Edited by: TJVNews.com

In a move that has sparked debate and controversy, far-left members of the City Council are pushing for a new bill that would require landlords in New York City to provide their tenants with contact information for all elected officials representing their respective neighborhoods, as was reported by the New York Post. The bill, introduced by Brooklyn Councilwoman Jennifer Gutiérrez, seeks to ensure that tenants have easy access to the names, office addresses, and phone contacts of federal, state, and city politicians who represent their areas, the report added.

Gutiérrez, a progressive Democrat, stated that the bill’s primary aim is to empower tenants by providing them with information on how to access resources and engage with their elected representatives, according to the Post report.  She clarified that the intention is not to encourage tenants to file complaints against landlords but rather to ensure that every tenant has the resources they should have to stay informed about their political representatives.

All of the information is already accessible through the Board of Elections, other government agencies and a simple Internet search, the Post reported.

“The idea is really to empower tenants to know how they can access information,” Gutiérrez told The Post. “I think a lot of folks maybe are interpreting this as like we are pushing tenants to file complaints against landlords, and that is not the case. This is really about ensuring every tenant has access to resources that they should have.”

The progressive Democrat also claimed that many of her constituents in Williamsburg and other parts of North Brooklyn don’t have Internet access, the report added.

The proposed bill mandates that landlords must supply both new and existing tenants with hard-copy notices containing the relevant contact information. The Post report noted that while critics have argued that this information is readily available through sources like the Board of Elections, government agencies, and online searches, Gutiérrez emphasized that the bill targets those tenants who might lack internet access, especially in areas like Williamsburg and other parts of North Brooklyn.

However, critics have voiced strong opposition to the bill, viewing it as yet another anti-landlord tactic from the City Council’s far-left bloc, as was reported by the Post. Queens Councilman Robert Holden, a moderate Democrat, expressed his concerns that landlords should not be burdened with the responsibility of educating tenants about their representatives.

The Post report said that he labeled the bill as an example of excessive government intervention and questioned whether it’s being promoted to boost name recognition for incumbents during an election year.

“Landlords should not be burdened with teaching civics or informing tenants about their representatives,” said Holden, as was reported by the Post. “It’s time to put an end to this excessive Nanny State and stop with the Politburo dictates from the City Council.”

Criticism has extended to social media as well, with various groups and individuals condemning the bill. The Post report also stated that The Berry Street Alliance questioned the bill’s value, describing it as a waste of legislation that demonstrates a lack of understanding of families’ needs.

“What a waste of legislation. You are out of touch with families in your district,” tweeted the Berry Street Alliance.

Some critics went so far as to suggest that the bill is an attempt to use landlords to campaign for incumbents and gain free advertising.

“@CMGutierrez  is using landlords to campaign for incumbents and advertise for free – such a New Kings Democrat move,” added the North Brooklyn block association group, referring to the upstart progressive club she’s backed by, the Post report said.

As was reported by the Post, Jay Martin, who heads the small landlords advocacy group Community Housing Improvement Program, ripped the bill, tweeting “it mandates a government responsibility to property owners and it makes 0 substantive improvements to the lives of renters.”

“But don’t worry if I get my way every single renter will know exactly who their elected official is and every single thing they are doing to make their housing worse,” he quipped, the report in the Post added.

“Another step toward pushing small landlords out of #NYC — and a future where renters’ only choice is between corporate landlords and #NYCHA,” tweeted another advocacy group, NY Small Landlords, according to the Post report. “The upside for the council member: It’s a slick way to turn voters into dependents.”

One contentious aspect of the bill is the potential for fines. The Post report said that while the bill itself does not specify the exact fines, it references existing city law, which could lead to violators facing civil penalties of up to $10,000 for minor offenses and $25,000 for major offenses. Gutiérrez acknowledged concerns about the high fines and expressed willingness to listen to landlords’ concerns and possibly consider reducing the fines.

Early co-sponsors of the bill include Council members Tiffany Caban and Shahana Hanif, both Democratic socialists, as well as Lincoln Restler, an extreme left-leaning Brooklyn Councilman, as was reported by the Post. The bill’s supporters argue that it will enhance renters’ awareness of their elected officials, while critics contend that it could result in pushing small landlords out of the city and further consolidating the rental market in favor of corporate landlords.

As the debate continues, the Mayor’s Office has stated that it is reviewing the bill but declined to offer further commentary, according to the Post report.  The potential implications of the “Know Your Rep” bill extend beyond just providing tenant access to information; they touch on broader issues of tenant-landlord relations, government intervention, and the evolving landscape of New York City’s housing market.