'Freeze the rent' dominated the Democratic mayoral primary. This year, tenants are staring down a rent hike.
Tenants in New York City’s roughly 1 million rent-stabilized apartments are likely to see a rent hike next year, after an appointed board votes tonight to approve an increase within ranges starting at 1.75% for one-year leases and 3.75% for two-year leases.
But in the close background of that vote will be the calls for a rent freeze that have dominated the Democratic mayoral primary – and which became a central plank of Zohran Mamdani’s campaign.
Though Mamdani’s victory became clear Tuesday and Adams kicked off his reelection bid two days later, Monday’s vote by the city’s Rent Guidelines Board will offer a salient opportunity to see the two campaigns in stark contrast.
Mayor Eric Adams, who opted to run for reelection as an independent rather than in the Democratic primary, has overseen rent increases for stabilized tenants in every year of his mayoralty. (The mayor doesn’t directly decide on rent hikes but has the power to appoint members of the board and indirect influence over the vote.)
https://www.cityandstateny.com/policy/2025/06/freeze-rent-dominated-democratic-mayoral-primary-year-tenants-are-staring-down-rent-hike/406399/?oref=csny-homepage-river