Author: Leigh

By Rigaud Noel and Sheila Garcia

Why are we forcing New York’s most vulnerable out on the streets rather than creating a fair and equitable process that will keep people in their homes? If the NYC Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) proceeds with increasing rents this year, 2.4 million low-income individuals in the Bronx and throughout New York City who currently lack the means to afford the cost of living, will be forced out of their homes.

While the world is seemingly recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, there are countless New Yorkers – from families of color to small business owners, to seniors and our youth – who are still reeling from the devastating impacts and are in critical need of support and resources in order to make ends meet and survive each day. They should never be put in a position to decide between rent and food for their family. We cannot simply ignore this reality.

According to the study from JustFix.nyc, “mom and pop” landlords make up less than 1% of landlords who own 10 units or less. The data also shows that large landlords own vast majority of rent stabilized housing in NYC, which means that despite the argument from proponents, rent hikes will serve corporate investors over small landlords.

Last year the RGB made the decision to hold another season with limited online hearings and a subsequent vote to raise rents for one and two-year leases on more than one million rent regulated apartments. Without access to public hearings, these tenants will no longer have a voice in the discussion; and without that opportunity in this process, they will be forced to pay unaffordable rent hikes this year. When you combine substantial rent hikes – the largest increase we’ve seen in 10 years, and with the rising costs in food and basic living expenses due to inflation, the end result is a massive crisis. This will have a detrimental impact on millions of hardworking rent-stabilized families and children who are already rent-burdened and are at risk of losing a roof over their heads. The lack of transparency throughout this process is not only unjust but seeks to exacerbate the divide that already exists by race and zip code in this city.

It’s a vicious cycle that needs to be broken. It’s an absolute disgrace, and we’ve had enough.

We are demanding that the RGB freeze rents and implement a fair and just public hearing process that our city’s low-income tenants deserve. The pre-pandemic hearing format consisted of five public in-person hearing sessions across New York City, and it is vital that this structure is restored. These are real human lives that are at stake, and time is running out.

New York City is known as the greatest city in the world because of its resilience and strength. In our city’s toughest moments, we pride ourselves in uniting to help our fellow New Yorkers. To the RGB and Mayor Eric Adams we ask you: why aren’t we coming together to help our fellow New Yorkers when they need us most?

Rigaud Noel is the Executive Director of New Settlement; and Sheila Garcia is the Director of Community Organizing at New Settlement and a member of NYC Rent Guidelines Board.

Originally published via AMNY

Community Action for Safe Apartments (CASA), in collaboration with the Rent Justice Coalition (RJC), a city-wide coalition of Rent Stabilized Tenants, tenant advocates, and their allies, rallied outside of a Rent Guidelines Board in the Bronx on Wednesday, June 15, ahead of a looming vote that could raise rents for more than 1 million rent-stabilized apartments throughout the city.

OPEN Host Daren Jaime speaks with Aquatics and Athletics Director at New Settlement, Corey Smith, about the Blue Seals swim team, and Andy Duarte reaching the Junior Olympics.

The New York Yankees unveiled the Yankee Stadium Tower Garden on Monday, May 23 at Yankee Stadium’s Gate 2. Participating in the event was New Settlement executive staff and other community leaders, Yankees executives, local students and Yankees pitchers Nestor Cortes and Michael King.

The structure, located inside Yankee Stadium’s Gate 2, uses the vertical, aeroponic garden system of Tower Farms, allowing for the growth of healthy, fresh produce that requires minimal resources. The garden will be used to provide a hands-on learning experience for students taking part in the “New York Yankees Healthy Home Plate Program,” which the team has been proudly conducting since 2011. Additionally beginning in June, items grown in the space will be served to fans in select menu items, most notably in salads found at Yankee Stadium “grab-and-go” locations.

The “New York Yankees Healthy Home Plate Program” — which teaches children how to prepare and incorporate healthy, sustainable and affordable meals into one’s lifestyle — will serve young people from New Settlement, a Bronx nonprofit organization that aims to break systemic barriers, advance justice, promote leadership and strengthen neighborhoods in the Bronx. To further reinforce the lessons provided in the Yankees Healthy Home Plate program at Yankee Stadium, New Settlement will be receiving Tower Garden equipment at their facility in the Bronx.

As part of the Yankees Healthy Home Plate program, which is supported by Yankee Stadium’s Legends Hospitality, kitchens in Yankee Stadium are utilized as classrooms with Legends Senior Executive Chef Matt Gibson engaging young people with hands-on cooking demonstrations. Each student participant receives a personalized chef’s jacket, a cookbook of healthy recipes, a bag filled with provisions to prepare healthy meals at home, a gift card from Peapod and tickets to attend a Yankees game.

The curriculum for the Yankees Healthy Home Plate program has been curated with the assistance of the Green Bronx Machine, a nonprofit organization founded by life-long educator Stephen Ritz who observed the effect of students’ food choices on scholastic performance, engagement and ambition. Originally an after-school, alternative program for high school students, Green Bronx Machine has evolved into a full K-12+ indoor gardening curriculum.