Kenny Burgos to Head CHIP, RSA Merged Landlord Group

A new landlord supergroup is expected to hire former Assembly member Kenny Burgos, who just resigned from the legislature, to head the organization.

The Rent Stabilization Association and the Community Housing Improvement Program have lined up Burgos to take the helm of the New York Apartment Association, the new name they will adopt once they officially merge, according to three sources familiar with the decision.

Burgos, who represented the South Bronx, stepped down from the Assembly this month, citing “heartfelt discussions with my wife as we prepare for the joys and challenges of our expanding family and open a new chapter in our lives.” He posted an announcement of the birth of his son on the social media platform X over the weekend.

The Assembly member was up for re-election in November, so the Bronx Democratic Party will choose his replacement in the general election, City & State reported. As leader of the landlord group, Burgos’ hands will initially be a bit tied: State ethics rules bar Burgos from lobbying the legislature for two years.

The boards of CHIP and RSA have approved the merger in separate votes, but under state law, the merger of trade groups requires review by the attorney general. That review is nearly complete.

Burgos’ appointment is not official yet. It is not clear if he would first serve as president of RSA and then transition to executive director of the New York Apartment Association once the groups are combined.

Representatives for RSA and Burgos did not return calls seeking comment.

Some members have objected to the groups’ joining forces, raising concerns about CHIP’s finances and that small owners’ voices would be lost in the combined organization.

Joseph Strasburg, who has served as RSA’s president for 30 years, is expected to transition to a consultant role for the newly formed supergroup. It is not clear what title Jay Martin, CHIP’s executive director, will be given, but his day-to-day efforts to advance the interests of rent-stabilized owners are seen as continuing.

Another question is how the merger will affect the groups’ place in the landscape of real estate trade organizations. While there is some overlap between RSA, CHIP and the Real Estate Board of New York, they have different priorities.

Still, all the groups emerged from state budget negotiations feeling that the housing deal reached by lawmakers did not do enough to spur housing development or help owners of rent-stabilized properties.
Late last year, other elected officials were floated to lead the new organization. Burgos’ role signals a new generation taking over: At 30 years old, he was born the same year Strasburg left the public sector to take over the RSA. Like Strasburg, Burgos got his start in politics working as a City Council staffer.