Mamdani’s rent freeze passes for 1 million units

New York City’s Rent Guidelines Board on Thursday approved Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s (D) two-year rent freeze proposal for 1 million rent-stabilized apartments.

The 7-1 decision by the independent board, consisting of mayoral appointees, applies to rent-stabilized apartments in buildings constructed before 1974 and buildings with certain tax breaks.

The rent freeze goes into effect starting Oct. 1 and lasts until Sept. 30, 2027.

Past iterations of the board have frozen the rent before, including under former Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) before rent increases under his successor and Mamdani’s predecessor, former Mayor Eric Adams (D).

Activists poured into the streets of East Harlem in jubilation after the vote, which took place at El Museo del Barrio, The New York Times reported. Organizers passed around pizza and played music, where Queen’s “We Are the Champions” could be heard.

Mamdani praised the decision, saying in a statement that it was a “historic victory” for the city.

“I’ll continue working to deliver a more affordable city by building and preserving affordable housing, lowering building operating costs like insurance, and ensuring tenants know their rights,” he said.

Mamdani campaigned on freezing the rent in the city, known for its soaring rent prices. He criticized Adams for allowing rent prices to go up for four years and argued for freezes in the past.

Analysis from the nonprofit newsroom Community Service Society found that the 12.6 percent cumulative stabilized rent increase during Adams’ mayoralty was higher than any rent hike during former Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s (D) time in office.

Freezing the city’s rent has also been a key policy proposal from the Democratic Socialists of America. The organization has long argued that a freeze on rent hikes would be a step towards keeping residents in the city amid soaring prices.

The board’s passage of a rent freeze comes on the heels of several Mamdani-endorsed candidates defeating Democratic incumbents across multiple House races in the Empire State on Tuesday.

Democratic socialist candidates Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier, backed by Mamdani, cruised to victory, with Avila Chevalier notably ousting Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.). Former mayoral candidate Brad Lander, a progressive with Mamdani’s endorsement, also handily defeated Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.).

Despite these wins, the 34-year-old mayor remains at odds with many Democratic Party leaders, particularly those who strongly support for Israel.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday said the party is “made up by a diverse group of people who have a diverse set of perspectives on a wide variety of issues.”

“I think for us as House Democrats, we’re just hopeful that everybody recognizes once we get through this primary season, that the enemy is Donald Trump and MAGA extremism,” Jeffries said on MS NOW.

Mamdani’s rent freeze passes for 1 million units

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