A compelling OpEd shared on NYCNewswire.com diagnoses a crucial facet of New York’s housing crisis: it’s not simply that there aren’t enough homes, but that affordable homes are missing. What’s worse, major real estate developers, hotel industry influencers, and politicians have shaped a public story that blames small landlords instead of the ones with true control over the market.
Deceptive Blame
Whether it’s Gowanus, Long Island City, Greenpoint, or the South Bronx, new luxury towers dominate the skyline. But while thousands of new units rise, the vast majority are out of reach for average households, built to high market standards that cater to higher-income groups. Despite reaping generous tax incentives, developers face little regulatory pushback. Meanwhile, hotel lobbyists seek to restrict short-term rentals—not to create more housing, but to guard their profits.
Small-time owners, renting part of their two- or three-family homes to get by, are unfairly stigmatized, according to the OpEd. The piece calls this a calculated effort by industry and political forces to shift responsibility away from themselves, splitting renters and small property owners.
Unaffordable Growth
From Hudson Yards to East New York, construction is booming, yet most apartments aren’t priced for those who need them most. The city’s lottery programs carve out only a handful of affordable slots; most units require high incomes. Young people increasingly double up in crowded apartments or rely on family support, an unstable solution for the city’s future.
The side effect is not just unaffordability but inaccessibility, with new stock benefiting developers more than ordinary residents, fueling competition and driving up overall costs.
Flawed Progressive Reforms
The OpEd critiques certain progressive approaches—such as broker fee reforms—for driving up rents and slashing availability. As noted by StreetEasy, real estate fees morphed into higher rent, echoed in The Wall Street Journal’s findings of sudden rent surges and a 30% drop in choices for tenants.
Treating neighborhood homeowners as if they’re large corporate landlords inadvertently harms the very people keeping communities afloat.
Gowanus Development – photo credit: NYC Newswire
Massive Advantage for Major Developers
Developers have the upper hand—coming to the table with expert lawyers and consultants—while politicians are often underprepared for complex bargaining. Instead of holding industry accountable, officials frequently target small-time landlords. Meanwhile, luxury towers sit with empty units, belying the narrative that small homeowners are clogging up the market.
Challenging the Mantra of ‘Build More Housing’
Another issue flagged: the mantra “We need more housing.” In neighborhoods with a glut of new, but costly, developments, it’s a misleading refrain. The vital question is, “More housing—yet for whom?”
Solution: Collective Action for Real Affordability
According to the OpEd, renters and homeowners must find common cause. Only by rejecting manufactured blame and championing true affordability, protection for small owners, and genuine equity in development can New York change course. That demands persistent advocacy, political courage, and an informed, engaged public.
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