Via CityHallNews.com
Members of the Assembly are moving quickly to kill a proposal by State Sen. Pedro Espada that would freeze rents in New York City for as many as 750,000 tenants.
According to tenant activists, the Espada bill would amount to a get-out-ofjail-free card for landlords.
The bill would allow landlords who illegally deregulated thousands of apartments while receiving special tax breaks to keep those units at market rate by simply paying back the benefits. A landmark court ruling last year found that the owners of Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village had improperly collected what are known as J-51 tax breaks while converting thousands of apartments to market rate. In the months since the ruling, tenants at buildings from Harlem to TriBeCa have filed suits to claw back millions in rent increases.
Espada's bill would nullify those suits, saving landlords millions.
Continue reading "Landlords Look To Build Support For 'Rent Freeze' Bill In Wake Of Stuy-Town Ruling" @ CityHallNews.com
Members of the Assembly are moving quickly to kill a proposal by State Sen. Pedro Espada that would freeze rents in New York City for as many as 750,000 tenants.
According to tenant activists, the Espada bill would amount to a get-out-ofjail-free card for landlords.
The bill would allow landlords who illegally deregulated thousands of apartments while receiving special tax breaks to keep those units at market rate by simply paying back the benefits. A landmark court ruling last year found that the owners of Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village had improperly collected what are known as J-51 tax breaks while converting thousands of apartments to market rate. In the months since the ruling, tenants at buildings from Harlem to TriBeCa have filed suits to claw back millions in rent increases.
Espada's bill would nullify those suits, saving landlords millions.
Continue reading "Landlords Look To Build Support For 'Rent Freeze' Bill In Wake Of Stuy-Town Ruling" @ CityHallNews.com
It is very important that we let our State representatives know, not only that this piece of crap bill should not pass, but that we need protections going forward. e-mail them today !!
Who do we email and what do you suggest we say?
Email Tom Duane and any other State Senator you want. Assembly has passed pro tenant legislation .Also show up at TA meeting on 3/13 to let Tom know how you feel
Brian Kavanagh and Shelly Silver, although I can't imagine Brian supporting Espada's bill.
Who do we email and what do you suggest we say?
Sorry for the extra post. Puter froze.
As ziggy just said. e-mail Tom Duane and Brian Kavanaugh and tell them how concerned you are about retaining protections for rent stabilized tenants. Tell them specifically that you recognize Pedro Espada's bill as a clear cut attempt to nullify the effects of the Roberts decision that (thankfully) saved many RS apartments from imminent conversion to market rate. Tell them that you will support only those representatives who bring middle class tenant friendly legislation to the forefront and who work to pass those bills.
It doesn't hurt to contact Sen. John Sampson as well. He seems to be holding some keys that are blocking our success.
And one more thing. Tell ALL your state representatives that you are sick and tired of having ONLY the interests of big real estate money represented in Albany, and that New York City residents are handicapped by a mayor who doesn't represent their interests. Tell how vital their support is for us, and how you will work tirelessly to convince your fellow voters to support tenant friendly legislators.
I mean look.... we vote for these chuckleheads, the least they can do is help to keep us in our homes.