New York Is Our Home!

Protest Senator Pedro Espada’s Betrayal of Bronx Residents

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle O'Brien) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:14:00 +0000

Join Housing Here and Now for a rally in the Bronx!

As the power struggle continues in Albany, tenants across the city still do not have the protections they deserve. Join Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition and CASA-New Settlement (Community Association for Safe Apartments) as we protest Senator Pedro Espada. Please find the information below.

Protest Senator Pedro Espada’s Betrayal of Bronx Residents

Friday, June 12, at 11:30 a.m.
400 E. Fordham Road, at Webster Ave.
In front of Senator Espada’s empty “District Office”

By joining with the Senate Republicans, Espada ensures the defeat of important bills that would have protected tenants and affordable housing in New York!

Bronx tenants are especially likely to face serious challenges finding stable, safe, decent, and affordable housing. Recently, Bronx tenants and their allies had been hopeful that a Democratic controlled State Senate would pass important legislation that would help protect tenants and preserve affordable apartments. This legislation would have been especially important in Senator Espada’s district, which has 77,000 rent-regulated apartments, the majority of which are occupied by Latino and working class families.

In handing the State Senate over to Republican Leadership, Pedro Espada has directly halted legislation, which would have helped many of the tenants in those 77,000 rent regulated apartments in his district, and all over New York City.

Tenants and other constituents of Senator Espada’s district are also angry by the disregard that their Senator has shown them by failing to open an office in his district where he can offer services to the constituents he claims to represent. This fact is particularly offensive, given that it is well known that Senator Espada lives in the wealthy suburb of Mamaroneck, far outside of his Bronx district.

Tenants are offended by the fact the Pedro Espada is falsely claiming to act in the name of his constituents and of Latino empowerment. Instead of fighting to pass legislation to support his tenant-heavy district, instead he fought to take power for himself!

Directions: -- Take the B or D train to Fordham Road. Walk east along Fordham road till you get to the corner of
Fordham road and Webster Avenue.

Sponsored by
Latinos for Affordable Rents Coalition
North West Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition,
CASA – New Settlement (Community Association for Safe Apartments)
The Mitchell-Lama PIE Campaign
Housing Here and Now

TENANT MOVEMENT BLASTS SENATE COUP; PUSHES FORWARD WITH AGEND

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle O'Brien) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 22:18:00 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – June 10th, 2009
A joint statement from NY’s two main tenant rights and affordable housing coalitions

TENANT MOVEMENT BLASTS SENATE COUP; PUSHES FORWARD WITH AGENDA

The tenant movement in New York is outraged by the June 8 power grab by two turncoats “Democratic” Senators to regain control of the New York State Senate for the Republicans.

Tenant leaders and advocates believe that these events were part of an effort by Senators Pedro Espada and Hiram Monserrate, as well as their Republican allies, to block pro-tenant legislation from being passed in the Senate this legislative session.

One of the central debates in the Senate that led to this attempted power grab was the tenant movement’s progress towards passage of S2237A, which would repeal vacancy decontrol, a provision in the rent laws which allows apartments to be taken out of rent regulation and converted to market rate housing. Vacancy decontrol is currently resulting in the loss of at least 20,000 units of affordable housing every year, accelerating the affordable housing crisis during a punishing economic downturn. Vacancy decontrol has led to widespread tenant harassment throughout New York City and the suburban counties as landlords attempt to remove tenants from their apartments, deregulate them, and increase the rents.

Senator Espada, Chair of the Housing Committee, had indicated that S2237A would be on the June 9 Housing Committee agenda. Representatives of the tenant movement had been promised by Senator Hiram Monserrate that he secured a commitment from Senator Espada to vote the bill out of committee and to vote for the bill when it came to the floor. The recent developments in the Senate will almost certainly hurt tenants’ efforts to ensure that important pro-tenant legislation will come to the floor for a vote this legislative session.

Monday’s events have led to widespread outrage in the tenant movement, which has been working for nearly four decades to help pro-tenant Senators regain control of the State Senate. Tenants had believed that pro-tenant legislation that is both so critical and so urgent would finally be passed this legislative session, with a Democratic majority in power. Instead, tenants have been betrayed at the eleventh hour by the very legislators they helped to elect.

The apparent coup d’etat was orchestrated by moneyed interests and their allies in the State Senate. Rochester billionaire Tom Golisano has been credited with helping Espada, Monserrate, and the Republicans strategize their takeover. And Joseph Strasburg of the Rent Stabilization Association was recently quoted saying “we’re pleasantly thrilled.” Once again, such interests have thwarted the democratic process and the will of New York’s voters.

“The legislators who have orchestrated this revolt are putting tenants’ rights and affordable housing in jeopardy. This is unacceptable; our elected officials must be accountable to their tenant constituents who helped them get elected and who have been counting on them to do the right thing,” said Maggie Russell-Ciardi, Executive Director of the New York State Tenants & Neighbors Coalition.

Tenants are planning actions in the districts to express their outrage and ask their Senators to do the right thing.

Press contacts:

Michael McKee, Treasurer of the Tenants Political Action Committee (917) 669-2977
Michelle O’Brien, Executive Director of Housing Here and Now (347) 265-9307
Maggie Russell-Ciardi, Executive Director of Tenants & Neighbors (212) 991-2657

Three Weeks to Go!

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle O'Brien) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:32:00 +0000

We have only three weeks left in the 2009 Albany Legislative Session. With one final push, we are on the verge of winning the strongest slate of pro-tenant legislation in decades. The repeal of vacancy decontrol, protection of Mitchell-Lama and Section 8 tenants, and reforms of rent increases for rent regulated tenants need us to step up and push them through. Now is a crucial time for everyone to get involved. We need you!

Get involved by joining us in Albany, canvassing door to door on the weekend, rallying in the city, or phone banking in the evenings.

