Real Rent Reform Now

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Tenants rally in Harlem to protest huge rent hikes




$45 and $85 minimum rent increases went into effect October 1




Several hundred angry tenants and labor union members rallied on Wednesday, October 1, at the State Office Building in Harlem from 5:30 to 7:00 pm to protest huge rent increases going into effect that day.




Many tenants in rent-stabilized apartments whose leases come up for renewal in the year beginning October 1 were hit with minimum rent hikes of $45 or $85 for a one-year or two-year lease renewal. The unprecedented rent hikes were authorized in June by the New York City Rent Guidelines Board, whose members are appointed by the mayor.




The rally was sponsored by the Real Rent Reform Campaign, which includes numerous tenant organizations, labor unions, and community organizations. A Latin jazz band sponsored by Local 802, American Federation of Musicians, will perform beginning at 5:00 pm.




Speakers at the rally included tenant leaders from Harlem, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Westchester County, whose county rent board also authorized a minimum rent hike this year. Grass roots tenant leaders will be available for interviews before, during and after the rally.




Elected officials who spoke included four members of the State Senate Tom Duane, Liz Krueger, Bill Perkins and Andrea Stewart-Cousins who are sponsoring legislation to reform the rent board process in the city and suburban counties; City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, and Assembly Member Hakeem Jeffries (D-Brooklyn). Labor speakers include Ed Ott of the NYC Central Labor Council, Bill Henning of CWA Local 1180, and Wanda Williams of DC 37.

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[PikesPeakOcean]

I am on your side, Gove em hell!

[FrankeeFraud]

What do you care, Lateesha, since you are NOT a taxpayer, and never will be? Who the hell do you think works to pay for your Welfare checks, food stamps, and support your illegitimate, fatherless chilluns?

[cymonebreathe]

@FrankeeFraud Unless you can point out in the law where speaking English is a requirement for the 3 policy changes these people are calling on, your comment has no basis whatsoever.

[PantherChamps06]

"Fair! When you put the Dems in the majority..., we're finally going to have a fair rent board in this city!"

As much research thats been done on rent controls, you still have politicians lying to poor people on the reality of rent control policies just to make sure they get their vote. It's pretty sick...

[FrankeeFraud]

Can't even speak English, but they want free housing! What a country! Don't like it, go back where you came from......

[psugeog11]

Come on, everyone knows that rent control hurts poor people the most. The reason why the apartments are so bad is because the landlords have no reason to do so.

[Rilwankujenya]

I have never rented my own place. I'm still living with my parents actually. But can I ask, are tenants allowed to fix their own apartments. Like if there is leak, if you had the money/initiative would you be allowed to fix, let's say a hole in the wall, or ceiling, or perhaps anything that leaks?