Landlords have been rejecting the potential for a commercial rent regulation board, while some small businesses have been lining up in support. Councilmember Steve Levin, who filed the bill to create the board two years ago, is trying to push it through before the end of his term in two months. PoliticsNY spoke with the Councilmember to get a sense of what the bill is really about.
After a hearing on Friday, Sept. 17, Levin told PoliticsNY that he is still hopeful.
“This is nothing other than a level playing field when their lease expires,” Levin said.
The bill creates a seven-member appointed commercial rent guidelines board, similar to the residential rent guidelines board, and it would annually establish guidelines for rent adjustments in commercial spaces.