1. Come to Albany

Senate Housing Committee Vote
Monday, June 8
We expect three crucial pro-tenant bills to be passed out of the Housing Committee on Monday. Join our vans going up to cheer the vote.
Contact Jon Furlong for details: (212) 979-6238, ext. 203

Mass Mobilization for Floor Vote
We will be taking up 300 people when the repeal of vacancy decontrol finally comes to the Senate floor.
Date to be announced

Daily Albany Trips
Every day of the Legislation Session, Monday to Thursday, tenants and advocates are driving up to Albany to distribute factsheets to Senators entering the chambers. Join one of these trips!
Contact Jon Furlong for details: (212) 979-6238, ext. 203

2. Canvass

Canvass Senator Carl Kruger in Brooklyn
Friday, June 5 or Sunday, June 7
Knock on doors in Senator Kruger's District, talking with tenants about current legislation.
Contact Giti Dadlani for details (212) 608-4320 ext. 316.

Canvass Senator Jeffrey Klein in the Bronx
Saturday, June 6
We are going door to door in Senator Klein's neighborhood to talk with tenants about the importance of repealing vacancy decontrol.
Contact Michael McKee for details: (212) 577-7001

3. Rally in the City

Rally planned at Brooklyn Borough Hall next week! Date to be announced.

4. Phone bank

Phone banking in the evenings Monday through Thursday!
Call tenants in key Senate districts and help get them involved by contacting their Senator.
Contact Michael McKee for details: (212) 577-7001.

Daily Trips to Albany!

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle O'Brien) — Fri, 22 May 2009 19:21:00 +0000

Housing Here and Now and Real Rent Reform are coordinating trips to Albany during every day of the legislative session. We are distributing literature to the New York State Senate and staff on the importance of repealing vacancy decontrol.

Check out both the fact sheets we have already distributed:

4/20/09: TenantsPAC Memorandum of Support for Repeal of Vacancy Decontrol

4/21/09: A Profile of Rent Regulated Tenants

4/22/09: It's Not Just a Manhattan Issue: The Impact of Vacancy Decontrol on the Boroughs

4/27/09: It's Not Just the Rent: Tenant Protections Under Rent Regulation

4/28/09: Landlords Prosper Under Rent Regulation

5/5/09: Vacancy Decontrol Hurts Immigrants

5/11/09: The Future of Affordable Housing

5/12/09: Stronger Rent Laws Now! - On May 12, over 250 tenants from across New York lobbied for stronger rent laws in New York. Here is the flyer we distributed widely with our platform.

5/18/09: In Defense of Regulation

5/19/09: Regulation Is Not a Subsidy, It Is a Anti-Profiteering Measure

5/20/09: Nothing Short of Full Repeal! Why Raising the Threshold Won't Work

6/1/09: Vacancy Decontrol Affects Apartments Renting for Under $2,000

6/2/09: Destabilization Destabilizes Communities: the Threat of Predatory Equity

Tenant Legislative Package

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle O'Brien) — Wed, 06 May 2009 17:19:00 +0000

Real Rent Reform Campaign
Housing Here and Now
Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development
Working Families Party

NO MORE DELAYS – STRONGER RENT LAWS NOW!
May 6, 2009

Between now and June 22, the New York State Legislature must enact a number of necessary reforms to undo years of legislative giveaways to the New York City real estate lobby that have exacerbated the housing crisis in the city and suburban counties. While there are many important pro-tenant bills pending in both houses, the following represent the absolute minimum of necessary reform. This year. Not next year.

Full Repeal of Vacancy Decontrol
S2237-A (Andrea Stewart-Cousins, et al.)/A2005 (Linda Rosenthal et al.)
This bill repeals vacancy decontrol, which has already cost New York City and the suburban counties of Nassau, Westchester and Rockland Counties an estimated 300,000 apartments that have been removed from rent and eviction protections and are no longer affordable. The bill also re-regulates 90 to 95 percent of the apartments that have been lost to vacancy decontrol in the last 15 years.

Adequate protections for former Mitchell-Lama & Section 8 Tenants
S3326 (Andrea Stewart-Cousins, et al.)
This bill provides for rent stabilization coverage for all Mitchell-Lama and project-based Section 8 buildings that leave or have left those government-supervised programs, regardless of when constructed or first occupied. The bill further prohibits landlords of newly rent-stabilized buildings from seeking rent increases under the “unique or peculiar circumstances” loophole. This is the only bill providing for rent regulation coverage of post-1973 buildings that have already left Mitchell-Lama or Section 8 and did not then become rent regulated.

Reform Major Capital Improvement Rent Increase System
S745-A (Liz Krueger, et al.)/A1928 (Daniel O’Donnell, et al.)
This bill makes rent increases for building-wide Major Capital Improvements temporary surcharges, so that once tenants have paid off the cost of the MCIs, the rent increase disappears. The MCI rent increase must be listed as a separate surcharge on the rent bill, rather than being compounded with the base rent.

Reform Individual Apartment Improvement Rent Increase System
S5296 (Daniel Squadron, et al.)/A5316 (Sheldon Silver, et al.)
This bill makes three necessary and reasonable reforms that address the key problems in the 1/40th rent increase loophole: (1) it lengthens the amortization period for such rent increases from 40 months to 84 months, thus bringing it into line with the MCI program. (2) It allows direct agency oversight of such rent increases to discourage fraud. (3) It strengthens tenant notification to improve oversight.
….. over …..
Reform Owner Use Evictions Loophole
S2642 (Daniel Squadron, et al.)/A1685 (Vito Lopez et al.)
This bill closes one of the worst loopholes in the New York City Rent Stabilization Law of 1969, which allows landlords to recover “one or more” apartments for occupancy by the landlord or a member of the landlord’s family, and has been used to empty entire buildings. This bill limits recovery to one apartment, and requires the landlord to demonstrate “immediate and compelling necessity” as in NYC rent control and suburban rent control and rent stabilization laws.

