Mayor Adams appoints four new members to the Rent Guidelines Board following Mamdani’s departure.

In a strategic maneuver during the final days of his administration, Mayor Eric Adams appointed four new members to New York City’s Rent Guidelines Board (RGB), aiming to counteract the incoming Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s proposed rent freeze for stabilized tenants. The appointments, made late Thursday, place Adams in direct opposition to Mamdani, who will assume office on January 1, 2025.

Dora Pekec, a spokesperson for Mamdani, reaffirmed the incoming administration’s commitment to a four-year rent freeze for over two million rent-stabilized tenants, citing the ongoing affordability crisis facing New Yorkers. Pekec emphasized that last-minute changes in board membership would not weaken their resolve to provide relief to struggling tenants.

Among those appointed by Adams are Lliam Finn, a senior financial advisor with Merrill Lynch, and Sagar Sharma, a lawyer with Legal Services NYC, who will represent tenant interests. Additionally, the mayor reappointed Arpit Gupta and Christina Smyth, maintaining their roles as public and owner representatives, respectively.

Adams articulated his rationale for the appointments, stating that his administration is employing all available resources to address the housing crisis. He praised the appointees’ extensive experience in the housing sector and expressed confidence in their capacity to manage the complexities of the city’s housing policies effectively.

However, reports indicate that the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY), an organization typically opposed to rent freezes, played a role in the candidate vetting process, a claim contested by Adams’ spokesperson. This controversy surrounding the selection process underscores the contentious nature of housing policy in New York City, particularly as the new board is now shaped primarily by Adams’ appointees, potentially complicating Mamdani’s plans.

Legal advocacy groups have voiced concern about the ramifications of these abrupt appointments, warning that they threaten to perpetuate rent increases at a time when many families are already facing significant financial burdens. The Legal Aid Society issued a statement criticizing Adams’ late-term decisions, arguing they undermine the incoming administration’s ability to act in the best interests of the public.

As the RGB consists of nine members, a simple majority is required each year to determine permissible rent increases for stabilized housing. Under the current administration, rent increases have accumulated to 12.6% for stabilized tenants.

Adams’ recent appointments are anticipated to play a crucial role in shaping housing policy for the upcoming year, leaving uncertain how Mamdani’s administration will navigate the challenges posed by these strategic moves.