Councilman Seeks to Track Rent Data

City Councilman Antonio Reynoso (D-Brooklyn) recently introduced a bill requiring the city Department of Buildings to alert community boards and council members within 10 days of receiving an application to alter or demolish rent-regulated homes in their districts. The legislation has eight co-sponsors, including city Public Advocate Letitia James and council members Costa Constantinides (D-Astoria) and Karen Koslowitz (D-Forest Hills).

According to Reynoso, the measure would allow leaders to attempt to prevent plans that jeopardize regulated apartments, but more realistically the notifications would help him and colleagues compile data on which neighborhoods’ housing stock is targeted and where rent-regulated homes are being lost.