Mayor Mamdani Appoints Dina Levy as Housing Commissioner, Announces “Rental Ripoff” Hearings

Dina Levy brings decades of housing finance and organizing experience inside and outside of government to HPD

“Rental Ripoff” hearings in all five boroughs will offer New Yorkers a microphone to share poor conditions, unconscionable business practices that City will act upon

NEW YORK, NY — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani today announced the appointment of longtime housing leader Dina Levy as Commissioner of the Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD). Levy brings decades of experience developing and organizing for safe, affordable housing to the agency, fighting tirelessly for dignified housing for all New Yorkers. At HPD, Levy will execute on the Mamdani administration’s ambitious housing agenda, including preserving rent-stabilized housing, financing and constructing new affordable housing, connecting New Yorkers to housing, and ensuring the habitability of all homes in New York.

ABOUT DINA LEVY

Levy has fought for safe, affordable housing for years, working as both an advocate and within government. She previously served as Senior Vice President of Homeownership and Community Development at Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), New York State’s affordable housing agency. Prior to that, she worked as senior advisor to the New York Attorney General and as Director of Organizing at the Urban Homesteading Assistance Board (UHAB). She will bring this extensive experience organizing tenants, managing housing finance, and much more to HPD. The appointment was announced at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in The Bronx, widely considered to be the “Birthplace of Hip Hop” – and where Levy led a successful organizing campaign in 2010 to replace a predatory equity investor with a more responsible landlord, with City assistance.

RENTAL RIPOFF HEARINGS

As part of the administration’s tenant protection efforts, Mayor Mamdani also signed an executive order directing HPD, the Department of Buildings, the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants, and the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, in coordination with the new Office of Mass Engagement, to hold “Rental Ripoff” hearings across the five boroughs within the first 100 days of the administration. At these hearings, working New Yorkers will be able to speak about the challenges they face – from poor building conditions to hidden fees on rent payments. Following these hearings, the Mamdani administration will publish a summary and report detailing common themes and areas of opportunity, and the testimony shared at these hearings will directly inform policy interventions to take on these ripoff tactics. Details about the hearings will be available at nyc.gov/RentalRipoff.

In the first week of his Administration, Mayor Mamdani is already making it clear that tenants in New York City have a champion in City Hall. On day one, he passed an executive order rebuilding the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants and appointed Cea Weaver — who was instrumental in the passage of the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019 — to lead it.

1520 Sedgwick Avenue

Bronx, NY

January 4, 2025