DSA-Backed Candidates Win NYC Primaries, Housing Policy in Focus
On October 1, the New York City Rent Guidelines Board implemented a rent freeze impacting approximately 1 million rent-stabilized apartments. This action is seen as a significant victory for Zohran Mamdani, a socialist candidate for mayor. In recent party primaries, several candidates endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America, including Claire Valdez, Darializa Avila Chevalier, and Emily Gallagher, prioritized housing affordability. Valdez is advocating for the creation of a Social Housing Development Authority to promote public housing. Chevalier has proposed a ban on RAD/PACT initiatives, aligning with groups fighting for public housing preservation, while tensions rise around the potential demolition of historic sites in Lower Manhattan.
Key facts
- Rent Guidelines Board froze rents for nearly 1 million rent-stabilized NYC apartments, effective October 1.
- DSA-backed candidates won primaries: Claire Valdez, Darializa Avila Chevalier, Emily Gallagher, Illapa Sairitupac, Samantha Kattan.
- Valdez, Chevalier, and Brad Lander centered housing affordability in campaigns.
- Social Housing Development Authority (SHDA) bill would build publicly owned homes with union labor.
- SHDA proposed in 2024 by Cordell Cleare and Emily Gallagher; sponsored by Julia Salazar, Zellnor Myrie, Jabari Brisport, Phara Forrest, and others.
- House the Future (HTF) is lobbying for SHDA; organizer Iziah Thompson reported increased sponsorship.
- Chevalier unseated Adriano Espaillat; endorsed moratorium on RAD/PACT and Preservation Trust.
- Lander defeated Dan Goldman; criticized RAD/PACT but open if NYCHA residents vote.
- Save Section 9 and Residents to Preserve Public Housing call for halting RAD/PACT.
- Fulton and Elliott-Chelsea Houses demolition opposed by FEC Tenants Against Demolition; candidates Law-Gisiko and Schlossberg lost.
- Carl Wilson won District 3 City Council; Micah Lasher won 12th Congressional District.
Entities
Institutions
- Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)
- Rent Guidelines Board
- Social Housing Development Authority (SHDA)
- House the Future (HTF)
- Save Section 9
- Residents to Preserve Public Housing
- FEC Tenants Against Demolition
- NYCHA
- Related
- Essence
- City Council District 3
- 12th Congressional District
- 13th Congressional District
- 10th Congressional District
- 7th Congressional District
- 37th Assembly District
- 65th Assembly District
- 34th Assembly District
- 36th Assembly District
- 30th Senate District
- 50th Assembly District
- 18th Senate District
- 20th State Senate District
- 25th State Senate District
- 57th Assembly District
Locations
- New York City
- New York
- Albany
- Bronx
- Manhattan
- Chelsea
- Brooklyn
- Wyckoff Houses
- Fulton and Elliott-Chelsea Houses
- Inwood Public Library