Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Building Momentum to Repeal Vacancy Decontrol!

We are all making strides to win the repeal of vacancy decontrol! With rallies across the city, three mass mobilizations of tenants in Albany and actions across the city, we are demanding the Senate step up and save rent-regulated housing. The bill is out – S2237-A – and now we need 9 more votes to win. The campaign needs everyone for mobilizing across the city, canvassing in the Bronx, and phone banking in Manhattan. Check out the details below!

Get Connected!

It is up to us! To win vacancy decontrol EVERYONE must rise to the challenge. Tenants across the city are taking action throughout March to push every last Senator to sign on to the bill to repeal vacancy decontrol. Get together with your tenant association, community group, church or union and join in these district actions, or plan your own.

Vacancy Decontrol Mobilizations

We will be mobilizing for the following dates in New York City and in Albany on Vacancy Decontrol. Please mark your calendars for the following:

Rally in Martin Golden's District Office
Bay Ridge, Brooklyn
Friday, March 20, 3:00 PM (Tentatively)

Rally at City Hall, Manhattan
Tuesday, March 24, To be Determined

Lobby day in Albany
Monday, April 6

Rally at Harlem State Office Building
Wednesday, April 15

Find out more:

Jon Furlong, Housing Here and Now, (718) 246-7900 x273


Canvass in the Bronx

Go door to door talking with rent-regulated tenants about vacancy decontrol in the Bronx. We’ll be gathering signatures, flyering, encouraging folks to make calls, and getting the word out one person at time. Senators Pedro Espada Jr. and Jeffrey Klein in the Bronx need to hear from the thousands of tenants in their district.

Volunteer for canvassing:

Orlando Torres (NWBCCC) at 718-584-0515 Ext. 412 or 917-213-7529 (cell), Orlando@northwestbronx.org

Tamara Cyzck (New Settlement/CASA) at 718-716-8000 Ext. 125, tamara.c@newsettlement.org

Community Voices Heard will be flyering this Thursday March 5th and Friday March 6th from 4:30-6pm.
Please Contact: Diego Quinones (Community Voices Heard) @ 212-860-6001 or via email: diego@cvhaction.org


Phone Bank in Manhattan

Two long-time tenant rights groups – Tenants & Neighbors and Tenants PAC – are phone banking from Manhattan offices into key Senate districts, encouraging tenants to get involved and speak out for the repeal of vacancy decontrol.

Volunteer for the phone bank:

Tenants PAC
11 Park Place, Suite 814 (between Broadway and Church Street. ½ block west of City Hall Park.)
Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, from 5:30 to 8:30 pm for the next few weeks.
Call Michael McKee at (212) 577-7001

Tenants & Neighbors
236 W. 27th St., 4th Fl. Call for dates and times
Call Pat Coleman at (212) 608-4320 Ext. 306


NOW is the time!!!

We can win vacancy decontrol! The bill will probably come to the floor to the floor of the Senate in April, after the state budget has been passed. We have about 6 weeks to move all the senators who have not signed on yet. NOW is the time! It’s up to us! Call me to talk about how you can get involved