Elected officials on both sides of the political aisle protested Thursday against Gov. Kathy Hochul's plan to allow rentals in single-family homes.
The governor announced the proposal in her State of the State address. It would require municipalities to allow a minimum of one accessory dwelling unit per home.
Under the proposal, a unit could be constructed within an existing single-family home such as in a basement, attic, shed or garage. The units could be rented, but not be sold separately from the house.
Rep. Tom Suozzi, a Democrat running for governor, is criticizing the plan.
"This is a dangerous idea which will result in commercial landlords bringing up properties and trying to pack people into neighborhoods," Suozzi says. "It will leave an effect on parking, sewage, garbage."
Republicans like Huntington Town Supervisor Ed Smyth are also against the proposal, saying that they have the most pervasive accessory laws in the town.
"We don't need Albany telling us how to do this," Smyth says.
Some Long Islanders say this would ruin suburban life, but others believe it will help the affordable housing crisis.
"More people would be able to live on Long Island," says Tom Nasti of Hicksville. "It's very difficult, my kids moved out, went to college and they are gone."
Hochul says New York would also invest $25 billion to create and preserve 100,000 affordable homes over a five-year span.