Landlord rep quits Rent Guidelines Board hours before ‘freeze the rent’ vote, slams Mamdani’s cronies

A real estate attorney and landlord representative resigned from the Rent Guidelines Board just before a crucial vote to freeze rent increases, accusing Mayor Zohran Mamdani's appointees of ignoring landlords' financial struggles. Smyth claimed the board had become biased, favoring tenant interests over the rising costs landlords face. This resignation adds to the tension over housing policy, highlighting the deep divide in how to manage the city's rental market amidst rising costs and calls for tenant protections.