The renters are seeking to negotiate on behalf of what has rapidly become one of the largest tenant unions of its kind in New York City, formed during the bankruptcy proceedings of Pinnacle Group.
Unlike tenant movements of the past, the Union of Pinnacle Tenants has powerful allies.
Cea Weaver, whom Mayor Zohran Mamdani tapped to lead the revived Office of Tenant Protection, has sat in on discussions between residents and Summit Properties USA, the buyer of the bankrupt portfolio. The mayor himself has participated in a virtual town hall with the union to listen to its concerns.
“These buildings are obviously really important to the city of New York,” Weaver told Bisnow in an interview. “Making sure that Summit is abiding by what they committed to in the bankruptcy court as a result of the actions that the administration took is really critical. We really want to make sure we’re doing the follow-through.”
UPT may just be the tip of the iceberg.
In his first five months in office, Mamdani has made organizing a key pillar of his administration, specifically encouraging renters to band together against the deep-pocketed real estate industry.
Weaver has met with tenants organizing across portfolios of other major landlords and lenders, Bisnow has learned. Many tenants now have a direct line to city agencies, whereas before each renter had to rely on calling 311 to report issues.
“At the very basic level, we’re not asking for a whole lot. We’re asking for habitable, safe homes,” said Vivian Kuo, a member of UPT’s bargaining team. “Why do we have to unionize to get that?”
New Yorkers are facing soaring living costs during a time of record-low vacancy. At the same time, landlords and nonprofit housing managers warn that they are operating in the red. And while tenant unions don’t have the same legal protections as labor groups, the bigger they get, the more powerful they become.
“When your landlord is this massive real estate company that owns thousands of other units, it feels like common sense to get organized, not just in your building but across other buildings that your landlord owns,” New York State Tenant Bloc and Housing Justice for All Executive Director Sumathy Kumar said. “That’s the only way you’re really going to have leverage.”
Ronald H. Cohen