The governor's aides say he is fully aware of the Democrats' strategy to hold him accountable for changes to the law. But if it does, it does. With all sides locked into a game of chicken, there have been no negotiations, nor even talk about holding negotiations. Bruno and Silver have not budged from their positions and Pataki has been keeping mum on his, trying leave himself wiggle room for a final compromise. But what that compromise might be is anyone's guess.
Several possibilities float on the horizon.
One option is to expand the policy known as luxury decontrol, where controls are ended for more expensive apartments rented by wealthier people. Another is moving toward the type of system now used in Los Angeles, where restrictions on rent increases apply to occupied apartments, but rents are allowed to jump to market rate whenever units are vacated. These are things no one is willing to discuss because no one wants to be perceived as caving in to the other side. The battle lines are drawn, the combatants frozen in place, waiting for someone else to move first. And tenants sit on the sidelines, biting their nails.