Loft Law Road Trip: Brooklyn Activists Head To Albany To Campaign For Stronger Protections

WILLIAMSBURG, BROOKLYN — Activists are planning a Loft Law road trip to Albany on Wednesday to defend New Yorkers’ rights to live and work in trendy homes.

The organization NYC Loft Tenants will transport several vans of protestors to the New York State Capitol building on June 7 to pressure lawmakers to expand the controversial Loft Law, the group announced in June.

The Loft Law, first enacted in 1982, provides New York City residents in once-industrial spaces with rent stabilization as well as protection from eviction and building safety code citations.

The original law only protected Manhattan residents who moved into their lofts between 1981 and 1982, but state lawmakers expanded it in 2010 by extending eligibility to residents across New York City who had moved into their lofts between 2008 and 2009.

But controversial new limitations were added as well.

The 2010 Loft Law only covered three of 16 Industrial Business Zones in the outer boroughs, prevented tenants living in basements and spaces without exterior windows from qualifying, and mandated tenants apply for Loft Law protection by a deadline set for June 15, 2017.

These are the limitations NYC Loft Tenants hope to fight.

And on Wednesday, the group will go to Albany to push for the 2017 Loft Law Clean-Up Bill that would revoke the 2010 limitations and relax eligibility requirements.

“NYCLT demands an inclusive Loft Law,” the organization said in a statement. “Without these changes, tenants will lose much needed rent protection and housing rights.”

Those interested in protesting with NYC Loft Tenants in Albany can sign up for a seat in a van on the organization’s website.

Vans are expected to depart from Williamsburg at 6:30 a.m. return 10 p.m. While travel expenses will be covered by the organization, food costs will not.

Photo via Matt H. Wade/Wikimedia Commons