On Wednesday (July 29), New York City Mayor Mamdani, New York City Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Director Levy, and Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants (MOPT) Director Weaver jointly announced that the city of New York has successfully facilitated the establishment of the 100th tenant union supported by the city government through the Tenant Protection Partner Program (PiP).
The 100th tenant union was born in an apartment building at 8609 16th Street in the Bay Ridge area of Brooklyn. According to the Mayor’s office, residents of the building have long faced issues such as pest infestations, unstable heating and hot water supply, lead paint hazards, and degraded common areas. With assistance from the nonprofit organization Neighborly Mutual Aid, residents came together to form the tenant union and officially presented improvement demands to the landlord in March of this year, successfully prompting the landlord to begin collaborating with tenants to address long-standing housing maintenance issues.
Mayor Mamdani stated that the establishment of the 100th tenant union demonstrates the effectiveness of collective action, and the city government will further legitimize tenant unions through the Block by Block housing program to protect the rights of citizens.
Since its inception, PiP has established over 100 tenant unions. Community workers of the project have visited more than 30,000 households in over 700 buildings, organized over 600 seminars and training sessions, and provided more than 3,500 one-on-one counseling services.
This initiative has been crucial in empowering tenants to advocate for their rights and improve living conditions, showcasing the positive impact of community organizing and collaboration between residents and local authorities in addressing housing issues.