We want to make sure you saw this op-ed in today’s News:

How we have to lower building costs in New York

By John Faso
The Daily News

New Yorkers are rightfully concerned about the cost of living. But New York’s elected leaders are missing a real opportunity to address the issue.

Everything is too expensive in New York, especially taxes and government mandates which stealthily raise the cost of living here.

Gov. Hochul mentions the “affordability crisis” and proposes a $500 “inflation rebate,” a bit of political moonshine which does nothing to lower costs.

One area where New York officials could immediately act would be to repeal an antiquated law — dating from 1885 — which arbitrarily raises the cost of insurance on construction projects. This law, known euphemistically as the “scaffold law”, increases the cost of construction by 5-7% in New York State.

This impact is due to state law and court decisions which impose a legal standard known as absolute liability when dealing with injuries which occur on construction sites. Every other state in the Union and the District of Columbia judge workplace injuries according to a comparative negligence standard.

Think about it. Every other jurisdiction in the United States evaluates construction accidents one way and New York does it another way. What could go wrong? Plenty.

Keep reading at NYDailyNews.com