New York Mayor Appoints Rent Freeze-Friendly Board

Mamdani fills Rent Guidelines Board with members likely to approve rent freeze for nearly 1 million apartments.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has appointed six new members to the nine-person Rent Guidelines Board, which has the power to decide whether rents can be increased in nearly one million rent-stabilized apartments. Mamdani's appointees, including a former city employee, a nonprofit researcher, and a labor union official, are expected to vote for a rent freeze, fulfilling one of Mamdani's key campaign promises.

Why it matters

The Rent Guidelines Board's decisions have a major impact on housing affordability for millions of New Yorkers living in rent-stabilized units. Mamdani's appointments give him effective control over the board, making it likely they will approve a rent freeze that landlords have strongly opposed, arguing it will lead to deteriorating building conditions.

The details

Mayor Mamdani appointed Chantella Mitchell as chair of the Rent Guidelines Board, along with five other new members: Sina Sinai, Lauren Melodia, Brandon Mancilla, Maksim Wynn, and Adán Soltren. The board is responsible for deciding each year whether rents in nearly 1 million rent-stabilized apartments can be increased. Mamdani's appointees are expected to vote for a rent freeze, fulfilling one of his key campaign promises.

  • On February 18, 2026, Mayor Mamdani announced the new Rent Guidelines Board appointments.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

The mayor of New York City who appointed the new Rent Guidelines Board members with the goal of freezing rents.

Chantella Mitchell

The new chair of the Rent Guidelines Board, appointed by Mayor Mamdani. She is the program director at the New York Community Trust, a nonprofit community development group.

Sina Sinai

A new member of the Rent Guidelines Board, appointed by Mayor Mamdani. Sinai is a researcher at the Jain Family Institute, a nonprofit research group.

Lauren Melodia

A new member of the Rent Guidelines Board, appointed by Mayor Mamdani. Melodia is the director of economic and fiscal policy at the Center for New York City Affairs at the New School.

Kenny Burgos

The chief executive of the New York Apartment Association, which represents landlords, who criticized the new Rent Guidelines Board appointments.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We believe the law mandates the R.G.B. members to evaluate all the data and make a decision that is based in fact — not political ideology. If they choose to ignore consensus opinion then they will be opening up the process to legal scrutiny. Worse, they will be responsible for the deterioration and eventual destruction of thousands of rent-stabilized buildings.”

— Kenny Burgos, Chief Executive, New York Apartment Association (nytimes.com)

“It is more vital than ever for the board to provide urgently needed relief to the more than two million working-class New Yorkers who live in rent-stabilized homes by freezing rents.”

— Legal Aid Society (nytimes.com)

What’s next

The Rent Guidelines Board will now decide whether to approve a rent freeze for nearly 1 million rent-stabilized apartments in New York City.

The takeaway

Mayor Mamdani's appointments to the Rent Guidelines Board give him effective control over the panel, making it likely they will approve a rent freeze that landlords have strongly opposed. This fulfills one of Mamdani's key campaign promises, but could lead to legal challenges and concerns about the deterioration of rent-stabilized buildings.