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    NORTH AMERICAN Newsline                                            FEBRUARY 20, 2026       |  The Indian Eye 32

                               Mamdani Administration Invites

              New Yorkers to join First-Ever Rental Ripoff

                                   Hearings In All Five Boroughs

                 Hearings will give tenants a platform to share experiences with unsafe building conditions,
                                                           hidden fees and other abuses

            OUR BUREAU                                                                                            Mamdani to deliver a more afford-
                                                                                                                  able city for all New Yorkers.”
            NEW YORK, NY
                                                                                                                      “From enforcing rigorous safety
                   ew York City Mayor Zohran                                                                      protocols during active construction
                   Mamdani has announced the                                                                      to upholding the city’s strict inspec-
            Ndates and locations for New                                                                          tion standards, the Department of
            York  City’s  first-ever  Rental  Ripoff                                                              Buildings is unwavering in its com-
            Hearings, a series of five public hear-                                                               mitment to protecting tenants and
            ings — one in each borough — where                                                                    holding property owners accountable
            New Yorkers will be invited to share                                                                  for providing safe and legal housing,”
            their experiences renting in the City.                                                                said Buildings Commissioner Ahmed
                Established  by Executive  Order                                                                  Tigani. “Mayor Mamdani is rightfully
            08, the Rental Ripoff Hearings will                                                                   putting the spotlight on tenant safety
            create a direct line between tenants                                                                  and quality of life issues in our city.
            and City leadership. New Yorkers will                                                                 We welcome the opportunity to par-
            speak about challenges ranging from                                                                   ticipate  in these important discus-
            mold, broken appliances and unsafe                                                                    sions  and  look forward  to  hearing
            construction conditions to hidden                                                                     directly from New Yorkers about
            fees and surprise charges. Tenants                                                                    their experiences as tenants, which
            will also have the opportunity to meet                                                                will help inform improvements to our
            one-on-one with senior officials from                                                                 operations and ensure we continue to
            the Mamdani administration, includ-                                                                   best serve the public’s interests.”
            ing commissioners from the city’s                                                                         The hearings will be held on:
            housing and consumer protection
            agencies, to help shape future policy.                                                                • Thursday, Feb. 26 from 5:30-8:30
                “You  can’t  fight  for  ten-                                                                       p.m., Downtown Brooklyn
            ants without listening to them                                                                        • Thursday, March 5 from 5:30-8:30
            first.  That’s  why  we’re  launching                                                                   p.m., Long Island City, Queens
            Rental Ripoff Hearings in all five bor-                                                               • Wednesday, March 11 from 5:30-
            oughs—bringing together renters to                                                                      8:30 p.m., Fordham, The Bronx
            speak directly about what they’re fac-                                                                • Saturday, March 28 from 11 a.m. –
            ing,  from  hidden  fees  to  broken                                                                    5 p.m., East Harlem, Manhattan
            tiles and unresponsive landlords,”                                                                    • Tuesday, April 7 from 5:30-8:30
            said  Mayor Zohran Kwame Mam-                                                                           p.m., North Shore, Staten Island
            dani. “What tenants share at these   struggling every  day with  surprise   drive real change,” said  Housing   New Yorkers can register to
            hearings won’t lead to empty prom-  charges and unsafe living conditions.   Preservation and Development Com-  attend  in  person  at  nyc.gov/Rental-
            ises. Their testimony will guide our   These hearings are a historic opportu-  missioner Dina Levy.   Ripoff. At each hearing, participants
            work and help shape the policies we   nity for policymakers to hear directly   “Broker fees, hidden charges,   will  be able  to record  testimony  or
            advance to build a city New Yorkers   from tenants: whether you’re fighting   and other predatory practices are   sign up for one-on-one conversations
            can afford to call their home.”   to get repairs or being hit with unex-  ripping off working New Yorkers   with city officials.  New Yorkers who
                “At  New  York  City’s  first-ever   plained fees, your story can improve   and jacking up the cost of where they   cannot attend an in-person hearing
            Rental Ripoff Hearings, tenants will   lives for millions of New Yorkers,”   live. The Rental Ripoff Hearings   can submit testimony via email to
            be able to speak directly with city of-  said  Cea Weaver, Director of the   are an important step toward holding   RentalRipoff@cityhall.nyc.gov.
            ficials so their experiences can shape   Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants.  landlords and brokers accountable,”     Within 90 days of the final hear-
            real policy reforms.  We’re  looking   “New  Yorkers  deserve  a  rental   said  Department of Consumer and   ing, the Mamdani administration will
            forward to hearing from New Yorkers   system that keeps everyone safe and   Worker  Protection  Commissioner   publish a report proposing policy
            in every borough about the challeng-  housed. We want to hear directly   Sam Levine. “At DCWP, we are com-  interventions to take on these ripoff
            es they face, from hidden fees to code   from tenants as  it’s  the most effec-  mitted to using every tool at our dis-  tactics, informed by common griev-
            enforcement failures,” said Leila Bo-  tive way to craft responsive policies,   posal to combat these unfair practic-  ances voiced by New Yorkers. In ad-
            zorg, Deputy Mayor for Housing and   and ensure that the right enforcement   es and make living in New York City   dition, input gathered at the Rental
            Planning.                         strategies are included in our housing   more transparent and affordable. I   Ripoff Hearings will help inform the
                “Tenants are the backbone of   plan. We take this process serious-  look forward to hearing directly from   Mamdani administration’s forthcom-
            New York City, but too many are   ly and these hearings will be used to   residents and working with Mayor   ing housing plan.

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