Dear New Yorker,
There are few things more important to our sense of security than having a safe, affordable place to call home.
The Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) is charged with a vital task that is central to this goal: setting the rents for nearly one million rent-stabilized apartments throughout the five boroughs.
This is an enormous undertaking, and we need to ensure that the most qualified candidates serve in these roles.
That's why, together with tenants and tenant advocates, we're working with Senator Squadron and Assembly Member Kavanagh to help make sure that legislation (S741A/A6394B) requiring members of the RGB to have experience in areas beyond finance, economics and housing gets passed by the State Legislature. This long overdue legislation would also grant the City Council the power to confirm mayoral appointees to the RGB, helping us to ensure a proper balance between tenant and landlord interests.
You can read more about these efforts by clicking on the links below:
http://www.observer.com/2012/04/nobody-likes-the-rent-guidelines-board
Also, an important reminder: Tenants who reside in rent regulated apartments are encouraged to attend and participate in the annual public meetings being held by the RGB. These public meetings are an opportunity for us to weigh in and let the RGB know exactly where we stand on any possible rent increases in the coming year. Additional details listed below:
- Thursday, April 26, 2012, Public Meeting-Invited Group Testimony, Location: Landmarks Preservation Commission, Conference Room, Municipal Building, 1 Centre Street, 9th Floor, starting at 9:30 a.m. Apartment Owners: 9:45 a.m.-11:45 a.m.; Apartment Tenants: 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.; Hotel tenants: 3 p.m. -3:45 p.m.; Hotel Owners: 3:45 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, May 1, 2012, Public Meeting-Preliminary Vote, Location: Cooper Union, The Great Hall-Basement, 7 East 7th Street, near Third Avenue, starting at 5:30 p.m.
- Thursday, May 31, 2012, Public Meeting, Location: Landmarks Preservation Commission, Conference Room, Municipal Building, 1 Centre Street, 9th Floor, starting at 9:30 a.m.
More meeting dates are scheduled to follow in June leading up to a public meeting and the final vote on Thursday, June 21st, at the Great Hall located at Cooper Union, Great Hall, 7 East 7th Street, near Third Avenue, starting at 5:30 p.m. For more information, please visit the RGB's website at http://www.housingnyc.com/html/about/meetings.html . We will be in touch again soon with an update and a reminder listing the June meeting dates.
In the meantime, please feel free to contact Carlos Carino in our Community Outreach Unit if you have any tenant-related questions or concerns. He can be reached by telephone at (212) 788-9121 or by e-mail at ccarino@council.nyc.gov .
Thanks and have a wonderful weekend!
Sincerely,
Christine C. Quinn
Speaker
NYC Council
Erik Martin Dilan
Chair, Housing & Buildings Committee
NYC Council
Helen Diane Foster
Chair, State & Federal Legislation Committee
NYC Council