CM Nurse’s community housing bill fails in Council

Councilmember Sandy Nurse, State Sen. Zellnor Myrie, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Assemblymember Maritza Davila attend a rally in 2025. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann

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CIVIC CENTER – CITY COUNCILMEMBER SANDY Nurse’s Community Opportunity to Purchase Act will not become city law, after a veto by former Mayor Eric Adams, reports Gothamist. Although the bill passed through the Council, it did not have enough support to override the veto, despite efforts by new Mayor Zohran Mamdani to sway councilmembers. New Council Speaker Julie Menin said she would only hold override votes on legislation that had already garnered the necessary support.

Mamdani has been strongly in favor of the act, which would give nonprofit organizations and certain developers the right of first purchase for some distressed apartment buildings. Nurse said she would be reintroducing the bill this year.

Backers have said COPA would help preserve affordable housing, although opponents, including many within the real estate industry, have argued that it would have a chilling effect on investment.

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