The New York State Environmental Quality Review Act — SEQRA — just turned 50. And it’s not aging well. As the state remains mired in a serious housing crisis, SEQRA is a primary culprit. The law’s noble underpinnings are designed to protect the environment and public health by avoiding hasty decision-making. But over the past half century, SEQRA has aged into a creaky, middle-aged arthritic. It has become abused by overuse and now stands in the way of progress. It’s holding us back and a checkup is overdue.   

Government incentives have led to some momentum on housing, but the situation in suburbs like Westchester remains critical as new construction hasn’t kept pace with demand. A 2025 joint study by the Regional Plan Association and the Westchester County Association warns of a county-wide shortfall of tens of thousands of homes over the next decade.  Rents are rising, vacancy rates have fallen below 2% and the consequences are severe: without more housing, tens of thousands of jobs and more than........

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