nytimes.com
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Chi Ossé, a far-left city councilman aligned with the policies of Zohran Mamdani, the mayor-elect of New York City, has told political allies that he is planning to challenge Representative Hakeem Jeffries, the top House Democrat, in next June’s primary.

But he may not have the mayor-elect’s support.

Mr. Mamdani has privately tried to discourage his ideological ally from running. The mayor-elect and his team fear that another high-profile challenge from the left might compromise his own bid to push the Democratic establishment to support his affordability agenda.

The disagreement caused Mr. Ossé to be disinvited from Mr. Mamdani’s election night watch party, according to two people familiar with the matter, even though he has been a frequent presence at Mr. Mamdani’s campaign events. Instead, Mr. Ossé said he spent the night “with my constituents at D.S.A. events celebrating Zohran’s incredible win.”

    • jimmydoreisalefty@lemmy.world
      22·
      16 hours ago

      TIL

      Thanks for the link!

      Edit: Added a quick Generated Summary of article below and Archived Link.

      Archived Link: https://web.archive.org/web/20250907142800/https://www.npr.org/2024/11/17/nx-s1-5191505/a-new-law-in-new-york-will-do-away-with-broker-fees

      Generated Summary:

      Key Data & Facts

      • Legislation: The FARE Act (Fairness in Apartment Rental Expenses Act).
      • Core Change: Shifts responsibility for paying rental broker fees from the tenant to the party who hires the broker (which, in many cases, will be the landlord).
      • Previous Fee: Tenants could be charged broker fees of 15% to 30% of the annual rent, even if they never hired or interacted with the broker.
      • Current Status: Passed by the New York City Council and awaiting action from the mayor.
      • Timeline: The law will take effect 180 days (approx. 6 months) after it is officially enacted.
      • Support Level: The bill passed with a veto-proof majority of 42 votes (only 34 are needed to override a veto).

      Key Takeaways

      1. Fundamental Shift in Payment Responsibility: The law establishes the principle that “the person who hires the broker pays the broker,” aligning NYC with standard practices in the rest of the country.
      2. Major Financial Relief for Renters: This change will significantly lower the upfront, move-in costs for tenants in NYC, which traditionally included first month’s rent, last month’s rent, a security deposit, and a massive broker’s fee.
      3. Targets a Specific Abuse: The law specifically addresses the common practice where a landlord hires a broker to list and show their property, but the cost of that service was passed on to the tenant who had no say in the hiring decision.
      4. Political Strategy Played a Key Role: Council Member Ossé credits the use of social media, particularly TikTok, for mobilizing young people to build a coalition strong enough to overcome the powerful real estate lobby, which had defeated similar bills in the past.

      Detailed Summary

      The Problem: The article outlines the extreme difficulty of finding affordable housing in New York City, exacerbated by high upfront broker fees. Tenants were routinely required to pay fees as high as 15% (and sometimes up to 30%) of a year’s rent to a broker, even in situations where the tenant found the apartment themselves or the broker was hired exclusively by the landlord. This fee was in addition to standard move-in costs like first month’s rent, last month’s rent, and a security deposit.

      The Solution: The FARE Act The FARE Act, introduced by NYC Council Member Chi Ossé, fundamentally changes who is responsible for paying a broker’s fee. The core principle is that “whoever hires the broker pays the broker.” This means:

      • If a landlord hires a broker to market their property, the landlord must pay that fee.
      • If a tenant specifically hires a broker to find them an apartment, the tenant would still be responsible for that fee.

      Legislative Status and Next Steps: The bill has been passed by the City Council and is now on the mayor’s desk. He can sign it, veto it, or do nothing, after which it becomes law in 30 days. Due to the overwhelming veto-proof majority (42 votes in favor), the bill is expected to become law regardless of the mayor’s action. Once enacted, there will be a 180-day period before it takes effect.

      Context and Rationale:

      • Broker Necessity: Ossé acknowledges that some brokers provide a necessary service, but the high demand in NYC’s rental market and the power of the real estate industry led to a system where fees became exorbitant and were often charged for little to no service.
      • Personal Experience: Ossé shared his own difficult experience as a six-figure-earning council member being charged a high broker fee for an apartment he found himself, highlighting how pervasive the issue is.
      • Political Strategy: Ossé, the council’s only Gen Z member, leveraged social media (especially TikTok) to galvanize public support and pressure council members, which he credits as a key factor in overcoming the influential real estate lobby.

      Broader Implications: The bill is framed as part of a larger “affordability” crisis in NYC. Ossé states that his focus remains on tackling high rents and the city’s housing shortage, which disproportionately impact young people and long-term residents being priced out of their neighborhoods.