PEP May 2002: New gains in Rent 2002 Campaign

By DIANE S. WILLIAMS

The DC 37 Rent 2002 Campaign to extend rent regulation laws and end vacancy decontrol has gained more ground through four recent developments.

Several union locals have joined the battle to save rent stabilized and rent regulated apartments.
Hundreds of members are taking part in a letter writing campaign to state officials and politicians.

On April 15, the New York State Assembly passed legislation introduced by Speaker Sheldon Silver to extend rent regulation laws to 2008 and to end landlords' ability to deregulate vacant apartments.
Two days later, Frank Padavan introduced similar legislation in the State Senate.

If the senators also pass the bill, it will go before Gov. George E. Pataki as he runs for re-election.

"All-out campaign"
"This is an all-out campaign in which our members are fighting for the right to live in this city," said DC 37 Housing Committee Chair Barry Jamison.

"Anyone can play a role in this campaign. If you have a pen you have the power to make it happen," he said.

The rent regulation laws are set to expire June 15, 2003, and the DC 37 Housing Committee is pushing the affordable housing issue to the forefront of the 2002 political debate.

Tens of thousands of DC 37 members and their families could face eviction if rent control laws are allowed to sunset and vacancy decontrol is not repealed. Also at risk are the jobs of 450 state workers. The members of Rent Regulations Services Employees Local 1359 administer the rent laws for the Division of Housing and Community Renewal.

"It's clear why politicians had put off the renewal date of these laws until 2003, after the statewide elections," said Mr. Jamison. "But we are making this an issue that will decide who gets elected to office in November 2002."

"How can we expect to be Everyday Heroes for a city we cannot afford to live in?" asked Ralph Carbone, a housing lawyer and president of Local 1359. "For too long landlords have had their cake and ate it too. They got fat off property tax breaks, and now they're opting out of these programs to rake in even more money through astronomical market rents."

"Keep rents affordable"
Several of DC 37's larger locals also have made the Rent 2002 Campaign part of their political agenda. Clerical-Administrative Local 1549 has joined the advocacy group Tenants and Neighbors.

"The majority of our members earn low to moderate incomes," said Local President Eddie Rodriguez. "We cannot afford outrageous rents that eat up almost three weeks' pay every month. We have to fight to keep rents affordable."

For the next phase of the Rent 2002 Campaign, the Housing Committee is asking DC 37 members to post signs in their apartment windows May 13, and not remove them until rent regulations are extended and vacancy decontrol is repealed. "Landlords won't like it," Mr. Jamison said, "but we don't like their attempt to squeeze us out of our homes, either."

If you would like a poster to support the campaign, please call (212) 608-4320, ext. 310, or 815-7554.