Tenants were joined by Cea Weaver from Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants and Celeste Hornbach, Department of Housing Preservation & Development
NEW YORK – Housing Justice for All and tenants from across New York City came together for a town hall on Mayor Mamdani’s housing plan, sharing their demands to lower housing costs with the administration. Cea Weaver from the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants and Celeste Hornbach with the Department of Housing Preservation & Development listened to tenants express their concerns with rent costs, living conditions, and how to hold greedy landlords accountable.
“Tenants are the majority in our city, and we’re on the frontlines of the housing crisis facing NYC. For too long, we’ve been relegated to the sidelines by decision-makers when we should be front and center. Tenants know what needs to change to make our homes safer and more affordable, and we’re excited to work with Mayor Mamdani’s administration as they craft their housing policy and make sure every New Yorker has a safe and affordable home,” said Sumathy Kumar, Housing Justice for All Director.
“Tenants know exactly what’s wrong with our buildings and how our landlords are treating us. We know what needs to be fixed, and we know our rent is rarely being used to fix it. We are excited for this new era for NYC, and we deserve to be part of the governing process that will impact our homes,” said Renette Bradley, a Brooklyn tenant and member of Housing Organizers for People Empowerment (HOPE) and town hall emcee.
“Tenants make up nearly two-thirds of New Yorkers, and our voices must be part of policymaking, especially when it comes to housing. Mamdani was elected because he promised to put tenants above real estate interests, and we’re working with him to make our city affordable for everyone. Landlords must be held accountable, and if the repairs aren’t done, the city has to collect the fines!” said Iris LaVergne, a Bronx tenant and leader of Community Action for Safe Apartments (CASA) and town hall emcee.
Housing Justice for All presented the Platform for Tenant Power, which outlines what tenants want to see in the Mayor’s upcoming Housing Plan. The meeting highlighted tenants’ support for “mass governance,” an approach to government that centers people and works to engage everyday New Yorkers in decision making and organizing.
The platform calls on the mayor’s office to address key tenant concerns such as:
— Holding landlords’ accountable for repairs and maintenance;
— Ending landlord self-certification practices that allow unsafe conditions to go unchecked;
— Creating permanently affordable and community controlled housing;
— Expanding opportunities for tenant-led building management;
— Creating regular forums for tenants to meet with government leaders and agencies;
— Requiring landlords to engage with tenants in collective bargaining, and more.