Following years of mounting financial pressure on our communities, many of us were hopeful when last year’s mayoral election centered on housing and affordability. The level of rhetoric was so high and the promises so passionate, it seemed like we were finally going to live the American dream again and not worry about losing our homes.
Then came the wake-up call.
Just three months into the Mamdani Administration, the mayor broke his word to renters, homeowners and NYCHA residents, simultaneously. The Mayor capped rental vouchers for vulnerable families; threatened to raise property taxes on homeowners; and budgeted less than promised on public housing.
We couldn’t believe it. It was a bait-and-switch that shocked even the most jaded old-school New Yorkers. But our anger turned to action quickly, and we fought back. Within days, homeowners were standing with elected officials to push back on tax increases, renters were organizing with advocates to demand full voucher funding, and NYCHA residents and tenant leaders were packing public hearings, demanding to be heard.
So far, we have won one fight out of three: the mayor reversed himself on the property tax threat after the boos rained down on him like Wemby at MSG. But the Mayor’s current budget plan still leaves thousands of renters out in the cold with the voucher cap in place, and the NYCHA budget is half-a-billion lower than what Mamdani promised last year. Our affordability problem, meanwhile, has only gotten worse.
And the budget that City Hall and the City Council are about to pass will likely fall far short.
That is why we formed the New York Neighborhoods Coalition, a five-borough-wide group of organizations and leaders representing thousands of renters, homeowners, and NYCHA residents committed to ensuring Mamdani’s City Hall keeps his commitments to our communities.
Our agenda does not stop with this budget. We now know that we cannot rely on one person to deliver for us. And even one year of funding our priorities does not equal justice or give us the guarantees we want. Because if City Hall is falling short of funding our people’s needs in a year with the highest tax revenues ever, then how deep will the cuts be if (and when) our economy dips?
Our demands are straightforward. For renters, the FHEPS voucher program must be funded at a level that covers the most vulnerable renters in perpetuity, in accordance with Local Law 102 of 2025. We also need to increase our spending on new housing construction and subsidy until we reach annual production and preservation of 50,000 units—the number experts say will finally bring down rents.
For NYCHA residents, direct funding for NYCHA Section 9, public housing maintenance, repair and renovation must increase half-a-billion dollars this year and every year until the backlog of capital costs is under control. That money must also be spent at the direction of NYCHA resident leaders through greater authority and representation.
Finally, homeowners cannot be treated like piggy banks. The Mayor may have backed off his property tax threat this year, but it seems certain he will make good on it soon regardless. Time and again he has said he will “reform” our property tax system, which is code for increasing our taxes either through higher rates or pricier assessments.
All of the other counties outside the city have a two percent property tax cap. Why shouldn’t we?
Renters, homeowners and NYCHA residents are sick and tired of being pitted against each other. We all live here. We all worry about keeping our homes, We are all New Yorkers. We share and love the areas of our city that we make neighborhoods together through our civic involvement and community spirit.
Budgets are about setting priorities. They are also about keeping promises. We won’t be fooled again. When the priorities don’t match the promises, the people will always do what they have to to get City Hall back in line.
Rev. Dr. Richard E. Griffiths is the Lead Pastor at Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene, and Ramona Ferrera is a leader of Save Section 9