1. United States
2. N.Y.
3. Letter

I am writing as a constituent to ask for your help on the NYC Council’s passage of the Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA) on October 22. COPA gives government-approved nonprofits and joint ventures a first chance to buy certain buildings and the right to match other offers. It also adds months of required waiting to a private sale. I believe this will hurt the housing market. Owners and lenders will face more uncertainty, buyers will have less reason to bid on affected properties, and owners will have less reason to invest in buildings that may fall under the law. Housing in New York is already scarce and expensive, and I fear this makes it worse. I also believe COPA raises serious constitutional questions. It restricts an owner’s ability to sell his or her property on the open market, and it favors designated buyers in a private transaction. The city’s own lawyers raised constitutional concerns about an earlier version, and I do not think the revisions fully resolve them. These questions should be answered by the State and the courts before the law takes effect, not after owners have been harmed. I respectfully ask that you: 1 Say publicly whether you support or oppose COPA. 2 Support legislation in the next session to preempt or repeal it, or at minimum hold oversight hearings on its effect on housing supply and property rights. 3 Urge the Governor to engage with the Legislature on this before the law takes effect. COPA reaches well beyond New York City. What the State allows here will set a precedent for housing policy across New York. Its evil and wrong Thank you