Freeze Rent on Stabilized Units and Fully Fund Right to Counsel Program

According to the NY Times, half of NYC households can’t afford to live here. (E. Shapiro, 4/5/23), yet the Rent Guidelines board passed a preliminary vote to allow a range of rent increases on rent-stabilized apartments. If passed, rents are on track to increase by 2-5% for one-year leases and 4-7% for two-year leases. This is unacceptable. NYC is in the middle of a housing crisis, and the median rent is as high as $5k-month and getting higher. Is imperative that you reject any proposed increases and freeze rents for stabilized units. Please do not add further financial stress to the lives of nearly 2 million New Yorkers who are already struggling. In addition to freezing rents for stabilized units, I am also in favor of fully funding the Right to Counsel Program. Homelessness in the city is at an all-time high (Coalition for the Homeless), and it is incumbent upon our elected officials to keep people in their homes. An essential tool for people facing eviction is access to legal counsel. The City has not fully funded this program and leaves thousands of tenants without representation in court, further adding to our homeless crisis. Please freeze rent hikes on stabilized units and fully fund the Right to Counsel Program.