Mayor de Blasio and Governor Cuomo:

Even before the outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), millions of New Yorkers struggled to afford rent each month. According to an analysis from the Citizens Budget Commission last year, half of all renters in our city are rent burdened, spending more than 30% of their income on housing. For many, it’s upwards of 50%. It’s only in the final two or three weeks of the month when these New Yorkers finally earn enough money to cover next month’s rent--and often barely.

Now, as the coronavirus pandemic shutters businesses and plunges the economy into recession, these same renters have lost their economic lifeline. Many of us have no idea how we’re going to pay rent on April 1.

We, the undersigned, are calling on you to work urgently and aggressively with landlords, management companies and all relevant parties to immediately suspend rent collection until the crisis is contained and people can safely return to work.

We recognize the financial hardship this will place on small landlords. The City and State should pressure lenders to suspend mortgage collection during any rent freeze and we hope many institutions voluntarily take this step. A means-tested property tax vacation while rent payments are suspended should also be explored. Resources must be made available for critical repair work during and after this period.

Such a call may be unprecedented. But we are living in unprecedented times. New Yorkers cannot risk losing the very place where they are being asked to shelter.

Thank you.