Housing Notebook

Mon, Oct 12, 2026 20:00 PM

Info

Hosts: Scott Sommer and Vajra Kilgour

Topics:

Topics of general interest to tenants, plus the latest developments in Kingston, NY -

Synopsis:

KINGSTON FIGHTS BACK!

As the real estate market continues to overheat throughtout the Hudson Valley, landlords in Kingston, NY, are trying to end all rent and evcition protections. But the tenants won't back down! We'll chat with Kingston City Council Majority Leader, Michele Hirsch and June Nemon from the Hudson Valley Tenants Union.

Housing Notebook is a production of the Metropolitan Council on Housing, New York's oldest tenant union.

Guests:

Michele Hirsch, Kingston City Council Majority Leader; June Nemon, Hudson Valley Tenants Union -

Playlist:

Info / Links:

Met Council hotline: 212-979-0611: M & W 1:30-8 PM, F 1:30-5 PM; metcouncilonhousing.org, thetenant.org; info@metcouncilonhousing.org; Facebook & Instagram: search for Met Council on Housing; email: housingnotebook@wbai.org – no housing problems please! X: @met_council, @wbai.org, @scottmsommer (also on threads & bluesky); wbai.org – live stream, find archive, join radio station there or go to buddy.wbai.org to become a WBAI buddy or make a one-time donation - be sure to scroll down to choose Housing Notebook as the show you want to support! Or call 833-922-4692 - leave a message with your phone number if no one picks up, and they'll call you back. Or mail a check made out to WBAI-Pacifica to WBAI Radio, 388 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn NY 11217 - and please put "Housing Notebook" on the memo line.
Walk-in clinics have resumed. Tuesday October 13: CUNY in the Heights, 5030 Broadway, arrive by 6 PM to be seen. For all other Met Council events, including trainings for hotline volunteers, workshops, court outreach, chapter meetings, and meetings about basic rights, check upcoming events.
For the Hudson Valley Tenants Union website, click here.
New rent guidelines: for leases starting 10/1/26 in New York City, for all rent-stabilized housing: 0 percent for a 1-year lease, 0 percent for a 2-year lease - more detailed information is here. Westchester: 3.5% for 1 year, 4.5% for 2 years; Nassau county: 1.5% for 1 year, 2.5% for 2 years; Rockland county: 5% for 1 year, 6% for 2 years; Kingston: no new guidelines yet.
Not mentioned on air this week, but useful: Heat and hot water: From October 1 through May 31, from 6am to 10pm, when the outside temperature is below 55 degrees the inside temperature must be 68 degrees; from 10pm to 6am, the inside temperature must be at least 62 degrees. Hot water must be 120 degrees at the tap at all times. Call 311 to report problems with heat and hot water.

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