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Hundreds of tenants and housing activists gathered in Manhattan on Tuesday demanding a rent freeze for New York City’s approximately 2.4 million rent-stabilized apartment residents, calling for an immediate halt to rent increases amid rising living costs.
The demonstration was organized by groups including the New York State Tenant Bloc, CAAAV, and several local tenant organizations. Protesters argued that a “0% rent increase” should be implemented for both one- and two-year lease renewals to protect low- and middle-income residents.
The rally began at Joan of Arc Park with cultural performances, drumlines, and music, before participants marched to Symphony Space, where speakers addressed housing affordability, tenant protections, and eviction concerns.
Organizers claimed that the city’s Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) had recently considered a zero-percent rent increase option during preliminary discussions, marking what they described as a significant shift in rent policy debates.
Speaking at the event, New York State Tenant Bloc Executive Director Sumathi Kumar said tenants are currently under pressure from inflation, reduced federal support programs, and broader economic instability. He also argued that landlord operating profits have increased in recent years, strengthening the case for a rent freeze.
Tenant advocates emphasized that rent-stabilized housing in Manhattan and across New York City serves as a critical safeguard against displacement, particularly for working-class and immigrant families. They also cited reports alleging that many buildings have seen limited improvements in living conditions despite rent increases.
Longtime Chinatown resident and CAAAV tenant leader Shuzhen Liu shared her experience, stating that her building has changed ownership multiple times over the past three decades without significant maintenance improvements. She called rent hikes unfair and urged policymakers to prioritize tenant protection.
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