Governor Kathy Hochul / March 20, 2026
Ask anyone and they’ll tell you that housing is too expensive in New York. Rents are too high. Homes are too scarce. There’s only one solution to this crisis: Building more of the homes and critical infrastructure that New Yorkers need.
Here in New York, it takes more than 50% longer for projects to get built compared to other states.
When I asked my team why New York is so far behind, I learned that we create years of delay, thousands of dollars in extra costs, and a huge disincentive to build — all because our 50-year-old State Environmental laws can create needless red tape and excessive reviews for projects that don’t have any significant environmental impact.
I believe in taking on the status quo and asking why things are done the way they are. If the answer is: “We’ve always done it that way,” I say: “Wrong answer.”
When it comes to getting things built in New York, it’s clear: the status quo isn’t working and New Yorkers can’t afford for us to wait any longer.
So in my State of the State, I announced that if a community says YES to housing, to critical water infrastructure projects, to parks and child care centers, then we’re going to say: Let Them Build.
What does that mean?
Shorter timelines. We’ll speed up environmental reviews for eligible housing and critical infrastructure projects, without compromising local zoning or critical environmental protections.
Lower costs. We’ll cut unnecessary red-tape that costs time and money, getting development moving, workers on the job, and families in homes they can actually afford.
More housing. We’ll make it easier for communities to build the housing they need, so more homes can get built and housing becomes more affordable.
When communities want to move forward with responsible projects that won’t harm the environment, Albany shouldn’t be the reason they stall. If local leaders want to deliver new investments for their communities, we’re going to cut red tape and let them build.
And in communities like New Rochelle, we’re already seeing what’s possible. Since 2020, New Rochelle has built 4,500 new homes — market-rate, mixed-income, and affordable — and has seen average rents go down in recent years. That’s not an accident. That’s what happens when government clears the path instead of putting up barriers.
New York has always been a place of boundless ambition — from the Erie Canal to the Empire State Building. We built the projects that defined America. Now, we need to build the housing and infrastructure that will define our future.
And I won’t stop fighting until we get it done.
Ever Upward,
Gov. Kathy Hochul
