Hoylman Defends Pied-á-Terre Tax Resolution on CNBC
State Senator Brad Hoylman (D-Chelsea, Midtown) appeared on CNBC’s morning news show “Squawk Box” to defend the bill he’s sponsoring that would instate a pied-á-terre tax in New York.
Under the new law, the City would impose an additional tax on “pied-á-terre”, or temporary, homes that are worth $5 million or more. Squawk Box Anchor Joe Kernen argued that such a bill would cause New Yorkers affected by the tax to move out, but Hoylman maintained that their departure would be a necessary sacrifice for the greater good.
“There are always consequences to public policy, and as a responsible legislator, I know that… we have to moderate and understand what those are,” said Hoylman. “But we’re talking about Real Estate that’s valued at five million dollars or more; we’re talking about a handful of people, five thousand people is the estimate, who are going to be impacted by this tax. We’re also looking at four nationals – Russians, Chinese, Saudis – who purchase property in New York for the very reason that they’re using these apartments as security deposits in the sky. This is a real estate proposition that should have a premium on it.”
Kallos, Maloney to Hold Rally Against Anti-Semitism
City Councilman Ben Kallos (D-Yorkville, Lenox Hill) and Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-Upper East Side) will be leading a rally against anti-Semitism this Sunday.
The rally was scheduled in the wake of an anti-Semitic attack at the Asphalt Green recreation center, in which swastikas were painted on the walls of a family locker room.
The rally is slated for Sunday, Mar. 17 at 2 p.m. in front of Asphalt Green at 1750 York Ave.
Gottfried Endorses “Meatless Mondays”
Assemblymember Richard Gottfried (D-Chelsea, Midtown) released a statement yesterday signifying his approval of New York public schools adopting “meatless Mondays”.
Yesterday, Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) announced that at the beginning of the next school year, all New York public school cafeterias will have “meatless Mondays”, offering all-vegetarian breakfasts and lunches. Gottfried called it a capital idea, both from a nutritional and from an environmental standpoint.
“Plant-based diets are healthy and also good for the environment,” said Gottfried. “From child development to chronic disease management, diet and nutrition play a central role in health care. I commend Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza for their leadership on this issue.”
