That's why he supports repealing the Urstadt Law, so that New York City, not upstate, has control over our housing policy. It's also why Daniel will fight to implement a combination of powerful incentives, serious investment, and tough regulations - to ensure that new affordable units are built, for both rental and ownership. Daniel also believes that we must rationalize the system of rent regulation, not kill it softly. That's why, as the first step of comprehensive neighborhood preservation, he supports repealing vacancy decontrol and ensuring that units currently under other affordability programs are preserved. He will also push to catalogue the current status of units across the city and assess their overall effect on the market.

These steps are necessary, but not sufficient long-term solutions. Today's mishmash of programs - many expiring, others seriously flawed, and none with sufficient tracking - is not the long-term answer. For our city's long-term health, immediate reforms must lead to a predictable and comprehensive strategy for affordability and smart growth for the decades to come.