Working Families

Very exciting. A coalition of housing and tenant organizations have been working on reforming existing rent laws for years now – and this year they might have a chance, thanks in part to the Working Families Party. Last week was the public launch. For anyone new to the issue, here are the basics:

1. New York has the country’s most advanced system of rent control and rent stabilization, designed to protect tenants from landlord abuse and rents rising faster than income.
2. Republicans controlled the NY state legislature for years and passed legislation that allowed landlords to “decontrol ” apartments, so that they could be rented at market rates.
3. In large part because of the WFP, the Republicans lost control of the State Senate, creating the first chance in years to reverse the tide and bring MORE rental units back into the stabilization regime. Hence one of the main goals – to repeal decontrol.

As one might imagine, it gets way more complicated. You can read a good summary of the issue here, catch up on the ten rent reform laws we support over here, and check out our petition page.