Whom You Know: NYC Council Tenant Update from Christine Quinn

Thursday, June 23, 2011

NYC Council Tenant Update from Christine Quinn

Dear New Yorker,

I just wanted to send a quick note to update you on where we're at in our fight to renew and strengthen New York's rent laws, which officially expired late last Wednesday.

While Governor Cuomo, the NY State Assembly and NY State Senate Democrats have all stated their support for strengthening and extending New York's rent laws, the leadership continues to work toward a resolution to this issue.

As I and many other tenants and advocates have stated, in order to maintain the diversity of our city, these laws should be strengthened by repealing vacancy decontrol and extending the rent protections to buildings that are leaving the Section 8 and Mitchell-Lama programs. This is the only way that we'll truly be able to protect tenants and keep housing in our city affordable.

Although the Governor has promised to keep state legislators in Albany until a long-term agreement is reached to strengthen rent laws, the NYS Homes and Community Renewal (NYSHCR) agency has established a 24-hour toll-free hotline to help answer any questions tenants have about their rent.

NYSHCR is reminding all New Yorkers that current written leases and the rent amount cited in those leases are in effect until their expiration date. Tenants cannot be evicted without a court order.

NYSHCR can be reached via their hotline at (855) 391-4526 or by email at rentlaws2011@nyshcr.org. Additional information about rent regulations can also be found on their website at http://www.nyshcr.org.

************

In other important news, you may recall, this past month the Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) proposedrenewal lease guidelines for rent-stabilized apartments that would increase rents from 3 to 5.75% for a 1-year lease, 6 to 9% for a 2-year lease, and add a 1% surcharge for buildings with oil heat.

This morning, I testified at the RGB's hearing. As I told the board members, while our economy is suffering and low-income residents are bearing the worst of the effects, we should do what we can to minimize any cost increases to working families. You can read my full testimony here.

Please note that the final vote is one week from today. Details on next Monday's vote are listed below:

Monday, June 27th

Public Meeting (Final Vote on Rent Guidelines)

The Great Hall at Cooper Union

7 East 7th Street at the corner of Third Avenue (basement), Manhattan

Time: 5:30 pm

I'll continue to keep you updated on our fight to renew and strengthen NY's rent laws and alert you to any actions you can take. In the meantime, if you have any tenant-related questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Carlos Carino in the Council's Community Outreach Unit at (212) 788-9121 or ccarino@council.nyc.gov.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Christine C. Quinn

Speaker

NYC Council

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