PHOTOS: Scenes From The Rent Guidelines Board’s Historic Vote

The board took the unprecedented step of freezing rents on both one- and two-year lease renewals, fulfilling one of new Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s key campaign promises.

The Rent Guidelines Board on Thursday voted to freeze rents for tenants in the city’s nearly 1 million rent stabilized apartments, fulfilling a key campaign pledge of Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

While the board has opted for a rent freeze previously—including three times under former Mayor Bill de Blasio—its members took the unprecedented step this year of freezing rents on both one- and two-year lease renewals.

Landlords and real estate groups have furiously opposed a rent freeze, saying it will force building owners to defer repairs and maintenance as many struggle to keep up with rising operating costs like insurance and utilities.

But the decision spurred celebrations among tenants and housing advocates, who point to research showing that the majority of rent-stabilized buildings are not in distress, and who say a freeze will give New Yorkers in stabilized units a reprieve after four years of rent increases under former Mayor Eric Adams.

City Limits’ photographer Adi Talwar captured the scene at last night’s historic vote, held at the El Museo del Barrio in East Harlem, documented below.

With reporting by Patrick Spauster. To reach the editor, contact Jeanmarie@citylimits.org

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