happiness, on sale
graying new york
BY MARCIA EPSTEIN
It seems that landlords have found a way to get back at rent-controlled tenants, who have been getting low or no rent increases in the past few years. For many years, landlords were getting 5 percent to 9 percent increases in one- and two-year leases. But lately, one-year leases have been 0 percent and two-year leases 2 percent. Landlords are unhappy. And so ... here comes the MCI (major capital improvement).
The landlord claims that he’s “fixed the /boiler,” “upgraded the elevators,” “redone the terraces,” “repaired the roof” and improved this and that and the other thing. And so, hello to the MCI, a monthly charge per room that is added to the rent and goes on into perpetuity. In other words, the MCI goes on even after the cost of the claimed work has been paid. If a building has a strong board of directors and good lawyers, it fights the MCI in the courts, sometimes for years. Landlords, of course, don’t like rent stabilized tenants.
They want to get market rates for apartments, and if they can’t get us out, they at least want substantial raises on lease renewals. Since they’re not getting that lately, we have to pay one way or another. My building is involved in a new MCI fight right now, and we’ve got a great board and smart lawyers. Here’s to justice winning over greed. Here’s to plain old fashioned fairness and caring about people rather than profit. Most rent stabilized tenants are not wealthy, many are elderly and sick. In my opinion, MCI’s are an underhanded way to get back what the Rent Stabilization Board “took away.” Thumbs down on these greedy landlords.
And with the money we tenants save, we will buy ... happiness. According to study published last month in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences” money can in fact help secure that elusive quality — if the money is used to save you time. According to the article, 6,000 people in the U.S., Canada, Denmark and the Netherlands agreed that buying services that save time gives them more pleasure than buying things. For example, housekeeping, delivery services and taking taxis make people a little bit happier than buying something material. Paying people to do what you don’t like to do, and what is time-consuming can add brightness to a person’s life. Still, only 28 percent of those surveyed spent money to save time. One of the researchers, using these findings, hired someone to get rid of the unpacked boxes in her new house and then hired a housekeeper and delivery services and was surprised and how great she felt.
I absolutely relate to these survey results. Although I get a temporary lift from buying something new, I have a few indulgences that I’d never give up. For example, I have been taking my laundry out, to be picked up neatly folded and closet-ready, for at least 25 years. I wouldn’t know how to operate the laundry machines in our building, and I don’t want to. I love putting the crisply folded sheets and towels away, and walk away to do something more productive, like read. I also hire a cleaning person every few weeks to do what I like least, such as scrub the tub and keep the kitchen and bathroom sparkling. Of course I do some cleaning in between, but I leave the tough stuff to her. I also indulge in buying books, either from thrift shops, streets stands, bookstores or Amazon. If I really want to read it now, I’ll pay full price. Another thing I indulge in; I like to eat out. Nothing fancy, but out! I hate to shop and cook, but do like to eat, so off I’ll go to the neighborhood diner or local Italian restaurant. I love to take myself out to breakfast; I’m a bit of a French toast and pancake maven. And so, I count myself in with the 28 percent of people who spend money to save time and do the things I don’t want to do. I totally get it!