Governor’s ‘Let Them Build Agenda’ deserves support | Guest Opinion

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Introduced in the 2026-2027 Executive Budget Proposal, Governor Kathy Hochul‘s “Let Them Build Agenda” will encourage and spur much-needed commercial development across New York State, especially critically needed new housing, and it deserves widespread support.

One of the tenants of the agenda are proposed reforms to the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), New York State’s long-established law requiring various government agencies to assess the environmental impacts of projects before approving them.

Although well-intended, too many projects have died on the proverbial vine as a result of unnecessary and illogical red tape that ultimately have been roadblocked by state agencies and other bureaucratic processes. In fact, the Governor’s office estimates that the approval process can take up to two and half years before a project receives final approval.

SEQRA applies to almost every development project in the state, including housing, infrastructure, and other commercial projects. According to the New York City Citizens Budget Commission (CBC), a nonpartisan, nonprofit civic think tank, for every year that a project is delayed under the environmental review process, a 5% cost increase is added.

Another analysis by Empire State Development found that manufacturing, housing, and energy projects can take as much as 56 percent longer in New York State to get from concept to groundbreaking compared to peer states.

The Governor’s SEQR reform proposal does not claw back regulations under SEQRA; projects will still need to comply with local zoning, water and sewer regulations, air quality permitting, and other safeguards.

For commercial development, these reforms will be equally important for infrastructure projects. Infrastructure readiness will keep New York State competitive and eliminate the threat of economic leakage of losing projects to surrounding states.

New York State must adapt and become more business-friendly, and the Governor is sending this message while protecting the environment.

SEQRA reforms will have a positive ripple effect in other sectors in addition to housing and commercial real estate development.

Working in tandem with Governor Hochul’s universal childcare agenda, SEQRA revisions will include the accelerated development of childcare facilities. Creating more space in local communities will help the state reach its goal of implementing universal childcare. Parents should not have to choose between having a career versus having to stay at home and raise their children because of the high cost of childcare.

New home construction and development projects will create more jobs in the construction and skilled trades sectors.

Putting more residents in stable, reliable residential units will help alleviate the workforce shortage across all sectors of the economy.

We applaud the Governor’s ambition to reestablish New York as a business-friendly state where individuals, families, and businesses can affordably live.

Melissa Brinson is President of the Upstate Chapter and Mark D. Jackson is Government Affairs Co-chair of the New York City Metro Chapter of the national Commercial Real Estate Development Association (NAIOP).