Originally published on June 12, 2025 By Yilber Vega | Telemundo47

Over 100 people marched from Bronx Borough Hall to Hostos Community College on June 12, calling on the Rent Guidelines Board to freeze rents for the city’s rent-stabilized tenants. Photo Emily Swanson Over 100 people turned out in the Bronx to march and rally in favor of a rent freeze before the Rent Guidelines Board’s public hearing on June 12. The group, including some seniors using canes and walkers, marched from Bronx Borough Hall to Hostos Community College, where the RGB would hear five hours of testimony from the public. Several local groups were represented at the rally, including the Bronx Defenders, the Bronx Leadership & Organizing Center (BLOC), New York Communities for Change, New York State Tenant Bloc, Banana Kelly Community Improvement Association and Community Action for Safe Apartments (CASA) New Settlement, all calling on the RGB not to increase rents for the city’s 2.4 million rent-stabilized tenants. Rosalind Louis wears buttons saying, “Rent hike? No thanks,” and “Freeze the rent” on her hat. Photo Emily Swanson As they marched, the group chanted, “Fight, fight, fight! Housing is a human right!” and “People, not profit!” and some passing drivers in rush hour traffic honked their horns and waved in support. The rally

CASA Tenant Organizer Joanne Grell addressed a crowd of protesters calling on the Rent Guidelines Board to implement a rent freeze outside it’s initial preliminary vote on April 30, 2025 at La Guardia Community College in Queens Courtesy of CASA-New Settlement Bronx tenant advocates say the city’s Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) didn’t go far enough Tuesday when it slightly lowered proposed rent hikes for two-year leases but ignored calls for a full freeze. The board, which sets allowable rent increases for nearly 1 million rent-stabilized apartments citywide, voted 5–3 to slightly revise its preliminary proposal for two-year leases—lowering the range from 4.75%–7.75% to 3.75%–7.75%. The proposed hike for one-year leases remains unchanged, between 1.75% and 4.75%. RGB Chair Doug Apple said the revision came in response to public testimony about the widening gap between renters’ incomes and the city’s rising cost of living. But Bronx housing advocates say the adjustment is too modest to make a difference for the borough’s struggling tenants. Groups like Community Action for Safe Apartments (CASA)-New Settlement have held rallies, protests, and town halls calling for a total rent freeze amid New York City’s housing and affordability crisis. “This decision does not go nearly far enough,”

YouthBuild participants, YouthBuild Program Director Roman Woodson (sixth from right), New York City Council Member Althea Stevens (third from right) and New Settlement Executive Director Rigaud Noel (right) with the $100,000 check from Council Member Stevens. Photo by Jewel Webber New York City Council Member Althea Stevens presented a $100,000 check to New Settlement Apartments, which are located in the Mount Eden section of the borough, for enhancements to its YouthBuild program on Friday, Nov. 22. YouthBuild is a community-based pre-apprenticeship program that provides job training and educational services for opportunity youth between the ages of 16 and 24 who did not earn a secondary diploma from school. Notable attendees at the check presentation included YouthBuild Program Director Roman Woodson, New Settlement Executive Director Rigaud Noel and local YouthBuild participants. During the presentation, Stevens, who also chairs the council’s Committee on Children and Youth, talked about how Bronx youth need different options and pathways to success. She pointed to YouthBuild as being one of these essential pathways. Woodson discussed just how much of an honor it has been to be able to help youths overcome challenges to achieve an education. Additionally, he said the skills these kids are learning can help them accomplish great

Tenants stand outside their building on Findley Avenue to protest its landlord, David Tennenbaum. Courtesy of CASA Frustrated tenants at two rent-stabilized buildings in Claremont rallied on Tuesday to protest their landlord, demanding action after enduring two weeks without cooking gas. The gas cutoff marked a breaking point for tenants, who accuse building owner David Tennenbaum of years of dangerous neglect and mismanagement. Tenant Sandro de la Cruz, who lives in one of the two affected buildings on Findlay Avenue, said that the situation with the gas has forced him to find other ways to feed his family. “We pay rent every month and my family has always kept costs down by cooking,” said de la Cruz. “Now we have to continue paying rent and also buy food in restaurants. It’s unfair, and with the holidays right around the corner I’m starting to worry.” Tennenbaum was ranked as number two on the 2023 NYC Worst Landlords list by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. The two Findlay Avenue buildings have a combined 41 open HPD violations and are flagged – along with 20 other buildings in Tennenbaum’s portfolio – on the worst landlords watchlist. All but three of those buildings are located

(L to R) CASA LEADER FITZROY Christian, District 16 Tenant Advisory Council Secretary Linda Kemp, and NYC Department of Social Services Deputy Commissioner Jamar Hooks serve as panelists for the 7th Annual Housing Conference at the Reverend T. Wendell Foster Recreation Center in the Concourse sectoin of The Bronx on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. Photo by Ariel Pacheco This is an extended version of the story featured in the latest Norwood News print edition. Bronx elected officials from all levels of government, led by District 16 City Council Member Althea Stevens, united to host the 7th Annual Housing Conference at the Reverend T. Wendell Foster Recreation Center in the Concourse section of the borough on Thursday, Oct. 3. According to data from the New York State Comptroller’s office, the low percentage of home ownership in New York is driven by the high share of multi-family housing in New York City, where about 40 percent of the population resides. “Homeownership rates are as low as 20 percent in The Bronx and 24 percent in Manhattan,” Thomas P. DiNapoli, state comptroller said. That being the case, the conference aimed to provide tenants with vital information on tenant protection rights. “The reality is