole lawsuit is baloney, it's a lottery ticket,” said NYU public law professor Roderick M. Hills.