Fields tells NYARM she wants licensing for managers.

Addressing a crowd of nearly 100 people attending the New York Association of Realty Managers' (NYARM) monthly meeting, Wednesday, May 23rd, Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields delivered a rousing speech concerning the importance of licensing for property managers. Elaborating on her position at the meeting, which was held at Frank's Restaurant in Manhattan, Ms. Fields enthusiastically joined ranks with such other public figures as State Assemblyman Carl S. Kruger (D) and City Council member Ronnie Eldridge in supporting statewide licensing.

She stated that it was crucial to obtain bipartisan support for bill S279, which was sponsored by Assemblyman Kruger earlier this year. Emphasizing her point, Ms. Fields implored the Republican members of the organization to "write their congressman" and enlist their support for the legislation.

The legislation mandates licensing for managers of multi-family housing, while exempting owners of owner-occupied apartment buildings, as well as managers of properties with six units or less.

The borough president also discussed New York's tight housing market and commended NYARM members for their efforts in keeping their buildings running, despite rising fuel costs and escalating taxes. "Thank you for all the work you do to make it possible to live in this borough and others in the city," added Ms. Fields. "You make the quality of life pleasurable for so many people in co-op, condo and rental apartments."

She talked about her task force on affordable housing, which is made up of property owners, managers and other real estate insiders. By the end of the speech, some NYARM members were calling for the organization to play a more active role in the borough president's task force.

One of the oldest and most respected membership organizations for real estate managers and related fields in the greater New York metropolitan area, NYARM has been a leading industry proponent of uniform educational standards and licensing of property managers by New York State for more than a decade.

NYARM also conducts an education and certification program through New York University's School of Continuing and Professional Studies and hosts monthly membership meetings, special events and seminars year-round. In addition, NYARM sponsors an annual trade show, which will be held October 18th of this year at Pier 88 in Manhattan.

On June 13, NYARM will celebrate its 43rd Anniversary at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, from 6 PM to 10 PM. The affair takes place in the Palm House, a Victorian-style greenhouse at the Garden.