Tenants, Landlords Make Their Case At RGB Hearing
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Landlords and tenants faced off Thursday at Cooper Union over proposed rent hikes.
The New York City Rent Guidelines Board held a public hearing to let both sides air their positions.
Landlords say they need to raise rents to cover the increased costs of water, sewer and real estate taxes. But tenants and their advocates are pushing for a freeze, saying they cannot afford an increase.
"We have been besieged at University Settlement by pleas for help. The number of housing court cases has gone to an all time high. We've had a high in eviction rulings. And so we're seeing people who are coming to us and are suffering as a result of all of these increases," said one tenant's advocate.
The board is scheduled to vote on the proposed hike next Thursday.