Reform Preferential Rent Loophole
A465 (Hakeem Jeffries, et al.)
This bill closes another bad loophole that allows a landlord of a rent-stabilized unit to rent to a new tenant at a “preferential” rent lower than the legal rent, then later offer the tenant a renewal lease based on the legal rent, hitting tenants with huge rent increases, sometimes several hundred dollars, often forcing them to vacate. The landlord then collects another 20 percent statutory vacancy bonus and engages in this scam all over again with a new tenant, while steadily moving the legal rent closer to the $2,000 per month threshold for vacancy decontrol. A465 allows the landlord to revert to the higher legal rent upon vacancy, but requires that the lease be renewed based on the lower preferential rent.

Reduce the Statutory Vacancy Bonus
A1686 (Vito Lopez et al.)
This bill reduces the statutory vacancy bonus from a minimum of 20 percent for a two-year vacancy lease to a minimum of 10 percent, and limits collection of the bonus to once a year.

Moratorium on Mitchell-Lama Buyouts
S2171 (Thomas Duane, et al.)/A6706 (Jonathan Bing, et al.)
This bill imposes an 18-month moratorium on Mitchell-Lama buyouts of rentals and coops, and requires DHCR to prepare a report to the Legislature with recommendations for how to preserve Mitchell-Lama housing.

Reform the NYC and Suburban Rent Boards
(To be introduced by Thomas Duane and George Latimer)
This bill restructures the four rent guidelines boards in NYC and the three suburban counties (originally designed by the real estate industry itself) to level the playing field and give tenants at least a chance of fair rent adjustments. Among the most important changes is a requirement for City Council approval of appointments by NYC mayor.

Restore Full Home Rule to New York City
S749 (Liz Krueger, et al.)/A1688 (Vito Lopez et al.)
This bill repeals the so-called Urstadt Law of 1971, named for Governor Nelson Rockefeller’s housing commissioner Charles J. Urstadt, and by doing so restores full home rule powers over rent and eviction laws to the New York City Council and Mayor.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Housing Here and Now (212) 979-6238 ext. 204
Real Rent Reform Campaign (212) 608-4320 ext. 316

Building Momentum to Repeal Vacancy Decontrol!

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle O'Brien) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 21:54:00 +0000

We are all making strides to win the repeal of vacancy decontrol! With rallies across the city, three mass mobilizations of tenants in Albany and actions across the city, we are demanding the Senate step up and save rent-regulated housing. The bill is out – S2237-A – and now we need 9 more votes to win. The campaign needs everyone for mobilizing across the city, canvassing in the Bronx, and phone banking in Manhattan. Check out the details below!

Get Connected!

It is up to us! To win vacancy decontrol EVERYONE must rise to the challenge. Tenants across the city are taking action throughout March to push every last Senator to sign on to the bill to repeal vacancy decontrol. Get together with your tenant association, community group, church or union and join in these district actions, or plan your own.

Vacancy Decontrol Mobilizations

We will be mobilizing for the following dates in New York City and in Albany on Vacancy Decontrol. Please mark your calendars for the following:

Rally in Martin Golden's District Office
Bay Ridge, Brooklyn
Friday, March 20, 3:00 PM (Tentatively)

Rally at City Hall, Manhattan
Tuesday, March 24, To be Determined

Lobby day in Albany
Monday, April 6

Rally at Harlem State Office Building
Wednesday, April 15

Find out more:

Jon Furlong, Housing Here and Now, (718) 246-7900 x273

Canvass in the Bronx

Go door to door talking with rent-regulated tenants about vacancy decontrol in the Bronx. We’ll be gathering signatures, flyering, encouraging folks to make calls, and getting the word out one person at time. Senators Pedro Espada Jr. and Jeffrey Klein in the Bronx need to hear from the thousands of tenants in their district.

Volunteer for canvassing:

Orlando Torres (NWBCCC) at 718-584-0515 Ext. 412 or 917-213-7529 (cell), Orlando@northwestbronx.org

Tamara Cyzck (New Settlement/CASA) at 718-716-8000 Ext. 125, tamara.c@newsettlement.org

Community Voices Heard will be flyering this Thursday March 5th and Friday March 6th from 4:30-6pm.
Please Contact: Diego Quinones (Community Voices Heard) @ 212-860-6001 or via email: diego@cvhaction.org

Phone Bank in Manhattan

Two long-time tenant rights groups – Tenants & Neighbors and Tenants PAC – are phone banking from Manhattan offices into key Senate districts, encouraging tenants to get involved and speak out for the repeal of vacancy decontrol.

Volunteer for the phone bank:

Tenants PAC
11 Park Place, Suite 814 (between Broadway and Church Street. ½ block west of City Hall Park.)
Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, from 5:30 to 8:30 pm for the next few weeks.
Call Michael McKee at (212) 577-7001

Tenants & Neighbors
236 W. 27th St., 4th Fl. Call for dates and times
Call Pat Coleman at (212) 608-4320 Ext. 306

NOW is the time!!!

We can win vacancy decontrol! The bill will probably come to the floor to the floor of the Senate in April, after the state budget has been passed. We have about 6 weeks to move all the senators who have not signed on yet. NOW is the time! It’s up to us! Call me to talk about how you can get involved

Tenants Take Over Caucus Weekend!

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle O'Brien) — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 17:26:00 +0000

See below for a blow-by-blow from our Valentine's Day trip to Albany, and an update on upcoming vacancy decontrol actions. Our tentatively planned trip to Albany next Tuesday, Feb. 24 has been POSTPONED until mid-March.

Last Saturday, tenants from across the city flooded the Annual Black and Latino Caucus in Albany, calling on legislators to repeal Vacancy Decontrol!

Over two hundred tenants and leaders descended on the capital, calling on members and participants of the caucus to repeal vacancy decontrol. Tenants spent hours passing out flyers, handing out stickers, and collecting signatures demanding the passage of the Senate bill that would signal the most significant win for tenants in more than three decades.

