NY State Senator Tom Duane at the Met Council on Housing's 2010 Annual Assembly

New York State Senator Tom Duane (D-Manhattan) at the Metropolitan Council on Housing's 2010 Annual Assembly, January 14, 2010.

Duane spoke about the failure of Democrats to pass legislation to strengthen the rent regulation system after finally taking the majority in the New York State Senate. For decades, Democrats promised that once they controlled the Senate, strengthening the rent laws would be a top priority. Among the package of bills tenants have long demanded is the repeal of Vacancy Decontrol. Our bill would stop landlords from being able to decontrol rent-regulated apartments and charge market rates when the apartment becomes empty. We have already lost 300,000 rent regulated apartments because of vacancy decontrol.

"2010 is not going to be 2009" said Duane - meaning that the corrupt members of the Democratic Senate conference will not be allowed to again derail the tenant bills. "I'm gonna bring the bills to the floor [for a vote] if they get blocked in any way, by anyone, under any circumstances."

The Metropolitan Council on Housing is New York City's oldest tenants union, having formed in 1959. We are a membership organization of tenants who believe that everyone deserves a decent, stable, and affordable home, are who are committed to transforming housing policies in our city to reflect the needs of people, not profit.

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Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• rent regulation
• rent stabilization
• rent control
• Met Council
• Met Council on Housing
• tenants' rights
• affordable housing
• New York City
• nyc
• rent laws