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For Immediate Release: June 15th, 2004 Contact: Contact: Jordan Isenstadt (c) 516.991.3842 (w) 212.490.9535 (f) 212.490.2151 ***PRESS RELEASE*** State Senator Liz Krueger Opposes Proposed Rent
Increases; Submits Testimony to Rent Guidelines Board New York, NY – State Senator Liz Krueger
(D-Manhattan) submitted testimony today before the New York City Rent
Guidelines Board (RGB) regarding proposed rent increases. The proposed rent increases for rent
stabilized tenants range from 3-5.5% for one-year leases and from 5.5-7.5%
for two-year leases. “During these extraordinarily difficult economic times, I
fear that rent increases of 3% and 5.5% will lead to further hardships, and
even evictions, for tens of thousands of families,” stated Senator Krueger. “The effects of these increases on
seniors, the disabled and other vulnerable New Yorkers on fixed incomes would
be especially grave. I strongly
encourage the board to reconsider its preliminary vote and to enact
significantly lower guidelines.
Such a decision would be entirely consistent with the legislative
mandate and jurisdiction of the Rent Guidelines Board, which was established
in 1969 to set rent guidelines that counteract the effects of an acute
housing shortage.” “There is a direct correlation between RGB increases, the
loss of affordable housing as more units become subject to vacancy decontrol,
and increased levels of homelessness,” remarked Senator Krueger. “Approximately 12,692 rent-stabilized
units were deregulated last year, more than 8,200 of these due to vacancy
decontrol. In 2003, an average of
38,310 people stayed in city homeless shelters each night; the number of
families staying in shelters was 50% higher than in 2001. The RGB’s proposed guidelines would
exacerbate the already dire circumstances of New York’s low and
moderate-income families,” Please see the attached testimony before the New York City
Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) regarding proposed rent increases for more
information. |
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