PASS THE COVID-19 RELATED RENT SUSPENSION BILL AND COVER STUDENTS IN UNIVERSITY HOUSING

New York State Assembly Bill A10224A, suspends rent for 90 days for those who have suffered a loss of income in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic if passed. Tenants shall not be required to pay any rent waived, and no late fees may be issued during such time period. You can read the full text of the bill, sign on in support, and receive updates about it here. The Assembly bill is currently in the Judiciary Committee. 

We must act quickly to ensure that this bill moves forward and to ensure that it will cover students who are renting from university owned housing. 

Many student workers have already lost summer teaching and research opportunities, and grant funding since the outbreak of the pandemic. Those who rely on hourly positions, both within and outside of the university, are now facing the loss of these work opportunities. Others who do not have 12-month research appointments often choose to leave New York City and work elsewhere due to the high cost of living may not be able to leave. For those affected paying rent here is untenable.

Join us today in contacting our state legislators in 3 easy steps and tell them: move the bill out of committee, vote yes to pass the bill, and to ensure that any rent suspension will be available to students in university owned housing.

 

STEP 1 CLICK AYE!

 

STEP 2 CALL OUR STATE ASSEMBLY MEMBERS

PHONE ZAP INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Call State Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes: (716 897-9714)
  2. Call State Assembly Judiciary Committee Chair Jeffrey Dinowitz: (518 455-5965)
  3. Also call
    1. Daniel O’Donnell, (212 866-3970)
    2. Inez Dickens, (212 866-5809)
    3. Al Taylor, (212 234-1430)

PHONE SCRIPT:

I’m calling to urge State Assembly Member X to support and move Assembly Member Niou’s Assembly Bill A10224A to a vote, to suspend rent and mortgage payments in response to the outbreak of COVID-19.

Working people across New York State are facing lay-offs and struggling to pay rent and buy basic necessities. This problem will not disappear once the threat of COVID-19 has passed and the eviction courts re-open. We need a suspension of rent and forgiveness of any rent or mortgage payment owed or accumulated during this crisis. 

This bill is also sorely needed for graduate students at Columbia who lease their apartments from the university, one of the city’s largest landlords. Many of us have lost work opportunities, were unable to leave New York City as the pandemic emerged here, and can’t afford to stay in NYC. As tenants of Columbia University we want to ensure we are included in this bill. Please help pass this important bill and ensure that the rent suspension for those who have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic includes students who are renting apartments owned by their universities. Please support bill A10224A to keep New Yorkers safe and healthy!

 

STEP 3 EMAIL OUR STATE ASSEMBLY MEMBERS

  1. Jeffery Dinowitz: dinowiJ@nyassembly.gov
  2. Crystal Peoples-Stokes: peoplec@nyassembly.gov
  3. Daniel O’Donnell: odonnelld@nyassembly.gov
  4. Inez Dickens: dickensI@nyassembly.gov
  5. Al Taylor: taylora@nyassembly.gov

EMAIL SCRIPT

Dear [X],

I’m emailing to urge you to support and move Assembly Member Niou’s bill in the Assembly A10224A to a vote, to suspend rent and mortgage payments in response to the outbreak of COVID-19.

Working people across New York State are facing lay-offs and struggling to pay rent and buy basic necessities. This problem will not disappear once the threat of COVID-19 has passed and the eviction courts re-open. We need a suspension of rent and forgiveness of any rent or mortgage payment owed or accumulated during this crisis. Please support Bill A10224A to keep New Yorkers safe and healthy! 

This bill is also sorely needed for graduate students at Columbia who lease their apartments from the university, one of the city’s largest landlords. Many of us have lost work opportunities, were unable to leave New York City as the pandemic emerged here, and can’t afford to stay in NYC. As tenants of Columbia University we want to ensure we are included in this bill. 

Please help pass this important bill and ensure that the rent suspension for those who have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic includes students who are renting apartments owned by their universities.

Sincerely,

[Your name, return postal mailing address]

 

Questions that may come up:

Are we advocating for students who have entered a lease?

Yes. Columbia University is our landlord who we have a lease with. The bill’s language includes those who “pay for the use and occupancy of a residential building.” Our apartment buildings are owned by the university and they lease to us. 

How have graduate students lost employment and income opportunities as a result of the coronavirus pandemic?

Graduate student workers have lost income in a variety of ways, such as: loss of teaching jobs as a result of the pandemic Cancellation of research fellowships and grants because students are unable to fulfill the field research requirements of the grant while social distancing; and various other student worker jobs. 

We are already doing our best to help.

Thank you for the work that you’re doing. How can we help move this important bill that will help everyday working people in New York?