Albany - What do we NEED?

Since even the GOP agrees that the rent laws should be renewed, the question is WHAT will be in them aside from what's there now.

If they're left as is (the GOP plan), more apartments will be de-stabilized as they become vacant, and landlords will keep their incentive to find reasons to oust stabilized tenants.

They could be made worse - if the Legislature undoes the "Roberts" (J-51) decision, for example.

They could be made better - best if vacancy decontrol is repealed altogether; marginally better if, for example, the burden is shifted to landlords to prove they've put in improvements; better if all buildings leaving Mitchell-Lama  or Project-based Section 8 go into rent stabilization regardless of the year they were built and without "unique or peculiar circumstances" increases.

In 2003 when it was getting close to the wire to renew the rent laws, the Senate put out a pro-landlord bill and left town.  The Assembly seems to have gotten snookered: It decided it had to take that bill or the rent laws would end.

WE CAN'T LET THAT HAPPEN.  So let's hang on - calmly, deliberately - to ensure that the laws are not further weakened. 

Come to a 

RALLY to STRENGTHEN and RENEW THE RENT LAWS

Wed., June 15th (the day the laws expire) 

5 PM

In front of Gov. Cuomo's NYC office: 

633 Third Ave. (between 40th & 41st Streets) 

and if you're free on 

Monday, June 13, 2011 - Get on the bus to Albany.  It's leaving from in front of McDonald's on Broadway between 95th and 96th Streets at 10 AM.  Contact realrentreform@gmail.com to reserve a free seat.  (You'll get free pizza for lunch in Albany!).