CASA Leader Carmen Vega-Rivera speaks out on the compounding permanent increases through Major Capital Improvements and the increases voted upon by the Rent Guidelines Board. “When you combine all that and then you add a one-year or two-year increase, you’re substantially impacting that family. I’m getting impacted. I worked my whole life as a professional,” said Carmen Vega-Rivera, a rent-stabilized tenant. “I was born and raised in this city. Now I’m disabled. I’m on social security disability. I can’t squeeze another cent out of the money.”