Submitted by Diane Stein, Feb 15, 2007 23:47

It makes me frightened and sad to read about the erosion of affordable housing stock in New York City. My apartment complex was a Mitchell-Lama rental that was taken out of the program in 2004. Tenants living there before the buyout negotiated a deal with the owner. When we move out or die, our apartments will have no rent regulations at all. As more and more formerly rent regulated apartments are converted to luxury rentals, co-ops and condos, I wonder where will middle class people go? I fear New York will become a city of the very rich and very poor. (If NYCHA's privatize, then it will become a city of the very rich.) Not only will the city lose its diversity and character, but it will lose the teachers, nurses, social workers, transit workers, administrative assistants - the people who provide the services and make the city run. All this so that the landlords and real estate industry can make these enormous profits! How much is too much and when will it end? Something's got to give or there will be a mass exodus from New York City or an increase in sales of cardboard boxes.

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