Rents Rise
Tonight, the Rent Guidelines Board is expected to vote to [raise rents] on the citys one million rent stabilized apartments, and, shockingly, nobody is happy about it. Tenant activists are arguing that property owners already benefit from tax breaks and rebates, while landlords complain that the proposed increases arent high enough to cover rising operating costs. Leases are expected to [increase by](http://www.nypress.com/20/24/informationagent/agent2.cfm) 2 to 4.5 percent for one-year renewals and by 4 to 7.5 percent for two-year leases. The board is also planning heightened security for tonights meeting as a precaution against a replay of last years colorful festivities when tenant activists shut down the same assembly for three hours, [pounding bongo drums](http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=1&aid=71100), shaking noisemakers, singing and shouting. It didnt work, but hey, it got some attention.
And its not only renters who are feeling the heat. Upper East Siders are up in arms, fearing that Three Guys Restaurant, a Madison Avenue mainstay, may soon be [forced to shut its doors] to its rich and powerful clientele when its current below-market lease expires. While the hungry power-wielders could easily sign a couple of fat checks to save their beloved haunt, we think Governor Spitzer and the other bigwigs who frequent this place should show up with bongos and noisemakers to protest instead.