Costs Threaten New York City Mayor’s Rent Plan

Families, minorities pushed out by waves of tenants who can pay more. June 25, 2014 By Solvej Schou For renters’ rights advocate Jean Folkes, the fight to maintain stabilized rents in increasingly pricey New York City—where rents average a massive $3,000 a month—is not only political but personal. The Brooklyn tenant has spent months passionately…

Did you know that 80 percent of poor renters in rent-regulated apartments pay rent that is more than 50 percent of their income, up from 64 percent in 2005?* Statistics like these illustrate the pressing need to address the issues surrounding affordable housing and renters’ rights. In the August 3 episode of “Represent NYC,” State…

July 28, 2014 Rents have become increasingly unaffordable in New York City. NYC has been in a housing crisis for decades. A housing crisis, defined as under 5 percent vacancy rate, in NYC triggers an elaborate system of rent regulation. Rent regulation is not a subsidy program, but a system in which rents are regulated…

They are the dama gazelles of the New York City rental market. From a high of more than 2 million in the 1950’s, there are now only 27,000 “rent-controlled” apartments in the city – down from 38,000 just three years ago. Rent-controlled tenants live in buildings built before 1947 and have lived there continuously since…

A controversial Prospect-Lefferts Gardens development attracted protesters this week, angered over both the luxury project and the 421a tax abatement program. The Alliance for Tenant Power staged the rally against the 254-unit residential building at 626 Flatbush Avenue Thursday, according to Curbed. Around 75 protestors attended and politicians Diana Richardson and Shirley Patterson both spoke…