There is also a public hearing to tell the Rent Guidelines Board we support a rent freeze. This is specifically for the tenants of Rent Stabilized apt.’s. And yes, I am particularly fired up about this since it affects me and many of my neighbors. There are over a million tenants directly affected by the whims of the (Mayor appointed) Rent Guideline Board.

We all need to stand up against Albany’s autocratic anti-NYC policies. We need to have more say in the laws that govern us. Albany continues to chip away at Rent Stabilization protection. Further, we need to change the law back, so that millions more NYC renters will have rent stabilization. So I think this actually affects all New Yorkers.

The hearing is to propose a rent freeze on all rent stabilized apt.’s. The market rate for rents in Manhattan has fallen by an average of 20% over the last year. Yet the Rent Guidelines Board passed a huge rent hike for rent stabilized tenants. Rent stabilized tenants should not be singled out to pay more for rent during these tough times.

Anyone interested can make their voice heard at a public hearing:
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 from l0 am . – 6 p.m. at the Great Hall at Cooper Union located at 7 East 7th Street (corner of 3rd Ave., in the basement). NYC 10003

Unfortunately I can’t attend since I can’t get off work. But the final vote will be taken at a public meeting on Tuesday June 23, 2009 from 5:30 P.M. – 9:30 P.M. at the Great Hall at Cooper Union (same address as above) and I’ll be there. I hope many others will as well.

New Yorkers can also email the RGB Board:
board@housingnyc.com

or the RGB chair:
chair@housingnyc.com

and let them know you support a rent freeze.
Let’s take back our city!

About your comment:

“I contacted the Queens and Bronx Democratic County Committees earlier today and asked them to commit to NOT putting either Senator up for the Party’s nomination in 2010.

Until we all get involved Albany will continue to ride over us. I’d love to hear suggestions as to what else we can do. Progressives were able to elect President Obama, New Yorkers can certainly take back our city!”

Great idea about contacting the County Committees. I’ll post the Contact links.

Thank you for your contribution Jade. Look forward to seeing you here again.

I’ve hounded my Senators (Squadron and Schumer) to sign on to the Duane/Latimer bill -Senate 8235/ Assembly 11097 bill (designed to protect NYC tenants by reforming the laws, including changing the rule allowing our anti-tenant Mayor to appoint ALL members of the RGB).
Neither Sen. would disclose where they stood on the issue. (Disappointing since until this, Sen. Schumer always replied to inform me of his policies.)
Despite their silence I felt there was a fairly good chance reform would FINALLY pass in NYS.

So I freaked when I heard about Monserrat and Espana’s incredible betrayal. Much is at stake this year. Not just tenants protection; gay rights and women’s reproductive rights also had a good chance of being strengthened, – that is until Monserrat and Espana decided to betray us. It figures 2 men with such shady pasts would caucus with the GOP, and be so cowardly that they wouldn’t have the decency to just become Republicans.

I contacted the Queens and Bronx Democratic County Committees earlier today and asked them to commit to NOT putting either Senator up for the Party’s nomination in 2010.
Until we all get involved Albany will continue to ride over us. I’d love to hear suggestions as to what else we can do. Progressives were able to elect President Obama, New Yorkers can certainly take back our city!