Some 25,000 landlords are claiming victory over Mayor de Blasio after a Manhattan appeals court Thursday ruled that it was unfair to hike water rates for large apartment buildings while handing one- to three-family homeowners a credit.
“This affirms what we have been saying ever since de Blasio took office- that his affordable housing policies are being driven by his politics and political agenda,” said Joseph Strasburg, president of the Rent Stabilization Association.
The industry group represents landlords who own 1 million rent-stabilized apartments across the five boroughs.
Strasburg said the hike — which has now been struck down by two courts — is “clearly a reelection ploy on” the mayor’s part.
eThe mayor said he was trying to help seniors and low- to moderate-income homeowners with a $183 credit, but the appellate court noted that one- to three-family homes’ class also include “luxury brownstones and other high value dwellings.”
Justice David Friedman found that “there is no basis for any conclusion that class-one property owners are more needy than other ratepayers.” Four of five judges on the appellate panel threw out both the increase and the rebate.
Dissenting Justice Marcy Kahn ruled that the city’s Water Board has “broad authority…to establish rates as it sees fit.”
Despite the ruling de Blasio is not backing down.
“Today’s court ruling keeps $183 of water rate relief out of the hands of everyday homeowners – for now. We will continue to fight and are confident that, ultimately, we will prevail and return that money to the 650,000 New Yorkers who earned it,” he said.
The Water Board, a city agency run by mayoral appointees, approved the changes last year. They were stayed after the landlords, led by Prometheus Realty Corp, sued in June 2016.