While huge crowds of tenants in attendance wanted the rates to remain the same, many said they were not surprised by the rate hike — though they were angry. Ida Siegal reports for News 4.
The New York City Rent Guidelines Board approved a rate increase for more than a million rent-stabilized apartments across the five boroughs, despite objections from lawmakers and hundreds of tenants in attendance.
The board, appointed by Mayor Eric Adams, voted Monday night by a 5-4 margin to raise the rent by 3% for one-year leases and 4.5% for two-year leases.
For his part, Adams, trying to win support both from conservatives and liberals as he fights for reelection in the fall, had called for the board to vote for the lowest increase possible. They did not do that.
“While the board exercised their independent judgment, and made an adjustment based on elements such as inflation, I am disappointed that they approved increases higher than what I called for,” Adams said in a statement.
While huge crowds of tenants in attendance wanted the rates to remain the same, many said they were not surprised by the rate hike — though they were angry.
“They should freeze it. We have too many people saying that can they provide food? Working two or three jobs just to maintain housing. For them to increase the rent right now, I don’t think it’s just,” said tenant Laura Govan.
In a statement, The Legal Aid Society condemned the increase.