Mamdani names 6 members to Rent Guidelines Board, calls for ‘a more affordable NY’
Mayor Mamdani named six people to the city’s Rent Guidelines Board on Wednesday, bringing him closer to fulfilling his campaign promise to freeze rents for tenants in New York City’s nearly 1 million rent-stabilized apartments.
Implementing the rent freeze for four years was one of Mamdani’s main campaign promises, and it’s one of the only major agenda items that’s primarily within his control — even though final decision-making rests with the board.
“The Board will take a clear-eyed look at the complex housing landscape and the realities facing our city’s two million rent-stabilized tenants, and help us move closer to a fairer and more affordable New York,” Mamdani said in a statement. “At a time when so many families are struggling to stay home, this work could not be more important. »
Chantella Mitchell, program director at the nonprofit New York Community Trust, will serve as board chair, Mamdani said.
Sina Sinai, Lauren Melodia and Brandon Mancilla were appointed public representatives, Maksim Wynn as landlord representative and Adán Soltren was reappointed as tenant representative.
Former Mayor Eric Adams attempted to thwart Mamdani’s plans by consolidating the Rent Guidelines Board with his own appointees at the end of his term. But that plan backfired when two of Adams’ picks opted out.
The nine-member board of directors is meant to be independent and is responsible for studying market conditions to determine an appropriate rate of annual rent increase for stabilized tenants. Mamdani, however, had previously specifically promised to appoint only board members who pledged not to make any raises during the four years of his first term.
Mamdani did not mention his rent freeze promise in the announcement. At a news conference Wednesday afternoon, he said he hoped the board would “come to an appropriate decision.” Asked if he would forgo the rent freeze, the mayor emphasized that the RGB is an independent board and said the city “cannot respond to a crisis by simply rotating among those who suffer from it.”
