New leadership aims to balance affordable housing protections with housing supply
New Board Brings Housing And Finance Expertise
Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the appointment of six new members to the Rent Guidelines Board, including a new chair who will guide the body responsible for setting rent adjustments affecting approximately one million rent-stabilized apartments, lofts and single room occupancy units across New York City. The appointments represent Mamdani’s first major moves in influencing housing policy and demonstrate his commitment to appointing leadership with deep expertise in financing, budgeting and real estate development. Chantella Mitchell will serve as RGB Chair, bringing extensive experience from the New York Community Trust where she led grantmaking in community development, housing and workforce development.
Appointees Bring Diverse Housing Perspectives
The new members include three public representatives, one owner representative, and a reappointed tenant representative. Sina Sinai, a Senior Research Associate at the Jain Family Institute, brings data science and analytical expertise from his background in financial institutions and political organizations. Lauren Melodia, Director of Economic and Fiscal Policy at the Center for New York City Affairs, previously served as Deputy Director of Macroeconomic Analysis at the Roosevelt Institute with experience advancing economic justice. Brandon Mancilla, Region 9A Director of the United Auto Workers, brings labor perspective and experience overseeing collective bargaining across multiple states. Maksim Wynn serves as owner representative from Procida Development Group, managing affordable and transitional housing development. Adan Soltren continues as tenant representative, a Supervising Attorney in the Housing Justice Unit at the Legal Aid Society who also teaches at Columbia Law School.
RGB Mission And Spring Timeline
The Rent Guidelines Board determines annual rent adjustments for apartments subject to New York City’s rent stabilization law. The board evaluates economic conditions affecting housing, cost of living trends, housing supply and vacancy rates, and tenants’ ability to pay rent. This spring, the RGB will collect data and hear expert testimony before setting a preliminary range for rent adjustments. The board will hold public hearings across all five boroughs inviting community testimony. Final voting will determine rent adjustments applying to leases with effective dates between October 1, 2026 and September 30, 2027.
Mamdani’s Housing Priorities Reflected In Appointments
The appointment selections reflect Mamdani’s approach to housing policy balancing affordability advocacy with market realities. Mitchell’s position at New York Community Trust demonstrates commitment to philanthropic approaches supporting housing development. The inclusion of Wynn, with development background, signals willingness to work with housing producers. The strong labor presence through Mancilla and tenant advocacy through Soltren emphasizes workers’ rights and tenant protections. Mamdani has made affordable housing central to his administration promises, and these appointments suggest he intends to use the RGB as a platform for housing justice while maintaining dialogue with multiple stakeholder groups. The board’s decisions will impact millions of New Yorkers and carry significant political weight as the administration navigates the housing crisis. Review Housing and Preservation information, explore Rent Guidelines Board operations, and learn about Mamdani administration housing strategy. Examine community housing organizations and advocacy for additional perspective on housing equity approaches.
