NYC Mayor Appoints Six to Rent Guidelines Board

New chair and members bring expertise in housing, finance, and public policy to set rent adjustments for 2 million stabilized units.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced the appointment of six new members, including a new Chair, to the city's Rent Guidelines Board (RGB). The nine-member board is tasked with determining rent adjustments for the city's 2 million rent-stabilized apartments, lofts, and single-room occupancy units.

Why it matters

The RGB plays a critical role in setting rent policies that impact housing affordability for millions of New Yorkers. The new appointees bring expertise in housing, finance, and public policy that will help the board make data-driven decisions on rent adjustments amid the city's ongoing housing challenges.

The details

The new appointees include Chantella Mitchell as Chair, as well as Sina Sinai, Lauren Melodia, and Brandon Mancilla as public representatives, Maksim Wynn as an owner representative, and Adán Soltren as a reappointed tenant representative. They join existing board members Arpit Gupta, Christina Smyth, and Sagar Sharma. The board will consider factors like housing costs, tenant affordability, and vacancy rates in setting rent adjustments for the 2026-2027 lease period.

  • The RGB will collect data and hear expert testimony this spring before setting a preliminary rent adjustment range.
  • The board will then hold public hearings across the five boroughs to gather input from residents.
  • Finally, the RGB will vote on a final rent adjustment that will apply to leases from October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027.

The players

Zohran Kwame Mamdani

The Mayor of New York City who announced the new Rent Guidelines Board appointments.

Chantella Mitchell

The new Chair of the Rent Guidelines Board, who is a Program Director at the New York Community Trust.

Sina Sinai

A new public member of the Rent Guidelines Board, who is a Senior Research Associate at the Jain Family Institute.

Lauren Melodia

A new public member of the Rent Guidelines Board, who is the Director of Economic and Fiscal Policy at the Center for New York City Affairs at The New School.

Adán Soltren

A reappointed tenant representative on the Rent Guidelines Board, who is a Supervising Attorney at the Legal Aid Society.

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What they’re saying

“I'm proud to appoint these housing, finance, and budget experts to fill the open seats on the Rent Guidelines Board. I'm confident that, under the leadership of Chantella Mitchell as chair, the board will take a clear-eyed look at the complex housing landscape and the realities facing our city's two million rent-stabilized tenants, and help us move closer to a fairer, more affordable New York.”

— Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Mayor of New York City (Mirage News)

“I am honored by this appointment and the opportunity to serve. Rent-stabilized housing plays a critical role in New York City's housing market, and I look forward to working with my fellow board members and the RGB staff to carry out the Board's vital mission.”

— Chantella Mitchell, Chair, Rent Guidelines Board (Mirage News)

What’s next

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