Hanser Gurrier
Hanser has been at an electrician for the past year, working with JC Electric and Camera throughout the Bronx. He has had to move in with his mother because she’s struggling with health issues. Now, Albany is considering ending programs that let property owners maintain and improve their buildings. If property owners can’t make improvements to their buildings, Hanser is could be out of work and won’t be able to afford to take care of his mother.
Joselyn Cardenas & Cristobal Acosta
Husband and wife Joselyn and Cristobal own A&C Windows and Cleaning Inc., a Bronx based family business specializing in cleaning, and window repairs and replacements. They’ve worked together for ten years and employ 10 people. But now, Albany wants to eliminate programs that make sure property owners can afford to maintain and improve their buildings. That means they won’t have work and may have to close their business and lay off their employees. Without the business, they’re worried about their ability to take care of their two kids.
Janice Hamilton
Janice’s building is 86 years old and requires constant massive repairs. She knows that part of her job as a property owner is to make her tenants comfortable, but she has a limited amount of rental income. Now, Albany wants to take away programs that that help Janice recover her costs that are necessary to make repairs. Property owners like Janice help house New Yorkers.
Oscar Perez
Oscar has been a property owner for over 40 years, and some of his tenants have lived in his building for decades. Albany is now considering ending the programs that help property owners like Oscar run their buildings and maintain their tenants’ quality of life. He firmly believes that owners like him are part of the solution to the current affordable housing crisis.
Lincoln Eccles
Lincoln’s Brooklyn apartment building has been owned by his family since the late 1950’s. He cares deeply about his tenants, but running an older building like his is difficult because it requires constant maintenance. While the rents for many of his apartments are fixed, his taxes and fees are not. During some tough months, his finances are even in the red. Now, Albany is considering ending programs that help Lincoln improve his building and provide a better quality of life for his tenants. He’s worried about what his future holds if Albany eliminates these programs.
Ming Wang
Ming considers her tenants part of her family – she cares about them and they care about her. But now, Albany’s proposals are pitching tenants against landlords. Ming’s Manhattan building – which was built in 1909 – needs constant maintenance and she’s worried that Albany’s proposals fail to consider her rising costs. While property taxes and fees continue to rise, the rents are capped and Ming’s building will be put at risk.
Stephanie Kirnon
Stephanie inherited a small apartment building in the Bronx after her father passed. She prides herself in providing her tenants with a safe, clean and affordable home. She is currently able to maintain her older building and keep rents affordable, but the Legislature’s proposals will put her finances – and the condition of her building –at risk. She hopes that her grandchildren can take over the building when she retires, but she may have to sell if Albany gets its way.
Chris Athineos
Chris and his family own several small rent regulated buildings in Brooklyn. Like many property owners, Chris is very hands on and takes pride in making sure his tenants have a good home Right now, the laws make sure he can maintain the buildings, but still keep rents affordable. If Albany gets rid of these laws, he won’t be able to invest in the buildings the way he does now.
Reshit Gjonvic
30 years ago, Reshit and his family moved to Bay Ridge. They saved for years and were finally able to buy a small building with several rent-stabilized units. It was their American Dream. The costs to maintain his building are so high that he works three jobs just to make ends meet. Reshit is the super at his own building, the super at another building and works as a doorman at night –yet he is still barely able to pay the bills. If Albany lawmakers enact their rent plan, his costs will be higher than his income. He won’t be able to keep the building and provide for his family.
Rhea Vogel
Rhea is the owner of two small rent-regulated buildings on the Upper West Side. Rhea inherited the buildings from her father, a Holocaust survivor, who came to New York and made a new life for his family. Trying to keep up with rising property taxes and fuel costs that outpace rent increases has become increasingly difficult. Rhea has known some of her tenants for her entire life and wants to do right by them. Albany’s rent proposals will make it impossible for her to afford to keep maintaining and upgrading her buildings – and she might even have to sell them to stay afloat.
