Real Rent Reform Campaign

New York City Board Votes to Freeze Regulated Rents on One-Year Leases - NY Times Tenants chanted before the city’s Rent Guidelines Board voted on Monday at the Great Hall at Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in Manhattan. HIROKO MASUIKE / THE NEW YORK TIMES 104 By MIREYA NAVARRO JUNE 29, 2015 The board that regulates rents for more than one million rent-stabilized apartments in New York City voted on Monday night for a freeze on one-year leases, an unprecedented move in its 46-year history.
The 7-to-2 vote by the city’s Rent Guidelines Board was an acknowledgment of the precarious situation of many tenants whose incomes have not kept pace with housing costs. It also was the first decision on rent levels by a nine-member board appointed in its entirety by Mayor Bill de Blasio.
The board, one of the few tools the mayor has to directly influence the cost of housing in the city, also voted to increase rents on two-year leases by 2 percent, a historic low. The mayor refra…

Cuomo fails tenants again as Assembly is left without a Democratic partner in rent law negotiations.

Sweetheart deal for landlords will hurt working families; eliminate nearly  90,000 units of affordable housing.

(Albany)  Despite the hope of millions of rent-regulated tenants that Albany would finally stand up to the corrupting influence of landlord money, today’s passage of the Cuomo/Flanagan proposal on pro-landlord rent laws deal proves that Albany is just as dysfunctional and money-driven as ever.  The Assembly, whom many housing advocates had hoped would be a bulwark against further loss of affordable housing, apparently caved in when it became clear that the Governor and Republican Senate would not yield to tenants’ interest.

The announcement of this sweetheart deal for landlords and developers is sure to further erode Governor Cuomo’s already low support from voters in New York, as tenants in New York City and the downstate suburbs learn that he has betrayed them once again fo…

The Albany deal on the rent laws will lead to 87,500 apartments being deregulated. Call Gov. Cuomo at 518 474-8390 or 212 681-4580 and tell him to go back to the drawing board and come up with a deal that protects tenants. Albany Close to Deal on Rent Regulation - How Does the Reported “Framework” Affect Neighborhoods? June 23rd, 2015Albany Close to Deal on Rent Regulation - How Does the Reported “Framework” Affect Neighborhoods? Thomas J. Waters Tweet The New York... CSSNY.ORG

The rent deal proposed by Gov. Cuomo, Assembly Speaker Heastie, and Senate Majority Leader Flanagan does very little for tenants.  If you want more, contact Gov. Cuomo, our State Senator Bill Perkins and our Assembly Member Daniel O'Donnell to vote NO on the "conceptual deal."



Issue What tenants need What Cuomo is offering Vacancy deregulation (motivating landlords to oust regulated tenants, losing affordable apartments forever)
Repeal of vacancy deregulation Rent at which vacant apartments can be de-regulated goes up from $2500 to $2700. That amount is indexed to the RGB annual percentage change, if any.  MCI and IAI increases Major Capital Improvement and Individual Apartment Improvement rent increases (now permanent) Limit the increases to end when the cost of the improvement has been re-paid.
Reduce the permanent increase by 1/3. Vacancy bonus Right now, landlords get a 20% rent increase just because an apartment has become vacant. That motivates them to kick out tenants t…

CALL or EMAIL the GOVERNOR: 518-474-8390, ext. 3.
Tell him: 
I'm a tenant, and I need you to repeal vacancy deregulation, cap improvement increases, cut vacancy bonuses, and end preferential rent loopholes.  I rely on your action NOW.

Governor Cuomo is happy to blame the State Senate and even the Assembly for the failure to renew and strengthen the rent laws so far.  (Even the landlords want them renewed;  the tenants want them strengthened.)  Click on the image for the text. 



KEEP CALLING AND EMAILING GOVERNOR CUOMO.   518-474-8390 ext. 3, and email  (even if you've done it recently).



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Monday 6/22, 11AM: Protest at Glenwood Management Offices. Gather at Zuccotti Park (and march to offices at 10 Liberty Place
Monday night 6/22 - Sleep-Out in Albany Transportation leaving from NYC at 6PM rsvp to: ava@metcouncilonhousing.org
Tuesday 6/23 - Bus to Protest in Albany Buses leaving NYC at 7AM and returning 7PM email: ava@metcouncilonhousing.org

NY Daily News State Senate poised to back 5-day rent regulations extensionKENNETH LOVETT, GLENN BLAIN, ERIN DURKINNEW YORK DAILY NEWS Today, 6:29 PM ET
EXCERPT: 
The state Senate was poised to back a temporary five-day extension of the expired city rent regulation laws, two GOP senators said Thursday night.

IT’S THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015. NO RENT LAWS YET.  

