While Albany debates the politics of rent control, the New York State Court of Appeals ruled yesterday that landlords of rent-stabilized apartments that go for less than $1,000 a month could raise costs in order to equalize tenants’ rents and cover increased operating expenses. When Legal Aid filed a suit on behalf of affected tenants in 2008, the City Council backed the suit and low-income advocates called the proposal a “poor tax.” At least their landlords will be less likely to try to muscle them out now. [City Room/NYT]
