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Passaic council approves first reading of rent-stabilization ordinance after heated debate
Summary
Passaic City Council held a prolonged public hearing and voted to approve the rent-stabilization ordinance for first reading, setting a Jan. 7, 2025 second reading. The ordinance creates a rent-leveling board, includes a 6-year sunset, a pathway for below‑market units to increase toward HUD regional benchmarks, and exempts new construction for the life of the mortgage.
Passaic City Council voted on Dec. 6 to advance a proposed rent-stabilization ordinance to second reading on Jan. 7, 2025, following several hours of public comment and council debate.
The ordinance would establish a three-member rent-leveling board (plus three alternates) to review landlord requests to raise rents beyond limits set in the measure; the administration and the council’s rent-leveling attorney described a structure that requires one landlord, one tenant and a third member who may be designated as an "expert" (or, under a proposed amendment, an identified homeowner). The ordinance includes a six-year sunset and a pathway allowing owners of units far below market to increase rents by up to 20% per year until reaching a HUD regional benchmark, after which the ordinance’s ordinary limits apply.
Mayor Hector Laura and other proponents framed the proposal as a…
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