O
n Tuesday, a coalition of grassroots groups staged a peaceful protest outside the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY), accusing wealthy investors and corporate landlords of driving up rents and locking out ordinary New Yorkers. With over 850,000 residents spending more than 40 % of their income on housing, the demonstrators called for immediate action: a rent freeze for all rent‑stabilized units, a surge in affordable‑housing construction, and stronger support for maintenance programs.
Sondra Youdelman of People’s Action said, “Housing is a basic need, yet the billionaires who control policy are hoarding homes and wealth. New Yorkers deserve affordable rents, safe maintenance, and real investment to keep a roof over our heads during crises. We demand accountability from REBNY.”
Representatives from People’s Action, Citizen Action New York, VOCAL Action Fund, Community Voices Heard Power, and Make the Road Action spoke on the steps. Kathryn Marrow of Community Voices Heard Power highlighted the personal toll: “Every rent hike pushes my family closer to the brink. We need a stable home, not a choice between rent and food. Corporate landlords profit while we’re priced out.”
The groups presented a demand letter outlining concrete solutions:
- Freeze rents for the 2.4 million New Yorkers in rent‑stabilized housing.
- Triple the capital available for building 200,000 new affordable homes over the next decade for low‑income households, seniors, and working families.
- Expand HPD’s Senior Affordable Rental Apartments (SARA) and Extremely Low and Low‑Income Affordability (ELLA) programs.
- Boost NYCHA’s funding and capacity for infrastructure upgrades and repairs.
“Nathylin Flowers of VOCAL Action Fund noted, ‘This city is the richest in the richest country, yet many pay almost half their paycheck for a roof. That’s a disgrace. Everyone deserves a safe, affordable home. The people in this building must act to make that a reality.’”
Jamell Henderson of Citizen Action New York added, “As a NYCHA resident, I’ve seen the damage of neglect—leaking ceilings, mold, broken elevators. Investing in public housing isn’t a luxury; it’s essential for health, safety, and dignity.”
The letter is available for review.
