New York, NY – April 20, 2012 – (RealEstateRama) — The New York State Tenants & Neighbors Coalition, the Real Rent Reform Campaign, elected officials, and allied organizations will rally- and sing!- in support of A1892/S5699 (Rosenthal/Espaillat), on Friday, April 20 at 11:30 AM at the Goddard-Riverside Community Center. The bill in the legislature will help protect certain rent controlled tenants, many of whom are senior citizens, from having to pay unaffordable 7.5% rent increases every year. Instead, these tenants would have their rent adjustments determined by the Rent Guidelines Board, and would have the same rent adjustments as rent stabilized tenants.
Who: New York State Tenants & Neighbors Coalition, Real Rent Reform Campaign, elected officials, and allied organizations
What: Rally to protect elderly rent controlled tenants from annual 7.5% rent hikes
Where: Goddard Riverside Community Center, 593 Columbus Avenue (at W. 88th St)
When: Friday, April 20, 11:30 AM
Background about Rent Control
There are approximately 38,000 rent controlled tenants in New York City. The average rent-controlled tenant in New York City has a median income of $24,000 and pays 30% of his or her income toward rent. In addition, the vast majority of rent-controlled tenants are senior citizens living on low, fixed incomes. Despite this, under the current Maximum Collectible Rent/Maximum Base Rent system, many rent controlled tenants are ordered to pay increases of up to 7.5% every year, which is often higher than the percentage increase paid by rent stabilized tenants, whose rent adjustments are determined by the Rent Guidelines Board.
Contact:
Katie Goldstein, Tenants & Neighbors, 212-608-4320 ext. 400, kgoldstein (at) tandn (dot) org
Maggie Russell-Ciardi, Tenants & Neighbors, 212-608-4320 ext. 310, maggie (at) tandn (dot) org
