Assemblyman Dinowitz holds well-attended town hall meeting on expiring tenant protection laws

    Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz held a town hall meeting at the Kingsbridge Public Library on New York’s tenant protection laws, which are due to expire in June. Over 100 community members attended the event. Assemblyman Dinowitz and the town hall’s other two panelists, Judith Goldiner, Attorney-in-Charge at the Legal Aid Society, and Katie Goldstein, Executive Director of Tenants and Neighbors, spoke briefly and then answered a number of insightful questions from attendees about the nuances of New York’s rent laws.

Assemblyman Dinowitz said, “I am pleased that so many members of the community came out last night to learn more about our tenant protection laws. Tens of thousands of Northwest Bronx residents and millions of people across the city depend on these laws to shield them from massive rent increases and ensure their right to a lease renewal. Renewing and strengthening the tenant protection laws is clearly very important to many in our community, and doing so is my top priority this legislative session. Thank you to Judith Goldiner and Katie Goldstein for lending their time and expertise at my town hall meeting.”

“The Alliance for Tenant Power is excited to work with Assemblyman Dinowitz and the Northwest Bronx community to ensure the renewal and strengthening of the rent laws this session,” said Judith Goldiner, Attorney in Charge, The Legal Aid Society, Civil Law Reform.

"Tenants & Neighbors commends Assemblyman Dinowitz for bringing together tenants in his district to discuss the importance of renewing and strengthening the rent laws this June to preserve the homes of 1 million low and moderate income New Yorkers," said Katie Goldstein, Executive Director, Tenants & Neighbors.

The tenant protection laws, due to expire on June 15^th,  regulate over a million rent-stabilized and rent-controlled apartments in the City and many more across the state, protecting millions of residents from large rent increases and guaranteeing their right to a lease renewal. Even under current regulations, landlords are authorized to raise rents by large amounts through a variety of means. Assemblyman Dinowitz authored an op-ed earlier this year describing these existing loopholes in greater detail. The op-ed can be read here: http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Jeffrey-Dinowitz/story/62606/

At the meeting, Assemblyman Dinowitz and the other panelists encouraged members of the community to make their voices heard on this issue. Community members are invited to:

• Join tenants and advocacy groups across the city for a series of rallies, marches, and bus trips to Albany beginning in May. For details on upcoming events, visit the website of Tenants & Neighbors athttp://www.tandn.org/ or call 212-608-4320.

• Tell Governor Andrew Cuomo about your support for the tenant protection laws. Letters should be addressed to:

The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo

Governor of New York State

NYS State Capitol Building

Albany, NY 12224

Governor Cuomo’s office can also be reached by phone: 518-474-8390.

• Write letters to the local papers.

• Speak with friends and family about the importance of renewing and strengthening tenant protection laws.

Assemblyman Dinowitz said, “Every voice counts in the fight to renew and strengthen New York’s tenant protection laws. I urge you to take action to help protect the rights of millions of tenants in New York City and across the state!”