MEMORANDUM IN OPPOSITION  June 17, 2015 S5971  Senator Young  Rules Committee 
AN ACT to amend the real property tax law, in relation to tax abatements for dwelling units occupied by certain persons residing in rent-controlled or rent regulated properties, and providing state aid to cities affected by such tax abatements; and to amend chapter 576 of the laws of 1974 amending the emergency housing rent control law relating to the control of and stabilization of rent in certain cases, in relation to extending the provisions thereof 

Beware of New York State Republicans bearing gifts.

PROTEST CUOMO'S FAILURE TO RENEW AND STRENGTHEN the RENT LAWS
Join Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams with your sleeping bag and PJs tonight (June 17, 2015) in front of Gov.
Cuomo's NYC office, 633 Third Ave. (between 40th & 41st Streets).

R3 Letter to Governor Cuomo

June 17, 2015

Governor Andrew Cuomo NYS State Capitol Building Albany, NY 12224
Governor Cuomo –
For months, tenants have been reaching out to urge you to stand strong for affordable housing by using your considerable political power to fight for stronger rent laws. 

MEMORANDUM IN OPPOSITION 
June 15, 2015 
S5953 Rules Committee  (See Capital NY article.)
If ever there were any doubt that the Senate Republicans are owned, lock, stock and barrel by the New York City real estate lobby, this bill would silence any doubters. The bill is the landlords’ dream legislation.  [This bill has been rejected by Governor Cuomo and Assembly Speaker Heastie.]

TODAY (Tuesday, June 16, 2015) 12:00 Noon Cuomo’s NYC office 633 Third Avenue between 40th & 41st Streets, Manhattan
Bring a sleeping bag, or a blanket, or a pillow! Wear your pajamas or nightshirt.
Since Governor Andrew Cuomo has refused to stand with tenants and instead is standing with developers and landlords, tenants will be doing a camp out in front of Cuomo’s NYC office at 633 Third Avenue today at 12:00 noon to send a message to Cuomo that if he doesn't strengthen the rent laws, 2.5 million New Yorkers will be at risk of losing their homes. Governor Cuomo: Stop playing games! Fight to repeal Vacancy Decontrol! Get your members, your friends and neighbors to call Governor Cuomo, and call yourself, even if you have called before. Tell the Governor that you will hold him responsible if the rent laws are not strengthened. Call (518) 474-8390, press 3.

Since landlords want rent regulation renewed "as is," that is the least tenants can expect.  We want Albany to do more - or we will lose more than 35,000 apartments a year until the laws are substantially strengthened and vacancy decontrol is repealed. 

In the meantime, you're probably safe (unless you live in an SRO room)  


You may have heard news about New York's rent regulation laws potentially expiring tonight. 

If you are one of the more than two million New Yorkers who lives in rent-regulated housing, here's what you need to know:
Your lease is still in effect and remains in effect through the term of the lease.There are still laws on the books protecting you from harassment, and the City is enforcing those laws.We have put together an emergency hotline: Call 311 if you have any concerns or questions about your apartment.If your landlord is harassing you, withholding services, or trying to exploit any lapse in the rent regulation laws to get you to leave your a…

THIS ISSUE IS NOT WHETHER THE RENT LAWS WILL BE RENEWED – THEY WILL BE.  The issue is whether the rent laws will be strengthened. Gov. Cuomo and the Senate Republicans are trying to create a sense of panic so everyone will breathe a sigh of relief when the laws are renewed in their current weakened form. Don't fall into this trap.  STRONGER RENT LAWS NOW!
Capital Tonight: In Search of a Deal



In Search Of A Deal Excerpt
Assembly Democrats returned to the Capitol on Sunday night for a closed-door conference that seemed to touch on nearly every unresolved issue -- from protections for nail salon workers to rent control -- in the final days of the legislative session.

A broad agreement on expiring issues such as rent control for New York City and the surrounding area, as well as the 421a tax abatement, is yet to be reached.

The finish line for the end of the legislative session is Wednesday, though Gov. Andrew Cuomo has pledged to keep lawmakers in Albany beyond that scheduled end should an a…

FIRST THING MONDAY(& throughout the day):  Call Governor Cuomo Cuomo: Tenants Are Watching & We Will Remember.  CALL:  (518) 474-8390, press 3



Sample Script for Gov:  “Hello, my name is ____________ and I’m a tenant.  I’m calling to tell the Governor to strengthen the rent laws & end deregulation.  Renewing the rent laws is not enough – the Gov. must strengthen the rent laws & end deregulation. If he does not do this I will never vote for him again.”
A week ago, Gov. Cuomo called for stronger rent laws and an end to deregulation. Now he says the best he can do is renew them in their current weakened form. A straight extender of the rent laws "as is" would result in a steady loss every year of rent-protected apartments in NYC and the three suburban counties, and an ultimate end of the program. 
It is likely that this issue will not be decided by Monday.  If so, call Cuomo's office again on Tuesday.  The more calls he gets on this issue the better! Get your frien…