Tenants held a press conference and rally at the Legislative Office Building, followed with the Caucus workshop on Housing. We were joined by Senators Andrea Stewart Cousins and Bill Perkins and our allies Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries. Tenant leaders moved the crowd, including Julia Boyd of ACORN, Joseph Ferdinand and Ramona Santana of the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, Narcisa of Make the Road NY and Cathy Stephans of Community Voices Heard.

Senator Andrea Stewart Cousins announced she introduced the bill to repeal vacancy decontrol in the Senate as S2237. It already has 23 co-sponsors, and needs only 9 more votes to win. The fight is on to get every Senator we can signed on to the bill in the coming weeks.

We closed the day marching through the concourse on their way to the buses, chanting so loudly that there could be no mistaking what everyone was there for.

The repeal of vacancy decontrol would halt the loss of tens of thousands of affordable apartments from New York City.We need to keep the pressure on to carry the bill through the Senate! Check out who has already signed on:

Has your Senator signed on?

GREAT WORK TO EVERYONE WHO TOOK THE LEAD!

Great work to all the groups that made a special effort to turn out members for this event, including Make the Road NY, ACORN, Community Voices Heard, Housing Conservation Coordinators, Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, Tenants & Neighbors and Tenants PAC. This event could not have happened with out all of your hard work and dedication to this effort.

NEXT STEPS

The tentatively scheduled Lobby Visit to Albany for Next Tuesday the 24th has been postponed. Stay tuned for an early-March press conference, and many more actions to come.

We need to do everything we can in pushing the Senate to pass the repeal of vacancy decontrol. There are nine Senators who have not yet signed on. Let's start planning phone banks, district rallies, flyering, forums, and everything else we can to get these Senators on-board with tenants. Get together with your group and brainstorm actions you can take on.

STAY IN TOUCH!

For more information on upcoming mobilizations, please contact me! I can be reached at (718) 246-7900 x273 or jon@housinghereandnow.org.

Has your Senator signed on?

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle O'Brien) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:50:00 +0000

Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins has introduced S2237 in the State Senate to repeal vacancy decontrol. We have 23 co-sponsors. We need 32 votes to win.

Check back here for a tally of which Senators have signed on, and which haven't. We'll be updating this daily.

The following Senators have co-sponsored S2237 to repeal vacancy decontrol:

1. Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D- Westchester)
2. Liz Krueger (D- Manhattan)
3. Eric Adams (D- Brooklyn)
4. Joseph Addabbo (D- Queens)
5. Darrell Aubertin (D- Jefferson, Oswego, St Lawrence Counties)
6. Neil Breslin (D- Albany)
7. Ruben Diaz, Sr. (D- Bronx)
8. Thomas Duane (D- Manhattan)
9. Ruth Hassell-Thompson (D- Bronx, Westchester County)
10. Shirley Huntley (D- Queens)
11. Hiram Monserrate (D- Queens)
12. Velmanette Montgomery (D- Brooklyn)
13. George Onorato (D- Queens)
14. Suzi Oppenheimer (D- Westchester County)
15. Frank Padavan (R- Queens)
16. Kevin Parker (D- Brooklyn)
17. Bill Perkins (D- Manhattan)
18. Eric Schneiderman (D- Manhattan, Bronx)
19. José Marco Serrano (D- Bronx, Manhattan)
20. Daniel Squadron (D- Brooklyn, Manhattan)
21. Toby Ann Stavisky (D- Queens)
22. Antoine Thompson (D- Buffalo)
23. John Sampson (D- Brooklyn)

We need 8 more votes to get win!

These 9 Democratic Senators have not yet signed on:

1. Martin Dilan (D- Brooklyn)
2. Carl Kruger (D- Brooklyn)
3. Pedro Espada, Jr. (D- Bronx)
4. Jeffrey Klein (D- Bronx, Westchester County)
5. Malcolm Smith (D- Queens, Long Island)
6. Craig Johnson (D- Long Island)
7. Brian Foley (D- Long Island)
8. David Valesky (D- Syracuse)
9. William Stachowski (D-Buffalo)
10. Diane Savino (D- Brooklyn, Staten Island) - Savino removed her name as a co-sponsor.

As well, we are hopeful we can encourage these two downstate Republic Senators to sign on:

1. Martin Golden (R- Brooklyn)
2. Andrew Lanza (R- Staten Island)

Check back daily for updates.

TENANTS CHEER HISTORIC ALBANY VICTORY

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle O'Brien) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 01:25:00 +0000

Yesterday, tenants and housing advocates with Housing Here and Now cheered as the New York State Assembly passed the repeal of vacancy decontrol, and a whole package of pro-tenant legislation. Over calls for us to quiet down, nearly 50 tenants from New York City and Albany applauded cheered as news of the vote came through on the Assembly session floor. This crucial victory comes following more than a year of hard work by the entire housing justice movement of New York City. We rallied throughout the city, we braved the snow in endless trips to Albany, we lobbied our legislators, and yesterday, the assembly heard our demands!

The repeal of vacancy decontrol would halt the loss of tens of thousands of affordable apartments from New York City. The Assembly's passage of the repeal yesterday is a giant victory for tenants. The final vote count is still be calculated. At last count, the repeal of vacancy decontrol passed 91 to 52. Now, we need to keep the pressure on to carry the bill through the Senate!

NEXT STEPS

Next, join Housing Here and Now on SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14 for the next mass mobilization to Albany to push the State Senate! We're headed up for Caucus Weekend, a key time where Democrats sets their agenda moving forward. We need a mass presence to show them we mean business, and that the repeal of vacancy decontrol has to be the top of their priorities.

GREAT WORK TO EVERYONE WHO TOOK THE LEAD!

Great work to all the groups that joined Housing Here and Now yesterday on the Assembly floor to represent tenants, including ACORN, Pratt Area Community Council, Mitchell-Lama Tenants' Association, Tenants & Neighbors, Tenants PAC, West Side Neighborhood Alliance and Park West Village Tenants Association. These folks turned out on short notice to show the Assembly that tenants are behind them in this key victory.

