The Real Deal: Game Over

July 1, 2019By Alex PanagiotopoulosPress

“As multifamily landlords weigh the potential benefits of leaving the city behind, recent efforts to introduce tighter rent laws upstate in Kingston could complicate those plans. That city is considering opting into the Emergency Tenant Protection Act, which would allow areas outside NYC to adopt rent regulations if the vacancy rate is below 5 percent. … Read More

The Nation: In the Heart of Real-Estate Power, a Housing Movement Nears Victory

June 17, 2019By Alex PanagiotopoulosPress

“By noon, loud chants filled the vaulted lobby outside Cuomo’s executive suite as roughly 100 tenants with the Upstate-Downstate Housing Alliance pressed their government for new protections. “Whose housing crisis?” the crowd chanted. “Cuomo’s housing crisis!” “Fight, fight, fight! Housing is a human right!” the demonstrators yelled, as organizers with groups like Make the Road New … Read More

Daily Freeman: Visiting Ulster County, NYC public advocate presses for tenant protections

June 6, 2019By Alex PanagiotopoulosPress

“PORT EWEN, N.Y. — The nine tenant-protection bills under consideration by the state Legislature need to be adopted to make sure landlords take responsibility for their properties, advocates said Thursday. New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, along with members of the Kingston Tenants Union and Citizens Action, met Thursday morning with tenants of the Lakeshore … Read More

Hudson: Housing is a Human Right

June 1, 2019By Alex PanagiotopoulosPress

“Relief never comes to those who suffer in silence, but to those who empower themselves. This is a story about a woman – Juanita Velazquez-Amador – who found her voice and is helping others find theirs along the way.” Watch the video on Hudsy

LTE: Kingstonian project must be subject to thorough review

May 20, 2019By Alex PanagiotopoulosPress

“The Kingstonian is a substantial and potentially transformative project for the City of Kingston. At this pivotal moment in our community’s history, with an affordable housing crisis, a $10 million grant from the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), and heavy speculation from New York City developers, what happens with the Kingstonian will determine if this will … Read More

Gothamist: ‘People Need To Stand Up & Fight’: Frustrated Tenants Flood Albany Demanding Rent Reforms

May 15, 2019By Alex PanagiotopoulosPress

“On Tuesday, hundreds of tenant activists converged on Albany to lobby for a package of nine bills that could strengthen protections for the city’s one million rent stabilized tenants, and expand protections across New York State. Rena Marslin, 58, used a vacation day to travel from Valley Stream, Long Island, to join the rally. She said … Read More

Spectrum News: Single Mother Gets Emergency Housing Assistance From Friends, Landlord

May 12, 2019By Alex PanagiotopoulosPress

“Once a handful of community activists learned how dire the circumstances were for the family, they mobilized. Most of the group’s members are renters who stick up for housing insecure residents in the Kingston area. This time, they stuck up for Velazquez-Amador. Velazquez-Amador is a fair-housing activist herself with the Kingston Tenants Union. Activists helped find … Read More