The City Council plans to pass a bill establishing the most ambitious city-level policy to limit carbon emissions ever enacted by a U.S. municipality. The bill has received a fair amount of opposition.
“I’m kinda angry as a coop owner,” Count Anthony Gigantiello said.
Gigantiello lives in the North Queensview Homes, and has been a resident since 1990—he’s also the president of the owners association. He worries that legislation before the City Council will end up costing each owner between $500 and $1,000 a year.
“This is a middle income coop we have people on fixed incomes here,” Gigantiello said.
The Green Buildings Bill has plans to reduce carbon emissions by 40 percent in every building in the city that is 25,000 square feet or larger. Commercial and residential buildings that fail to become more energy efficient will face penalties.
“This bill, when it passes, will be the largest emissions reduction in the history of New York City,” said the bill’s sponsor, City Council member Costa Constantinides.
Opponents counter that the bill unfairly exempts hospitals, houses of worship and developments with affordable housing by providing them with ways to avoid fines.
“A lot is wrong with this bill, from my point of view,” said Council of New York Cooperative and Condominiums Executive Director Mary Ann Rothman. “It puts on the backs of coops and condos the responsibility that the city should share as a whole.”
“It’s gonna cost us a lot of money and it’s not fair,” Gigantiello said.
Mayor Bill de Blasio has said he supports the bill. Fines would start being implemented in 2024.