Special congratulations as well to all the groups who took the lead on last week's Senate lobby visits in Albany and recent in-district lobbying, including the above groups and North West Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, New York City AIDS Housing Network, Community Voices Heard, Make the Road NY, New York Immigration Coalition, Catholic Charities of Queens and Brooklyn, Real Rent Reform Campaign, Bushwick Housing Independence Project, Interfaith Assembly on Housing and Homelessness, Voices of Women Organizing, Picture the Homeless, Chelsea Tenant Action Committee,

STAY IN TOUCH! STAY IN THE FIGHT!

For more information on the Albany mobilization on Saturday, February 14 or to RSVP, contact Housing Here and Now's new Lead Organizer: Jon Furlong. He can be reached at (718) 246-7900 x273 or jon@housinghereandnow.org .

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle O'Brien) — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 05:02:00 +0000

GET ON THE BUS FOR ALBANY THIS MONDAY!
Cheer the Assembly passing a major victory for housing justice
Demand the Senate carry the repeal of Vacancy decontrol through to the end!

MONDAY FEBRUARY 2
Free Bus from NYC:
Brooklyn: 7:30 AM; 2-4 Nevins St. & Flatbush Ave at ACORN's Office
Harlem: 8:30 AM; 135th St & Lenox Ave

RSVP to michelle@housinghereandnow.org or (718) 246-7900 x247

This Monday, 55 tenants and housing advocates will be headed to Albany. We will cheer the Assembly passing the repeal of vacancy decontrol to save New York's rent-regulated housing, and hold a press conference demanding swift action by the Senate. We're carrying the momentum from our 1,000 person rally on December 9 and last week's Albany lobbying to push the biggest victory for tenants in 34 years.

Coming Up

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 17:09:00 +0000

Now is the time to get involved to repeal vacancy decontrol and protect rent-regulated housing in NYC!

1--- TOMORROW, Fri, Jan 16th: NYS Assembly Committee on Housing:
2--- Tuesday, Jan 27th: Housing Justice Lobby Day in Albany

* * * * *

1--- TOMORROW, Fri, Jan 16th: NYS Assembly Committee on Housing: Public Hearing on Rent Regulation

This Assembly hearing aims to determine what actions can be taken to preserve the existing supply of rent regulated housing and to encourage the development of new units. Join Housing Here and Now and show support for the repeal of vacancy decontrol.

When: Friday, January 16, 2009, 11:30 a.m.
Where: 250 Broadway, NYC, Assembly Hearing Room, Room 1923, 19th Floor

250 Broadway is directly across the street from City Hall, in lower Manhattan.

Let us know you can come: danielle@housinghereandnow.org, 646-202-3962

It is not clear how long the hearing will go on, but it is likely it will go into late afternoon, so come late if you must.

For more info or to submit form to testify: http://www.assembly.state.ny.us/com/Housing/20090108/

* * * * *

2--- Tuesday, Jan 27th: Housing Justice Lobby Day in Albany

Join Housing Here and Now in Albany to lobby key Senators in the fight to get their commitment to repeal vacancy decontrol. If you're interested and available in lobbying for this important day of action, please contact: danielle@housinghereandnow.org, 646-202-3962

Successful Membership Meeting and Lobby Training

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:59:00 +0000

135 people from over 30 organizations from all around NYC participated in the January 13th Membership Meeting and Lobby Training! Congratulations to everyone involved. Photos--

To participate in upcoming lobby visits in Albany (January 27th) or in Senators' district offices throughout the upcoming weeks, be in touch:
danielle@housinghereandnow.org, 646 202 3962

2009 is the year

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:59:00 +0000

...to overturn vacancy decontrol and protect rent regulated housing! With the Senate leadership decided and a new Democratic majority in place, we need to keep our eyes on the prize and let our State Senators know what our communities need.

Photos of the Rally!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 17:50:00 +0000

Check out photos of the December 9th
Rally to Overturn Vacancy Decontrol --

- From East Harlem Preservation, Inc.

- From Housing Conservation Coordinators

TENANTS ROCKED THE HOUSE!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:55:00 +0000

1,000 tenants, housing advocates, elected officials, clergy and community leaders turned out in force on Tuesday night to demand the end to vacancy decontrol! We had a tremendously successful rally that left everyone excited and ready to carry forward the end of vacancy decontrol and the greatest win for

tenants in decades. Our chants shook that building's foundations, our passion flooded the streets.

Congratulations and Thank you EVERYONE who made it such a success -- the 1,000 who turned out, the 100 volunteers, the dozens who poured countless hours in to make the rally happen! We are making history.

*************************

IN THIS POST:

1- Congratulations & THANK YOU!

2- Support from Elected Officials

3- Stay involved

*************************

1- *Congratulations & Thank You
..to everyone who worked to make the rally a huge success!

The Housing Here and Now steering committee groups: ACORN, Community Voices Heard, Make the Road NY, New York AIDS Housing Network, New York Immigration Coalition, North West Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, Tenants and Neighbors, Working Families Party

Other organizations that mobilized and helped make the rally a success: Casa/New Settlement, Catholic Charities of Brooklyn, Chelsea Tenant Action Committee, City Wide Task Force on Housing Court, East Side Congregations, Flatbush Development Corporation, Goddard Riverside Community Center, Good Old Lower East Side, Housing Conservation Coordinators, Interfaith Assembly on Homelessness & Housing, Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, Met Council on Housing, Mirabel Sisters, Neighbors Allied for Good Growth, Neighbors Helping Neighbors, Park West Village, People's Firehouse, Pratt Area Community Council, Queers for Economic Justice, Real Rent Reform (R3), RENA (Riverside-Edgecombe Neighborhood Association), Rude Mechanical Orchestra, SRO Project, St. Nicholas NPC/UNO, Tenants PAC, United Neighbors Organization, West Side Neighborhood Alliance

People who were crucial to making it happen: Andres Mares Muro, Angel Vera, Ana Lugo, Ann Bragg, Ann Meigsinger, Anne Sullivan, Bob Masters, Bill Lipton, Diego Gerena-Quinones, Emmanuel Caicedo, Ericka Stallings, Erin Zipper, Erik Beach, Gladys Puglia, Henry Serrano, Hugh Ryan, Jay Toole, Javier Valdes, Jeremy Saunders, Jon Kest, Jon Westin, Laverne Holley, Liz Gardner, Maggie Russell Ciardi, Marc Greenberg, Rev. Mark C. Hallinan, Mike Mckee, Orlando Torres, Pat Boon, Patrick Coleman, Ramona Santana, Tunisha Walker, Lucas Shapiro, Elana Shneyer, Tenaz Dubash, Erin Carmen, Katie Goldstein, Liz McInnes...And more!

