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REMARKS
Council Member Chi Ossé speaks in support of the FARE Act (Intro 360-A)
0:23:18
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98 sec
Council Member Chi Ossé delivers remarks in support of Intro 360-A, known as the FARE Act, which aims to reform broker fees in rental transactions. He emphasizes the bill's importance in addressing the housing crisis and bringing fairness to apartment rental expenses.
- The FARE Act requires that whoever hires a broker in a rental transaction pays the broker fee, whether it's the landlord or tenant.
- Ossé highlights the negative impacts of forced broker fees on families, workers, and potential residents of New York City.
- He thanks various individuals and groups involved in creating and supporting the legislation, including Speaker Adams, advocacy groups, and his staff.
Chi Ossé
0:23:18
Thank you, majority leader.
0:23:19
I would like to speak about intro 360 a or the Fair Act.
0:23:23
Today is the culmination of over a year and a half of work.
0:23:27
My team and I collaborated with renters, council members, lawyers, workers, brokers, and so many more individuals and groups to create this piece of legislation.
0:23:36
We've built a coalition spanning the 5 boroughs who recognize the gravity of the housing crisis we face and are committed to finally bringing fairness to apartment rental expenses.
0:23:45
The Fair Act is simple.
0:23:46
It requires that whoever hires a broker in a rental transaction, whether landlord or tenant, pays the broker fee.
0:23:52
In too many millions of cases across our city and decades of history, tenants have been forced to hand over 1,000 of dollars in fees to brokers they never hired nor wanted.
0:24:02
The harm of this practice cannot be overstated.
0:24:05
Families seeking to grow forego having children because they can't afford to move into a larger place.
0:24:10
Children aging out of their parents' homes are pushed into different neighborhoods or even cities because they can't afford to rent an apartment in their own community.
0:24:17
Workers are unable to live near their jobs.
0:24:19
Victims are unable to leave domestic abuse.
0:24:21
People are unable to bring their talent and drive to our amazing city because of forced broker fees.
0:24:26
Today, we end that cruel and archaic practice.
0:24:29
I wanna thank speaker Adams as well as advocacy groups, unions, my colleagues, and everyone else who got us to this moment.
0:24:36
Of course, Sarah Swain, legislative counsel.
0:24:39
Natalie Meltzer, policy analyst.
0:24:41
Rachel Cordero.
0:24:43
And in addition to that, today is a win for the people of New York as we make official what has long been common sense.
0:24:50
You get what you pay for, and you pay for what you get.
0:24:52
I urge all my colleagues to vote yes on this bill.