Unemployment fell, tenant incomes went up, non-payment actions declined – although actual evictions increased slightly – and while homelessness rose, permanent placement of homeless families in regular housing also increased, according to the Rent Guidelines Board annual study of Income and Affordability released yesterday. Mayor de Blasio still has not appointed a new chair for the RGB.
Housing may be affordable for more seniors under a provision in the State Budget passed last week. Subject to City legislation, the State agreed to raise the income limit for SCRIE from $29,000 to $50,000 and pay the difference in lost City taxes.
Still, the Mayor’s plans for new housing may be stymied if legislation proposed by Manhattan Borough President Gail Brewer moves forward. She wants the Landmarks Preservation Commission to review every proposal to raze a building more than fifty years old…just about every new development proposal.
In other news of roadblocks to development, State Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal and City Council Member Mark Levine have both proposed legislation prohibiting discrimination in the provision of amenities to rent regulated or low income tenants in mixed income projects. Presumably, if passed, developers will have to charge separately for amenities such as gym memberships instead of just building costs into the market rents.
Two Housing Court cases reported this week highlighted the absurdity of New York rent laws. In G&L Holdings v. JR Gonzalez the court preserved succession rights for a tenant’s son while he spent six years in prison. And in 823 East 147th St. HDFC v. Hinnant, the court found that a tenant had additional due process rights against eviction because an HDFC was like a government entity and merely holding over wasn’t sufficient reason for eviction.
Speaking of absurdity, U.S. Representative Charles Rangel, infamous for using stabilized apartments as an office, has new office issues at the State Office Building in Harlem. He does not pay the rent.
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