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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline JULY 31, 2026 | The Indian Eye 24

Mayor Mamdani Launches “Talk to Tenants”

Campaign to Build Tenant Power Across NYC

Volunteers will knock on doors in buildings with history of housing violations to connect

tenants with organizing resources and inform tenants of their right to organize

OUR BUREAU
NEW YORK, NY
ayor Zohran Kwame Mam-
dani and the Mayor’s Of-
Mfice of Mass Engagement
(OME), in partnership with the
Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants
(MOPT), have launched “Talk to
Tenants,” a door-to-door organizing
campaign to support renters living in
buildings with chronic housing viola-
tions organize together and advocate
for safer, healthier homes.
Volunteers with OME will knock
on doors to inform tenants of their
right to organize and connect resi-
dents with resources and organizing
trainings. The campaign will begin
in East Harlem, Washington Heights
and Inwood and Flatbush — neigh-
borhoods where renters are con-
fronting rising costs and persistent
housing quality concerns — before
expanding to communities across the who is available to bring in your mail ers build the collective power to hold Rental Ripoff hearings across all five
five boroughs. when you’re away to widespread col- negligent landlords accountable and boroughs and supported tenants in
“The Rental Ripoff hearings lective action to win better repairs fight for the homes they deserve.” negotiating with new ownership to re-
showed us something that every and respect from the landlord, the The campaign builds on Mayor solve long-overdue repairs, back rent
tenant already knows: when land- community and solidarity of a tenant Mamdani’s Rental Ripoff hearings, and other issues affecting their homes.
lords neglect their buildings, New association is the very foundation where tenants across all five boroughs Tenant organizing is also a cor-
Yorkers are left with no heat, kitch- of New York City,” said Director of described the conditions they have nerstone of Block by Block: The
ens overrun with cockroaches, mold the Mayor’s Office to Protect Ten- endured, from mold and vermin to Housing Plan for a New Era, Mayor
and broken elevators,” said Mayor ants Cea Weaver. “The most pro- broken elevators, chronic heat outag- Mamdani’s plan to build and preserve
Mamdani. “When neighbors orga- tected tenant is an organized tenant. es and years of landlord neglect. Last affordable housing while strengthen-
nize, they have the power to hold Through the ‘Talk to Tenants’ cam- week, Mayor Mamdani released the ing tenants’ ability to hold negligent
landlords accountable and win safe, paign, we are calling on New Yorkers Rental Ripoff report, outlining a se- landlords accountable. The plan in-
dignified housing. ‘Talk to Tenants’ to join together with their neighbors ries of reforms to strengthen tenant cludes outreach to tenants and home-
is about empowering New Yorkers and partner with us to secure digni- protections and hold negligent land- owners about their rights, as well as to
to build that power one conversa- fied and affordable housing for all.” lords accountable. “Talk to Tenants” landlords about best practices, as well
tion, one building and one block at “Every New Yorker has heard the turns those recommendations into as overhauling the City’s response to
a time.” stories—or lived them themselves: action by helping renters organize housing code and heat complaints,
“Every New Yorker has the right landlords who refuse to make basic and advocate together for safe, af- allowing tenants to schedule certain
to a safe and stable home — and the repairs, ignore dangerous conditions fordable housing. HPD inspections directly and coor-
Talk to Tenants campaign will help and leave tenants to deal with mold, Throughout the summer and dinating comprehensive “roof-to-
make that a reality. Organized ten- pests and other hazards. ‘Talk to Ten- early fall, OME will also host NYC cellar” inspection days in buildings
ants can support their neighbors, bet- ants’ is about reminding renters that 101 workshops for New Yorkers in- where tenants have organized.
ter building conditions and responsi- they have the right to a safe, clean terested in learning how tenant or-
ble preservation deals and owners. and well-maintained home—and the ganizing works, how to build tenant NYC 101
Thanks to outreach by OME, MOPT right to organize with their neighbors unions and how collective action can DATES AND LOCATIONS:
and volunteers across the city, we’ll to demand it,” said Commissioner improve conditions in their buildings. • August 12 : Lower Manhattan
ensure that many more New York- for the Office of Mass Engagement Since taking office, Mayor Mam- • August 19 : Prospect Heights
ers know their rights and how the Tascha Van Auken. “Change often dani has made tenant organizing and
City can help protect their homes,” begins with a conversation between tenant power central to his adminis- • September 16 : Flatbush
said Leila Bozorg, Deputy Mayor for neighbors. By knocking on doors and tration’s housing agenda. The admin- • September 24 : East Harlem
Housing and Planning. connecting tenants with organizing istration has revitalized the Mayor’s • September 30 : Washington Heights
“From a next-door neighbor resources, we’re helping New York- Office to Protect Tenants, convened

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