Max Politics Alex Armlovich on the Rent Guidelines Board, Mamdani's Rent Freeze Pledge, & Housing Policy
Oct 28, 2025
Alex Armlovich, a Senior Housing Policy Analyst and member of NYC's Rent Guidelines Board, dives into the complexities of housing policy. He discusses the RGB's role, comparing it to utility regulators, and the challenges of balancing rents and operating costs. Armlovich highlights the repercussions of broad rent freezes, warning they could lead to building bankruptcies. He also talks about policy tools to aid distressed buildings and the importance of accurate data in assessing housing viability, advocating for proactive, technocratic solutions.
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RGB As A Utilities-Style Regulator
- The Rent Guidelines Board should act like a utilities regulator setting rates to follow costs.
- NYC's apartment market can't self-correct by easy supply entry, so RGB must mimic cost-following price adjustments.
RGB Controls Change, Not Levels
- The RGB controls the rate of change in rents, not absolute rent levels.
- Rent-stabilized stock spans from WWII-era low rents to luxury 421a entrants, complicating one-size-fits-all policy.
A 'Freeze' Isn't Neutral In Real Terms
- A nominal rent freeze still reduces landlords' real income when CPI target inflation exists.
- A 2% annual increase is effectively needed just to maintain purchasing power under normal Fed policy.