NYC Rent Board Approves Two-Year Freeze for Nearly 1 Million Apartments, Fulfilling Mamdani Pledge

New York City's Rent Guidelines Board approved a two-year freeze on rents for nearly one million rent-stabilized apartments, delivering on a central campaign promise from Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Supporters call it relief for struggling tenants, while landlords and critics warn the freeze will starve building maintenance and accelerate housing decay. The vote marks the first concrete policy win of the Mamdani era as the city's democratic-socialist movement consolidates power.