zohran mamdani

Over a half-melted peanut-butter açai bowl in the Bronx’s Pelham Bay neighborhood, Kenny Burgos, CEO of the Modern York Apartment Association, argues that rents for nearly a million New York apartments need to increase. Burgos states that “The Bronx, to this day, has buildings that are almost 100 percent — if not 100 percent — regulated,” and that these are often the buildings “that are struggling the most, that have the highest violation counts.” He believes increasing rents is necessary to maintain habitable conditions in these buildings. Burgos, a former assemblyman, acknowledges this position is unpopular, particularly given the current mayor’s campaign promise to freeze rents on stabilized apartments. “I do this work because I know I’m right,” Burgos says, “And I know that we are on a path to destroy the housing people live in.”

A Familiar Face in Albany

Burgos maintains a friendly relationship with Mayor Mamdani, despite now opposing his housing policies. The two met while serving in the State Assembly, having both been elected in 2020; Burgos represented the 85th District in the Bronx, while Mamdani represented Astoria and parts of Queens, an area referred to as “Commie Corridor.” They bonded over shared interests in music and internet culture, appreciating each other’s presence as young officials seeking to redefine the role. They even played basketball on Tuesdays in Albany and shared a hookah on Steinway Street.

Ideological Clash at the Rent Guidelines Board

The differing ideologies of Burgos and Mamdani will come to a head at the annual Rent Guidelines Board meetings in March. These meetings determine allowable rent increases for stabilized apartments, and the mayor’s proposed four-year rent freeze is now at stake. Burgos and his team have been preparing arguments to present to the board, anticipating being positioned as the opposition. He believes that, based on data and current trends, the current path is “not sustainable.”

The affordable-housing crisis is attributed to a combination of factors, including rising rents, low vacancy rates, and a slow pace of new development. However, the question of who bears the brunt of the cost – tenants or landlords – remains a central point of contention. According to a report by NYU’s Furman Center, nearly half of the city’s rent-stabilized units are in “legacy properties” built before 1974, concentrated in northern Manhattan and the Bronx, with a median rent of $1,400 a month in 2023. Both Mamdani and Burgos agree that addressing the city’s complicated property-tax system and rising insurance fees could facilitate improve conditions in these buildings.

Differing Views on Building Disrepair

Mamdani and his team attribute the disrepair of rent-stabilized buildings to speculation and “slumlordism,” arguing that only a compact percentage of buildings with stabilized units are financially distressed. Burgos disagrees, stating that this measurement doesn’t account for landlords’ debt service. He also criticizes the state’s “hardship” program for landlords as ineffective, calling it “a program in name only.”

Burgos believes a 2019 law exacerbated the problems facing rent-stabilized housing. Prior to the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act, landlords had more flexibility to increase rents and convert regulated apartments to market rate. This incentivized investment in stabilized properties, but the 2019 law limited rent increases and conversions, reducing profit margins and, according to Burgos, leading to deferred maintenance and empty units. He argues What we have is “a math problem, not an emotional one,” and that a rent freeze will worsen the situation.

Burgos took his current position in the summer of 2024 following a merger of two landlord lobbying groups. He and his wife were anticipating their first child, and the role offered a reprieve from his Albany commute. Like Mamdani, Burgos utilizes social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok to communicate housing policy. Despite spending $2.5 million to oppose Mamdani’s election, Burgos sometimes finds himself compared to the mayor, even being jokingly referred to as “Temu Zohran” or “Wario.”

In a final anecdote, Burgos is described as health-conscious, meticulously tracking his caloric intake, even while enjoying a 1,200-calorie açai bowl. He emphasizes that “healthy” and “low calorie” are not necessarily synonymous.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Kenny Burgos’s position on rent control?

Kenny Burgos believes that rents for nearly a million apartments in New York need to increase to ensure the habitability of buildings, particularly those in the Bronx that are almost entirely rent-regulated.

What is the relationship between Kenny Burgos and Mayor Mamdani?

Burgos and Mamdani were classmates at Bronx Science and served together in the State Assembly, developing a friendly relationship based on shared interests. However, they now find themselves on opposing sides of the debate over rent control.

What law does Burgos believe negatively impacted rent-stabilized housing?

Burgos believes the 2019 Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act limited landlords’ ability to raise rents and convert units, leading to decreased investment and deferred maintenance.

How will differing approaches to housing affordability impact New York City residents in the coming months and years?