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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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