Good Old Lower East Side

United we stand by Yip Ly

May 15, 2001

The greatest shortcoming concerning the housing problems that all tenants in this city are facing is the inability by us, with all of our different housing descriptions, to be recognized as coming together. Why our current movement to secure truly affordable and stabilized housing has been so ineffective is because we, as tenants, represent at least eight (8) different groups looking in eight different directions without any of us being politically unified. We, as tenants, also represent over 2 million people.
Our body of city-wide tenants include those under the laws of (1) rent control, (2) rent stabilized, (3) loft, (3) Single Room Occupancy, (4) Public Housing/ NYCHA, (5) Project Based Section 8, (6) Section 8, (7) Unregulated and (8) market rate.
In contrast, the 100,000 or so landlords who are presently relying on working tenants to fill their bank accounts continue to strategize together under one agenda. This agenda intends to get rid of any rent controls what so ever. The formula is simple. Without rent regulation for tenants, landlords become absolute dictators as to whom, when and how much any tenant/client must pay and for how long. This also erases fair arguments in housing court against landlords on behalf of tenants, such as issues of harassment, illegal (unfair) rental charges, repairs and services. This potential situation for landlords will also invite issues of discrimination and social bias.
With regards to tenants, a single agenda should be just as simple. Tenants have got to fight any further weakening of the rent regulation laws. In addition, the ?“poor?” tax and the Urstadt Law, have to be repealed. The repealing of the Urstadt Law would allow New York City to have home rule over rent regulation. It is also necessary that we, as tenants together with our elected officials, push for new laws that will continue to strengthen renters of housing properties.
The challenge is clearly with the tenants side. There are all of these tenant groups. But the one bond that all tenants have is that we are all renters. We need protection from frivolous lawsuits of harassment , intimidation threats and of diminished services such as heat and hot (or even cold) running water, public service area maintenance (cleaned halls, trash disposal, secured front doors, intercom systems, etc.). We need real enforcement of Department Of Building codes as well as of the codes handed to us by the offices of Housing Preservation Department, and the Division of Housing and Community Renewal. It seems that nowadays these agencies are responding to complaints with no meaningful enforcement.
I feel as a united group rather than as a fragmented group, we can change things. We are literally dividing ourselves and waiting to be conquered. It?’s tough standing up to landlords and it?’s a full-time job. It takes courage and knowledge to stay the course, but I believe in numbers; all of us as tenants fighting as one! We can prevail!