This demands immediate action

To the editor:

Affordable housing is undeniably one of the most pressing issues our city faces. Without it, the cycles of poverty and homelessness will only tighten their grip on our community.

Two critical developments are currently unfolding: the Rent Guidelines Board is voting on rent increases to rent-stabilized homes, and the Fairness in Apartment Rentals Act is making its way through the city council.

Rent-stabilized housing accounts for nearly half of all rentals in the city, providing homes for many fixed-income retired New Yorkers, including my parents. This year, the guidelines board has proposed a rent hike of up to 6.5 percent on two-year leases — the highest increase in a decade. despite reporting a 10 percent increase in revenue for building owners.

What are renters getting in return for this rent increase? According to the board, the only things that have increased besides revenue are reports of substandard living conditions to the city’s housing and community renewal department. How can we expect low-income residents to pay higher rents when their housing is plagued by rats, roaches and mold?

The FARE Act is a piece of legislation that shifts the burden of paying real estate agents from renters to the individuals who hire them — typically the landlords. If you, like me, found your apartment through a personal connection or online, you were still forced to pay a month’s rent to a broker.

This practice is unique to New York City. Those who hire services should be responsible for paying for them — if landlords want someone to manage the rental process, they should cover that cost.

Most city public officials have made statements either calling for a rent freeze or supporting the FARE Act. However, Councilman Eric Dinowitz has not taken a clear stance on either issue.

This is our collective problem, and we need our leaders to take action today, not tomorrow. We must resist the exploitation of middle-class residents, half of whom already spend at least 30 percent of their income on rent.
Please reach out to Councilman Dinowitz’s office and urge him to support these critical measures. Without action from our public officials, the broken system will remain unchanged, continuing to fail us all.

Marcelo Lopez