New York City freezes rents for a million apartments as Mamdani's socialist vision takes shape

A New York City housing authority voted Thursday to freeze rents for up to two years. 

The Rent Guidelines Board passed the rules in a 7-1 vote, and they will impact about one million rent-controlled apartments for tenants with one-year or two-year leases, Reuters reported. 

Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has vowed to enact socialist policies in the city including price controls and government-run grocery stores, appointed six of the board's nine members since he took office. 

Hours before the vote, Christina Smyth, who was appointed by Mamdani's predecessor, said Mamdani had stacked the board and resigned. Smyth said the outcome was predetermined by the mayor and accused the board of failing to be unbiased as required by law.