NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — The New York City Rent Guidelines Board voted to approve rent increases for about a million rent-stabilized apartments after City Councilmember Sandy Nurse and a group of tenants rushed the stage at at the meeting Tuesday.
The preliminary vote approved a 2% to 5% increase for one-year leases and a 4% to 7% increase for two-year leases.
"I'm reading this on behalf of Lauren from East Flatbush," said Nurse standing alongside tenants holding signs against the rent hike. "If they're rent goes up even one more dollar, it would effect them by making them homeless."
The tenant activists proceeded to march around the board, who were seated at a table on stage, while chanting "rent rollback."
Rent Justice Coalition claimed responsibility for the action on Twitter.
It was not immediately clear if other tenants groups or City Council members were present.
Mayor Eric Adams, who appoints all members of the board, said in a statement late Tuesday, "I want to be clear that a seven-percent rent increase is clearly beyond what renters can afford and what I feel is appropriate this year."
The vote on Tuesday is a preliminary vote. The final vote will take place in June, but for at least the past two decades, the final outcome has matched the preliminary vote.
The board initially proposed rent hikes for one year leases of between 5.3% and 8.25% for one-year leases and 6.6% to 15.75% for two-year leases.
Just last year, the nine-member panel passed the biggest rent increases for rent-controlled tenants in almost a decade, with an increase of 3.25% for one-year leases and 5% for two-year leases.
The Legal Aid Society denounced the proposed hike, and called for a rent freeze to protect tenants.
“Given the severity of last year’s rent hikes coupled with the ongoing citywide housing crisis, the Board should unequivocally reject any proposed increases for tenants in rent-stabilized units and commit to an outright freeze,” said Adriene Holder, chief attorney of the Civil Practice at The Legal Aid Society. “Per a recent Fund for the City of New York report, half of the city’s households are struggling to pay rent, access sufficient food and basic health care, and afford transportation. Raising rents for already struggling low-income New Yorkers is not only unnecessary, but immoral.”
Related
Related
Related
