Over 100 individuals turned out within the Bronx to march and rally in favor of a hire freeze earlier than the Lease Pointers Board’s public listening to on June 12.
The group, together with some seniors utilizing canes and walkers, marched from Bronx Borough Corridor to Hostos Group Faculty, the place the RGB would hear 5 hours of testimony from the general public.
A number of native teams have been represented on the rally, together with the Bronx Defenders, New York Communities for Change, New York State Tenant Bloc, Banana Kelly Group Enchancment Affiliation and Group Motion for Secure Flats (CASA) New Settlement, all calling on the RGB to not enhance rents for the town’s 2.4 million rent-stabilized tenants.
Rosalind Louis wears buttons saying, “Rent hike? No thanks,” and “Freeze the rent” on her hat. Photograph Emily Swanson
As they marched, the group chanted, “Fight, fight, fight! Housing is a human right!” and “People, not profit!” and a few passing drivers in rush hour visitors honked their horns and waved in assist.
The rally got here because the mayor-appointed RGB is ready to vote later this month on whether or not to extend the hire, and in that case, by how a lot. The board’s proposed will increase vary from 1.75% to 4.75% for one-year leases and three.75% and seven.75% for two-year leases, beginning this October.
Many property house owners argue that a rise this 12 months is critical to maintain up with the prices of constructing operations, which have gone up 6.3% since final 12 months.
To house owners, a hire freeze is “unrealistic and nonsensical,” mentioned Ann Korchak, board president of Small Property House owners of New York, in an announcement final month. “The city doesn’t freeze our property taxes and water rates. Much of the rent-stabilized housing stock is already in severe distress, and operating, repair and maintenance costs are constantly increasing. A rent freeze will result in foreclosure and abandonment, and push tenants into housing instability.”
However tenants who rallied say that no enhance is suitable, arguing that landlords’ income have been rising.
Mercedes Escoto, a retired metropolis social employee who has lived in her rent-stabilized residence in Highbridge for 16 years, informed the Bronx Instances {that a} hire freeze is her primary precedence.
Escorto mentioned between the excessive price of meals, remedy and different requirements, she hasn’t been on a trip in 15 years. She additionally mentioned she has been compelled to cowl bills that ought to be the owner’s accountability, similar to changing a damaged fridge and exterminating mattress bugs.
Because the RGB has elevated rents every of the previous three years underneath Mayor Eric Adams, “What happened to all the money I paid?” Escoto mentioned.
A big coalition of rent-stabilized tenants joined the hire freeze rally. Photograph Emily Swanson
One other Highbridge resident, Nereida Figueroa, mentioned she’s having a tough time making ends meet as a single mother or father of two youngsters. She usually works as much as 60 hours per week simply to cowl bills.
“It’s hard,” she mentioned. “It affects me and my community.”
Figueroa is at present battling her landlord to repair water leaks within the lavatory ceiling, which she mentioned has weak spots the place the pipes present by.
However past her personal scenario, Figueroa expressed concern about how rising rents would have an effect on her Bronx neighborhood as an entire. Growing the hire would possible result in extra homelessness and displacement of individuals like her in favor of “fancy people,” she mentioned.
Council Member Pierina Sanchez (in pink blazer) requires a hire freeze on June 12, 2025. Photograph Emily Swanson
Addressing the massive crowd that assembled outdoors Hostos earlier than the listening to, Metropolis Council Member Pierina Sanchez, who chairs the Committee on Housing and Buildings, mentioned that constructing house owners ought to search funds from the federal government — not their tenants — in the event that they face problem protecting working prices.
“When people are struggling, you don’t find the weakest and try to fix the problem on their backs,” she mentioned.
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams mentioned a hire freeze is “the morally right thing to do right now.”
Regardless of RGB hire will increase underneath the Adams administration totaling 9%, he mentioned many homeowners don’t appear to have used the funds to enhance the situation of their buildings.
“The housing stock has only gotten worse,” solely “adding insult to injury” for tenants, mentioned Williams.
Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson spoke on the listening to and mentioned the hire stabilization system is “one of the cornerstones of affordable housing that we have left in our city.”
Gibson known as on the board to freeze the hire, saying the proposed will increase would have a “devastating effect” on many Bronx residents, particularly seniors, veterans and folks with disabilities.
Gibson mentioned the board ought to “absolutely reject these proposed increases so that we can keep all these residents living in the Bronx,” to applause from these in attendance.
She additionally requested the board to pay attention rigorously to tenants all through the listening to. On daily basis, “I get the calls” from individuals complaining about mould, pests, landlord harassment and discrimination, mentioned Gibson. “The Bronx deserves better, and we need your help.”
