Both sides are trying to sway Gov. Pataki. He supports gradual transition to market rents. Tenants have taken the fight to the streets. They are targeting Senate Republicans whose city and suburban districts include thousands of rent-regulated apartments. The battle escalates this weekend, as hundreds of tenants plot strategy at the headquarters of District Council 37, the largest city union.
Tenants also plan to set up phone banks to lobby state lawmakers.
And hundreds of anxious renters are expected to descend on the state capitol on May 20 to press their cause with lawmakers. Senate Democrats plan a procedural maneuver aimed at forcing their GOP colleagues into an embarrassing roll-call vote on the rent laws. Landlord groups are fighting back. They're eying a TV and radio ad campaign to argue that some well-heeled tenants who don't need rent protection are taking unfair advantage of the state laws.