| Releases & Statements
Contact: Frank Sobrino
O: (212) 669-4193
Statement
of Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum on Proposed Sale
of
Peter Cooper Village
and Stuyvesant Town
Peter Cooper Village and Stuyvesant
Town are more than just apartment complexes, more than just a
piece of our city's history. They’re a symbol of the hopes
and dreams of middle class New Yorkers. They stand as proof that
New York is still a viable place to live for working families—despite
the severe affordable housing shortage in this city and despite
the ongoing middle class flight to the suburbs.
I’ve been talking to people
across the city and state about what government can do to help
keep apartments like the ones in Peter Cooper Village and Stuyvesant
Town affordable for current and future generations of New Yorkers.
That’s the big picture. But the residents of Peter Cooper
and Stuyvesant Town need support in the here and now. They need
to know that they have rights and that those rights will be respected.
Nearly three-quarters of the apartments
in the two complexes are rent stabilized. The tenants in those
apartments are protected by law. Of course, new landlords who
want to maximize their profits, sometimes find creative ways to
force out tenants and raise rents beyond the $2000 threshold.
That’s the situation facing
tenants of the Pinnacle Corporation right now. I’m working
with those tenants, helping them access legal aid and other resources
so they know the law and don’t feel bullied by Pinnacle.
I’m committed to providing the same help to residents of
Peter Cooper Village and Stuyvesant Town so that we can keep the
dream of a vibrant middle class alive in New York City.
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