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Rent Guidelines Board Gets an Earful From Rent-Stabilized Tenants

By Patrick Hedlund | June 17, 2010 9:13pm | Updated on June 18, 2010 7:39am
A sign sits on a seat inside the Cooper Union's Great Hall during the Rent Guidelines Board's final public hearing Thursday.
A sign sits on a seat inside the Cooper Union's Great Hall during the Rent Guidelines Board's final public hearing Thursday.
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DNAinfo/Patrick Hedlund

By Patrick Hedlund

DNAinfo News Editor

EAST VILLAGE — The Rent Guidelines Board held its final public hearing Thursday on whether to raise rents on the city’s 1 million rent-stabilized apartments.

The daylong hearing, held at the Cooper Union’s Great Hall, saw a steady stream of tenant advocates urging the board to institute a rent freeze given the economic downturn and rising unemployment rates.

“This year, more than ever, rent-stabilized tenants need a bailout,” said Steve Herrick, executive director of the Cooper Square Committee, which works to preserve affordable housing on the Lower East Side.

“Wall Street has gotten theirs — it’s time for the streets of the Lower East Side, uptown and the outer boroughs to get their bailout.”

RGB members Risa Levine (l.), David Wenk and Chairman Jonathan Kimmel listen during testimony from the public.
RGB members Risa Levine (l.), David Wenk and Chairman Jonathan Kimmel listen during testimony from the public.
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DNAinfo/Patrick Hedlund

At a preliminary vote last month, the board voted in favor of hiking rents by 2 to 4 percent for one-year leases and 4 to 6 percent for two-year leases.

Last year the RGB voted to increase rents by 3 percent for one-year leases and 6 percent for two-year leases.

Despite sparse attendance in the afternoon, those advocating for a freeze delivered their message loud and clear to the nine-member board.

Sadie Foy, a rent-stabilized tenant who’s lived in the Bronx for the past 66 years, said that by continually increasing rents, the RGB has “created a new class of people, which is the working homeless.”

“A rent increase would prevent me from paying my rent,” said Foy, adding that “greed is the devil’s work” and that by denying a freeze, the board members would be “disciples.”

That type of fiery language, which is not uncommon at the annual vote, produced at least one confrontation between a commenter and a board member.

“The Rent Guidelines Board must be independent and objective enough to make decisions that are truly fair for all stakeholders,” said Robert Atterbury, reading testimony from Upper East Side Assemblyman Micah Kellner.

RGB public member Risa Levine fired back that the board strives for objectivity and that “nobody has ever tried to influence me one way or another.”

The board — made up of two members representing tenant interests, two members representing landlord interests and five members representing the general public — is appointed by the mayor.

One surprise came when a small-building owner providing testimony expressed her desire for a rent freeze to ease the financial burden on her tenants.

“As an 11th generation New Yorker, I can’t remember a worse time for our city,” said Linda Sharp, who owns a 16-unit building in Bushwick.  

“Shame on us for letting this happen,” she added.

Following the hearing, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer gathered with a host of elected officials outside the Cooper Union to rally for a rent freeze.

He cited the city’s rising unemployment rate and wage reductions as reasons to take the unprecedented step of not issuing rent hikes.

“When you consider that both our state and city government must drastically cut government services to close billion dollar budget gaps, and that our homeless shelters are already at maximum capacity, it’s clear that this is the year we need the RGB to take this unprecedented action,” Stringer said. 

“The lives of many New York City residents literally hang in the balance.”

The final vote will take place next Thursday, June 24, at the Cooper Union’s Great Hall.