Everyone who mobilized, were bus captains and volunteers: Alex Garcia, Amanda Plumb, Annette Kirnan, Ariel Federow, Avi Rosenthalis, Bridgette Beatty, Bryan Sanchinell, Cameron Craig, Cesar Figueroa, Christopher Fussell, Chuck Tice, Clare Dockery, Clive Edwards, Daniel Lang/Levitsky, Dara Silverman, Dave Golden, Diego, Elida Ramirez, Edy Lyons, Edrie Cote, Elida, Emily Margolis, Emily Millay Haddad, Eric Alugas, Erica Weinstein, Eve Goodman, Evellin R Mejia, Francine Brewer, George Finley, Janet Ziff, Jaron Benjamin, Jay Jones, Jean Davis, Jeremiah Jones, Jesse Goldman, Joseph Ferdinand, Kurt Hill , Laura Rocio Ordonez, Leroy Matthews, Margo Kulkarni, Maria Quintanilla, Michael Hartwyk, Omayra Navia, Peter Gillespie, Rafael A Perez, Ronn Merriwether, Ryan Kuonen, Ryan Richardson, Saduf Syal, Sara Lalin, Shannon Barber, Wayne Harrington, Yolanda Coca ... And SO MANY More!

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2- Support from Elected Officials:

On Tuesday December 9th, we held our allies in the State Legislature to our demands to end vacancy decontrol. Everyone who climbed the stage signed the pledge:

-- We will make the repeal of vacancy decontrol a top priority in 2009.

-- By January 10, 2009, I will speak to my Speaker, the future Housing Chair and the Governor and urge them to support the repeal of vacancy decontrol.

We had a strong showing with 13 state elected officials signing on: Senator-Elect Joe Addabbo, Senator Tom Duane, Senator Liz Krueger, Senator Diane Savino, Senator Eric Schniederman, Senator Jose Serrano, Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Senator-Elect Daniel Squadron, Assembly Member Karim Camera, Assembly Member Richard N. Gottfried, Assembly Member Hakeem Jeffries, Assembly Member Jose Peralta, and Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal; City Council Member Gale Brewer also showed her support.

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3- Stay Involved

Membership Meeting & Housing Justice Legislative Advocacy Training

For the last 3 weeks of January, we will be scheduling visits with key State Assembly members and Senators who can push forward the repeal of vacancy decontrol. Join us for a training on conducting lobby visits and a meeting to plan our legislative strategy!

When: Tuesday, January 13^th, 6pm

Where: Grace Church, 86 4th ave (at 11th street) New York, NY

Give feedback

What did you think about the rally? What was good? What could be better next time? What should our next steps be?

Volunteer for Housing Here and Now!

Help build on the energy from Tuesday's rally! We need help with data-entry and phone banking so we can stay in touch with everyone who came. Give an hour or two to Housing Here and Now in the coming month!

RSVP/Contact: Danielle AT Housinghereandnow.org or 646-202-3962

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* We apologize to anyone we missed! Thank you for everything!

Protect Rent Stablized Housing! End Vacancy Decontrol!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 16:55:00 +0000

This winter, New York tenants are going to end vacancy decontrol and win the greatest victory for the housing justice movement since 1974. Join us for this historic battle to save 100,000 rent-regulated units on the verge of elimination, and stop the devastating impact of deregulation.

Vacancy decontrol is the greatest threat to New York's affordable housing. This winter, we can end it and save 100,000 rent regulated units on the verge of elimination. Through vacancy decontrol, landlords can take a vacant apartment out of rent regulation when the rent reaches $2,000.

Download talking points - in English or Spanish about this issue.

New HHN Materials in Spanish

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:05:00 +0000

We have three newly translated items about Housing Here and Now's two current campaigns:

¿Qué es el descontrol de vacantes? covers the basics of vacancy decontrol, its impact, and our current campaign for its repeal. Special thanks to Alexandra García for translating this.
Desregulación de Vacantes is the same document, in bullets, with a different translator. Thanks to Diego Gerena-Quinones and Community Voices Heard for arranging this translation.
Reformas Administratives de DHCR covers our demands for changes at the Department of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR). Special thanks to Community Voices Heard for translating these DHCR materials.
Carta DHCR is a demand letter we prepared for the Commissioner of DHCR for our October 21 protest.

NOW is the Time: Housing Here and Now takes action!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:38:00 +0000

Greetings,
Housing Here and Now is rolling into an aggressive fall campaign to overturn vacancy decontrol! On Tuesday 11/4, the voters of New York voted for a State Senate voted in a Democratic majority. This is the critical time to hold them accountable to securing affordable housing for ALL New Yorkers. Housing Here and Now is doing this exciting work and we hope ALL of you will participate.
Looking Forward--
Danielle Feris
Housing Here and Now, Lead Organizer

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
1) Coming Up! -- 12/9: Rally to repeal vacancy decontrol
2) 12/9 Rally to repeal vacancy decontrol -- Attend, mobilize & volunteer
3) Resources -- Fact sheet on vacancy decontrol, an article with brand new stats & updated website
4) Report-backs -- 10/21 DHCR Action & 10/28 Membership Meeting

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
1) Coming Up! -- 12/9: Rally to repeal vacancy decontrol

12/9: Rally to repeal vacancy decontrol
When the rent in a vacant apartment can be raised to $2000 a month, landlords can raise the rent to anything they want. This is known as "vacancy decontrol." The State legislature can end this, saving 100,000 regulated apartments in the coming few years. At this rally, we will come together and show our power to hold politicians accountable and END VACANCY DECONTROL! Download the flyer
Tuesday, December 9th, 6:30pm-8:30pm
Location: New York Society for Ethical Culture,
2 W 64th St at Central Park West, Manhattan; By Subway: 1 to 66th St; A,B,C,D to Columbus Circle

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
2) 12/9 Rally to repeal vacancy decontrol -- Attend, Mobilize & Volunteer

Attend the rally to repeal vacancy decontrol on December 9
Tell us you are coming! Need help with transportation? Need childcare? Let us know!

