We’re glad Division of Housing and Community Renewal commissioner Deborah VanAmerongen took the time to respond to our article about her agency’s response to the appeal of an MCI (major capital improvement) rent increase. But we wish she would have addressed specific issues raised in the article, namely why her agency has not yet ruled on an appeal filed by tenants at 2720 Grand Concourse. As Alex Kratz reported, DHCR’s failure to address the issue means that tenants have had to pay a 6 percent rent increase since last January and are due to be hit with another 6 percent hike next month, even though there’s a very good chance that the landlord’s requested rent increase should be overturned or at least reduced.
The tenants filed an appeal with DHCR last February, and since they didn’t hear back, they eventually filed a second appeal. The agency’s own guidelines say it must rule within 90 days, but twice that deadline has passed without any official action.
VanAmerongen writes about the initiatives her agency has taken in the last 18 months to uphold the Rent Stabilization Code and support tenants’ rights. Well, that’s all well and good, but it’s cold comfort for the beleaguered tenants of 2720 Grand Concourse, some of whom have devoted countless hours to combating what they feel is an unjustified rent increase. It’s a testament to their dedication, but it would have been unnecessary if DHCR just did its job and issued its ruling.
A DHCR spokesperson told us two weeks ago that the agency would rule in “the next few weeks.” In our next issue, we’ll let you know what they decide, or whether they’ve decided at all.