Rent Control Advocates Make Final Plea
To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.
Then come back here and refresh the page.
Tenant advocates spoke out Monday ahead of the Rent Guidelines Board's vote to raise rents on the city's one million rent stabilized apartments.
The Board is set to vote Tuesday on a proposal that would increase rents two to 4.5 percent for one-year leases and four to 7.5 percent for two-year leases.
Given the economic crisis, advocates are trying to put pressure on Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who appoints members to the Board, to ask for a rent freeze.
Mayoral candidate Bill Thompson is one of the New Yorkers leading the charge.
"It's controlled by the mayor. In this case, the mayor needs to pay attention to what's going on. Can't raise rents on the backs of those who can least afford it all across the board," said Thompson.
Mayor Bloomberg has said it's not about politics, while landlords say they need the rent increase to cover increased property taxes.
If the board passes the proposal, increases will go into effect for lease renewals starting October 1st.
NY1 will have extensive live coverage of the Rent Guidelines Board's final rent-hike meeting. The public comment period starts at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.