Why Tenants PAC Is Backing These Candidates (and Why It Matters)
The first of our endorsement announcements for City Council, City Comptroller, and Manhattan Borough President
By the Tenants PAC Board
Tenants PAC has had a long and storied history with local elected officials in our city — over decades of organizing, we have not just pushed for support for common sense tenants rights measures, we have also worked to elect supporters of the tenants rights movement to positions of power. Whether on the City Council, or in the Comptroller’s office, our allies have accomplished big strides for tenants. If you’ve been with us in the fight for rent control, eviction protections, or affordable housing, we remember. If you’ve voted with the landlords, we remember that too.
This isn’t new for us. Since the 1980s, Tenants PAC has been laser-focused on electing pro-tenant candidates and un-electing the ones who sell us out. We’ve worked with champions on the City Council, in the State Legislature, and in citywide offices to expand rent stabilization, shut down deregulation scams, and hold landlords accountable. Some of our allies have gone on to do extraordinary things. Others, once in power, decided it was easier to get drinks with the lobbyists from REBNY than it was to face down their pressure. Those people don’t get our endorsement. We don’t care how many tenant forums they show up to in election season if they can’t keep their commitment to the people.
We’re excited to be rolling out our slate of endorsed candidates as we approach the June 24th primary, and leveraging our network in the city to drive voters and propel campaigns to victory. Tenants PAC is an all-volunteer run organization — our passion and commitment to the movement runs deep! We do this because we believe the fight for tenant rights is existential, especially now, as rent hikes, evictions, and displacement are surging again. We’re happy to be uplifting candidates that share this same commitment.
Justin Brannan for NYC Comptroller
Justin was really amazing in his interview with us — his goal for the comptroller’s position is to leverage his position to build and fight for affordable housing. It didn’t matter to him whether or not other people pushed back, he was going to stick to his values, and fight for tenants. Justin told us flat out that he sees the Comptroller’s office as a tool to push for housing justice. Not just rubber-stamping bond deals or pretending pension investments don’t shape development. He wants to fight for truly affordable housing, and he’s not afraid of who that might upset. We’ve seen enough electeds get scared off by bad headlines or pushback from the real estate class. Justin’s not one of them.
Brad Hoylman-Sigal for Manhattan Borough President
Brad has stood with tenants when it counted. He is dedicated to the affordable housing fight. He knows and understands the struggle of renters in Manhattan, and will be able to put tenants and their needs first in the conversation around preserving and developing affordable housing. Tenants need lawmakers who understand the mechanics of the law and the ruthlessness of the landlord lobby. Brad gets both. And with Albany’s appetite for deregulation always lurking around the corner, we’re glad he’s in the room.
Our City Council Endorsements: Chris Marte (1), Alexa Aviles (38), Shahana Hanif (39), and Harvey Epstein (2)
Some of them have been in the trenches with us for years, and others are rising stars who understand our movement. From stopping illegal evictions to backing the REST and Good Cause bills, these candidates have shown up when it counted. We know who our allies are in this fight, and we wanted to lift up people who have kept tenants a priority in their work and who we have worked with before. Some of them are in tight races against well-funded, real estate-backed opponents who’d love nothing more than to gut the rent laws and hand the keys to the city back to developers. We’re not letting that happen. These are candidates who’ve earned their stripes, and they deserve our support.
We were also impressed with Sarah Batchu and Andrea Gordillo, who are candidates running in District 2, and we encourage voters to also rank them in their ballots.
What are the next steps for TPAC?
We will continue to roll out endorsements for other candidates in local races, including in other Council seats and in the Mayoral race.
The cost of living in New York is out of control. The Rent Guidelines Board once again is planning to hike rents on tenants, even as wages stagnate and eviction filings surge. This isn’t sustainable. And it’s not an accident. It’s the direct result of decisions made by people in power.
Tenants PAC was founded to change that. It’s simple — affordable housing and tenants rights are at the core of what we do. We believe in rent control, especially now that the Rent Guidelines board is continuing to raise rents for tenants that are already squeezed by the cost of living crisis. New York is a city of tenants, and we believe in legislation and policy that empowers renters and helps us to live and thrive.
The Tenants PAC board is an all-volunteer board of tenants and advocates dedicated to fighting for tenants rights in New York City and State.