Couple points here:
1. Adverse Possession laws weren't created by Democrats.
The concept actually originated in England:
How Adverse Possession Laws Work
Adverse possession is a legal concept that allows a trespasser, whether a stranger or a neighbor, to gain legal title over land. The concept developed in early Britain. More recently, though, the law's function is to achieve a fair result when one owner has neglected or forgotten about a piece of property while another has been using or caring for it for so long that to make them leave would create hardship or injustice. The policy goal behind adverse possession statutes in New York and elsewhere is to ensure that land is owned by people who cultivate it and use it most productively, rather than by those who ignore it.
Adverse possession in New York is governed by statute, but also by the courts. Importantly, the burden of proof to establish a claim of adverse possession is on the trespasser. The legal holder of title is the presumed owner until the adverse possessor can meet that burden. In other words, it is the trespasser's job to prove that the judge should grant title to or ownership over a piece of land.
2. In order to claim title to a property based on adverse possession,
a tenant needs to have resided there for at least ten years.
When someone publicly moves into and improves an otherwise neglected property, they may acquire title to that property after a certain amount of time has passed. This is called "adverse possession," based on the idea that land should not sit idle. These protections are not valid if the possession of the property is done in secret. New York adverse possession laws require at least ten years of possession and payment of taxes throughout that period in order to be eligible for legal title.
The idea for this seems to stem from the idea that properties shouldn't be left idle for long periods of time, due to owner neglect or some other reason.
You can find the law under:
New York Consolidated Laws, Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law - RPA § 501
You're free to disagree with the way the law works in this case if you like, but it would be worth knowing the full details first.
-- A2SG, but if you'd rather just spout off about "dem dirty dems," don't let me stop ya....