New Yorkers hoping to ditch their lawns for something greener just hit a political wall.
Governor Hochul vetoed a bill that would’ve let homeowners swap out turfgrass for native plants and sustainable gardens — even if their homeowners’ association (HOA) objected.
Assemblymember Deborah Glick, who sponsored the legislation, blasted the veto as out of step with today’s environmental realities. She said the governor’s reasoning “ignores the dramatic change in the climate crisis and the biodiversity crisis” that’s unfolded in recent decades.
Glick’s bill, A.1890, aimed to protect homeowners who want to install low-impact landscaping like rain gardens, pollinator habitats, or vegetable plots. Right now, HOAs can still force residents to stick with manicured lawns — even though turfgrass often requires pesticides and heavy watering, and provides no help to struggling pollinators.
“This bill simply affirmed a homeowner’s freedom to make environmentally conscious choices for their property,” Glick said in a statement. “Instead of standing in their way, we should be helping New Yorkers make greener, community-level changes.”
Beyond promoting biodiversity, Glick argued that sustainable landscaping helps prevent local flooding by soaking up excess rain — a growing concern as storms get stronger and more frequent.
She said the veto was especially disappointing as more people look for simple, local ways to fight climate change and support environmental health.
Still, Glick said she’s hopeful about upcoming climate plans from the governor’s office — and wants to see if they’ll support the same kind of “practical actions” her bill would have encouraged.
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