Hundreds of tenants rallied at the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center in Queens against proposed rent increases for stabilized apartments. The Rent Guidelines Board voted to allow hikes of up to 7.75%, which would mark the fifth consecutive increase since 2020. Despite vocal support from six mayoral candidates for a rent freeze, tenant advocates argued for affordable housing, highlighting the impact on low-income households. The board's decision is preliminary and will undergo another vote in two months, leaving tenants concerned about their financial futures.
"We are the people who built this city, and we are the people who keep this city running," Grell said. "And yet, year after year, for the past four years and now five, the Rent Guideline Board consistently [adjusts] our rent."
The vote was preliminary, and the board will not vote to approve the range for another two months. If passed, it would be the fifth consecutive increase since June 2020.
Six mayoral candidates support a rent freeze including Zohran Mamdani, who has promised a four-year rent freeze that would save tenants $6.8 billion.
Bracing for the worst, tenant organizations mobilized to protest the potential hike in rent, chanting 'Freeze the rent!' and 'People united will never be defeated!' outside the center.
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