Mobilize your friends and neighbors to attend the rally
Let's pack the room with community members from across NYC who want affordable housing NOW!-- Download this flyer and distribute it far and wide! (Short on toner? Download this simpler flyer). For printed flyers and other support in your outreach, contact us.

Volunteer at the rally
HHN NEEDS YOU! -- There a ton of important roles to fill to help make the 12/9 rally run smoothly, so that our voices will be heard loud and clear by the elected officials. Are you available on Tuesday 12/9? Can you arrive early at 4pm and help set up? Can you volunteer during the event? Can you stay late till 9:30pm and help clean up? Tell us!

Contact Danielle at danielle at housinghereandnow.org or 646-646-202-3962 to RSVP, tell us your needs, get flyers or sign up to volunteer!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
3) Resources!

Fact Sheet -- The basics of Vacancy Decontrol, how it works, and our campaign to repeal it.
http://www.housinghereandnow.org/pdfs/What_is_Vacancy_Decontrol.pdf

Article -- More on Vacancy Decontrol with up-to-date facts and statistics.
http://www.housinghereandnow.org/pdfs/Vacancy_Decontrol_Gotham_Gazette.pdf

Flyers-- for rally to repeal vacancy decontrol on December 9. Be in touch if you need printed copies. Both flyers are bilingual in English and Spanish.
Here is a stylish flyer that needs a lot of toner to print: http://www.housinghereandnow.org/pdfs/12-9_rally_stylish.pdf
Here is a less-stylish simple flyer that is easy to print: http://www.housinghereandnow.org/pdfs/12-9_rally_simple.doc

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
4) Report-backs -- 10/21 DHCR Action & 10/28 Membership Meeting

10/21 DHCR Action
On October 21, tenants from across New York City gathered to demand the Department of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) step up and do it's job! We had simultaneous protests in the Bronx and Manhattan, and demanded DHCR crack down on illegal rent increases, landlord harassment, and fake Major Capital Improvement (MCI) increases. We also asked DHCR to hold public forums for more tenants to bring their concerns, and establish a community advisory panel. We played music, gave speeches, made some noise, and made our voices heard! Special thanks to the tenants of Make the Road NY, who filled a bus and brought the noise; Legal Aid Society, who helped formulate the demands; and tenants from Community Voices Heard and New York City AIDS Housing Network for being a key part of the organizing. We'll be stepping up our campaign to push DHCR into the winter. Join us!

10/28 Membership Meeting
There were over twenty participants from twelve organizations. We debriefed the 10/21 DHCR action; had a great discussion about the meaning and implications of Vacancy Decontrol; publicly committed our organizations to concrete turn out goals for 12/9; and signed up to volunteer on 12/9. The meeting was overall positive and productive. Big thanks to New York Immigration Coalition for hosting and to our fabulous facilitators, James and Anne!

New vacancy decontrol documents

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:28:00 +0000

Check out the new documents we've put together highlighting vacancy decontrol and how we can end it:

What is Vacancy Decontrol? lays out the basics of vacancy decontrol, how it works, and our campaign to repeal it.
Andrew Beveridge's article on vacancy decontrol has some of the most up-to-date facts yet on vacancy decontrol, including information that 100,000 apartments were on the verge of deregulation in 2005!
We have a new, stylish flyer for the rally to overturn vacancy decontrol on December 9, made by our stellar volunteer graphic designer Erin Zipper. It is bi-lingual in Spanish and English.
For those whose printers might have have trouble with the heavy blacks of our stylish flyer, we're also including a simple flyer for the same 12/9 rally to repeal vacancy decontrol.

DHCR Action and Upcoming Rally

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 23:35:00 +0000

Housing Here and Now: Fall Actions

Here at Housing Here and Now, we're hitting the fall season running. We're keeping up the fight for a New York that belongs to everyone. Check out our current work:

DHCR Action this last Tuesday
Citywide rally to end vacancy decontrol and save rent-stabilized housing on December 9
Housing Here and Now welcomes Danielle Feris as our new Lead Organizer

DHCR Action: Last Tuesday

This last Tuesday, Oct. 21 tenants from rent-stabilized apartments throughout the city joined forces to protest the Department of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR). At their regional office in Lower Manhattan, and the borough office in the Bronx, tenants demanded DHCR crack down on landlord abuse of Major Capital Improvement rent increases, illegal rent hikes, and landlord harassment. Tenants shared powerful stories of fighting back against landlord abuses, while others went upstairs to present our demands. We joined together in song, music, and action.

Check out our materials about the protest:

We got news in Metro, Epoch Times, City Limits, and on NY1 and WWRL.

We'll keep the campaign for reform at DHCR going strong. If we can't get DHCR to do the right thing on their own, the next step is pressuring the Governor to stand by tenants.

All out for December 9 rally to Overturn Vacancy Decontrol

On November 19, one thousand tenants, advocates, union members, and communities of faith will join together to demand the end to vacancy decontrol! Vacancy decontrol is the loophole that allows landlords to deregulate a vacant rent-stabilized apartment when they could raise the rent to $2,000. New York City looses over 10,000 apartments to vacancy decontrol every year. Eventually, vacancy decontrol could be the end of New York's rent stabilized apartments. This year, we can end it and save rent-stabilized housing!

