Lobby Day 2024—Our Time to Shine

Happy New Year! I hope you had a restful and happy holiday. Now, with the holidays behind us and dozens of New Year’s resolutions still to be abandoned, it’s time to get back to work.

2024 is going to be a transformative year for everyone—especially for Realtors. The question we all need to ask ourselves is if we will be transformed by others or will we choose to craft our own definition for ourselves and our communities. Specifically, we need to show our political leaders, our clients and the general public what it means to be a Realtor. If we decide to take that narrative, then we have a lot of good trouble to make. The good news is that 2024 will provide nothing but opportunities for each and every HGAR member.

So, let’s get to work! NYSAR Lobby Day is early this year! Due to scheduling issues and the availability of New York State Senators and Assemblymembers, Lobby Day has been moved from late April to March 27th.

Last year, more than 110 HGAR members attended Lobby Day, which represented one-third of the total turnout of the entire New York State Association of Realtors in Albany. With two busloads of Realtors, HGAR came out in force and that effort was recognized. This year, we plan to repeat the feat and show up again. We will have the buses ready with goodie bags and a happy hour for when you get home from a well-fought day in the state’s capital.

Yet, this year, unlike last year, is an election year for our State Representatives. This provides an opportunity for our advocacy efforts to really sink in. We will surely be fighting against some version of “Good Cause Eviction,” lifting the ban on solicitous phone calls and advocating for other housing-related issues. Keep an eye out for the governor’s State of the State legislative initiatives, but, in the meantime, the battle lines for each Realtor have already been drawn.

We do not need to wait for the governor to outline the legislative agenda. Even without a legislative agenda, each and every Realtor needs to advocate on behalf of themselves to our leaders and the public. At the moment, the national news about NAR is driving how the public perceives our profession, which includes our elected officials in Albany. This Lobby Day was always going to be important, but it is imperative that we use our time to tell our elected officials that we are more than just a profession defined by negative and in some cases misleading headlines. HGAR members are home providers and valued community members who promote growth, equity and ethics.

Lobby Day is one of the most important dates on the HGAR calendar. This year it will be held earlier than ever. Mark your calendars for March 27th for a day filled with advocacy and civics. Buses will be leaving from both the White Plains and Goshen offices on March 27th, and there will be an RPAC event the night before in Albany. Keep an eye out for more information and let’s hit the ground running.