One Brooklyn
March 21, 2020
“Due to the rapid spread of coronavirus in our city, we are now facing two mutually reinforcing crises: a public health crisis feeding an economic crisis, which is in turn exacerbating the public health crisis. There is a widespread and justified anxiety among many people in our city that they will not be able to pay their bills or provide for their families.
“I have called for a 90-day moratorium on rent payments because I believe we must provide a measure of relief to the over 65% of New York City residents who are renters. But some landlords who rely on rent payments as their primary source of income and crucial means to maintain their buildings are also concerned about what this moratorium could mean for them. The State’s recently-announced moratorium on mortgage payments currently only applies to single and two-family homes, excluding much of the current housing market. It’s time to broaden that moratorium to apply to all rental properties. In addition, as I have previously called for, payments on utility bills like water, electricity, and gas, should be suspended. These should apply to residential and commercial properties alike.
“We are in uncharted waters, which has forced us to adapt to a constantly-changing reality. If we don’t act quickly and decisively to contain the economic fallout from this pandemic, the consequences for our city and state could be catastrophic. While these calls are by no means easy to make, this is no time for bureaucratic half-measures that favor some parties over others. As we have already seen, this virus does not discriminate. Neither should we. We’re in this together.”
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