Tell all your neighbors, friends, family, and community. Our newly elected officials will be there to show us where they stand. We have to show in force we will do what it takes to save affordable housing and a future for all New Yorkers!

Citywide rally to end Vacancy Decontrol
Tuesday, December 9, 6:30 PM

The Society for Ethical Culture

2 West 64th street at Central Park West

Housing Here and Now welcomes a new Lead Organizer

This Monday, Danielle Feris will begin work as the new Lead Organizer of Housing Here and Now. She brings a rich organizing experience with Jews for Racial and Economic Justice and supporting Domestic Workers United. We were impressed with her passion, vision, and commitment to building tenant power and housing justice for all New Yorkers. You can reach her at danielle at housinghereandnow.org, or her cell (646) 202-3962. Call her about the Nov. 19 rally, and how we can work together in creating real people power.

As well, you might be getting a call from Ann Meisinger, our new outreach volunteer. She's committed four hours a week between now and December 9 to making turnout calls for the rally to overturn vacancy decontrol. You can reach her at ann at housinghereandnow.org. We are always looking for more volunteers.

Keep up the struggle for housing justice!

In solidarity,

Michelle O'Brien, Executive Director
Housing Here and Now

DHCR Protest in the Bronx

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 01:22:00 +0000

On October 21, tenants from across the city joined forces to demand administrative reforms from DHCR. Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, a core steering committee member of New York Is Our Home and Housing Here and Now, organized a protest at the Bronx DHCR office.

Check out the photos from the Bronx protest, by Dino Rossi:

Go Away!
Originally uploaded by Housing Here and Now - New York Is Our Home

Don't Cry
Originally uploaded by Housing Here and Now - New York Is Our Home

Group Hug
Originally uploaded by Housing Here and Now - New York Is Our Home

MPagan
Originally uploaded by Housing Here and Now - New York Is Our Home

Fist 3
Originally uploaded by Housing Here and Now - New York Is Our Home

Proud
Originally uploaded by Housing Here and Now - New York Is Our Home

Housing Here and Now Endorses Real Rent Reform's Oct. 1 Rally

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle O'Brien) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:34:00 +0000

Housing Here and Now is proud to announce our support and endorsement of Real Rent Reform Campaign. We encourage our membership and allies to turn out for the October 1 city-wide rally against the rent hikes of the Rent Guidelines Board, in demanding affordable housing and the slowing of New York City's housing crisis.

Real Rent Reform and Housing Here and Now have fought together for very similar platforms, both committed to overturning vacancy decontrol, keeping apartments formerly under Mitchell-Lama and Project-Based Section 8 in the rent stabilization system, and pushing a comprehensive strategy of defending affordable housing for all New Yorkers. We have been allies in each other's work, and are together building a strong, unified housing justice movement.

Upcoming fall events for Housing Here and Now members, tenants and affordable housing advocates:

October 1: Real Rent Reform City-wide Rally, 5:30 PM, Harlem State Office Bldg Plaza, 163 West. 125th St., east of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Blvd.

November 19: Housing Here and Now City-Wide Rally to Overturn Vacancy Decontrol, Location and time to be announced.

Protest now before the elections to show the candidates we mean business, and after to demand they follow through!

Please support Real Rent Reform as an ally and fighter for affordable housing. To join us in endorsing the campaign, or to find out more, contact Real Rent Reform at 212-979-6238, ext. 204 or join@realrentreform.org.

Check out the links below for more information about Real Rent Reform's remarkable work:

- The R³ legislative agenda . A Spanish version is also available here.

- The flier for the October 1st Real Rent Reform rally, in English and Spanish.

For a united NYC tenants' movement!

Housing Here and Now Campaign Planning Meeting - Wed, Sept. 24

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 20:28:00 +0000

Last spring, many of you mobilized for local rallies and trips to Albany for the repeal of vacancy decontrol, the $2,000 loophole in our rent laws. We successfully fought this legislation defending tenants through the Assembly. Now it is time to take the next step, and end vacancy decontrol altogether.

Join us in planning the next steps of the campaign!

Housing Here and Now Campaign Planning Meeting

Wednesday, Sept. 24, 6:30 PM

Grace Church

802 Broadway, enter at 4th Ave. and 11th St.

Spanish translation will be provided. Wheelchair accessible.

All are welcome.

We will be spending the time planning a major, 1,000-person rally on November 19, demanding the end to vacancy decontrol! We are also planning creative events through the fall to highlight the need for stronger rent laws and better housing.

Save the date: November 19, Rally to End Vacancy Decontrol!

Gov. Signs Shelter Allowance Increase for NYCHA

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 13:58:00 +0000

On Aug. 15, the Governor signed a bill to increase NYCHA's shelter allowance to the level that private landlords receive for tenants on public assistance. This is an important step forward in the effort to secure public housing for the 600,000 New Yorkers who live in these developments. The shelter allowance increase will provide an additional $63 million in funding to NYCHA over the next two years.Thanks to all who campaigned for this. The intensive push of calls and letters, press work and other grassroots organizing paid off. The Governor was under pressure to avoid this spending, but ultimately did the right thing. There is much more to do to ensure full funding for public housing and to preserve other types of housing low and middle-income families rely on, but this is an important moment to celebrate.

Message from Starrett City Tenant Leader on Buy Out Notice

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 13:37:00 +0000

From Linda Tilton, ACORN member and Starrett City Leader:

We got rid of the potential buyer, Clipper Equity, who was trying to buy Starrett City for $1.3 billion. For that much money, Clipper would have had no choice but to raise rent and displace tenants who could not afford the new high rents.

But here we go again! We just got a buy out notice – the landlord wants to leave the Mitchell-Lama program. It’s sad to think that Starrett City might not remain as it is. The people who built Starrett City built something wonderful and should be proud of this. Instead, the money becomes most important, not the people or the place. We are going to remain strong and united. We are not giving up.