State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal Under Fire for Combining Units

File this under the category of “do as I say, not as I do.”

State Senator (and Manhattan Borough President candidate) Brad Hoylman-Sigal is drawing scrutiny for combining three Greenwich Village units to create a larger co-op, the New York Daily News reported. The formation of the 2,000-square-foot abode reportedly unfolded between 2006 and 2016; he doesn’t reside at the unit anymore, as the redistricting of the area he represents forced a move.

The tenants rights advocate has strongly opposed rent hikes for rent-stabilized tenants and frequently highlighted the low vacancy rate that persists in the city. He’s also talked about his issue with combining homes.

In a 2019 podcast, host Jason Haber raised how the consolidation of housing units was an issue. Hoylman-Sigal concurred, dismayed about how the practice could impact rent-stabilized tenants and bringing up the combination made in his neighborhood by Facebook co-founder Sean Parker, without referring to the tech entrepreneur by name.

Hoylman-Sigal clarified to the Daily News that his podcast comments were in relation to “Frankensteining,” the loophole in rent-stabilization law that allowed landlords to combine or alter apartments to raise rents or push tenants out.

In 2023, the state housing regulator certified changes to setting rents for vacant, stabilized apartments that had been combined, closing the loophole; initial rents on those units were capped at the combined rents of the previous units.

In response to the Daily News, Hoylman-Sigal’s campaign manager pointed to his record on housing while defending him.

“The idea that the apartment he and his husband own in the Village has anything to do with Brad’s record on increasing affordable housing is an absurd political hit,” Caroline Crowell said.

Hoylman-Sigal is going up against City Council member Keith Powers in the race for borough president. Hoylman-Sigal secured the endorsement of Tenant PAC.

— Holden Walter-Warner