December 10th, 2025
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Perkins Eastman
115 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, USA
Oksana Mironova is a Senior Policy Analyst at the Community Service Society of New York where she researches housing policies like rent regulation and social housing. You can find her writing about housing, cities, and culture at oksana.nyc.
Emily Kurtz is Chief Housing Officer at RiseBoro, leading the vertically integrated team responsible for the development, construction, property management, asset management, and onsite supportive services. During her 15+ year tenure with the organization, RiseBoro has become a premier partner development partner for NYC Affordable Housing Development, and has developed over 2000 units of housing, with 1800 units currently in construction, and an additional 3700 units in the pipeline.
Professor Reiss is a Clinical Professor of Law and Research Director of the Blassberg-Rice Center on Entrepreneurship Law at Cornell Law School and Cornell Tech. At NYU School of Law, he is a Visiting Professor of Clinical Law and a Furman Center Research Affiliate. His scholarship primarily focuses on the secondary mortgage market, predatory lending, and housing policy.
Thomas Yu is the Executive Director of Asian Americans For Equality (AAFE), a 50-year old community development organization serving the 1.3 million New Yorkers of Asian descent, and all of those in need regardless of background. Under his leadership, AAFE has expanded affordable housing opportunities, delivered vital social services, supported small business owners with access to capital, and helped first-time homebuyers achieve stable homeownership.
Join us for a discussion on what a potential rent freeze may look like under the Mamdani administration.
As living costs continue to rise, Mayor-elect Mamdani has proposed freezing rents on stabilized apartments as a way to support tenants and protect housing stability. At the same time, critics warn that such measures could make it harder for building owners—particularly those managing older buildings with thin margins—to maintain safe, livable homes.
We’ll begin with an overview presentation by Mark Willis of the Furman Center, followed by a panel with Oksana Mironova, Emily Kurtz, David Reiss, and Thomas Yu on how the next administration can promote tenant stability and preserve affordable housing.
What strategies can preserve deep affordability while ensuring stabilized buildings remain financially sustainable?
If you are a member and have questions regarding registration, please reach out to rsvp@urbandesignforum.org.
Guest & Accessibility Policies
This event is open to Urban Design Forum members and an invited guest.
We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully.
- This venue is ADA accessible. There will be microphones and speakers
- If you’re not feeling well, please stay home. Face masks are encouraged, particularly if you have been recently exposed to colds, flus, or other illness. If you have been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days, a high-quality, well-fitting face covering is required at all times.
- Please refrain from wearing strong fragrances to accommodate guests with allergies or environmental sensitivities.
If you have additional needs, we will do our best to accommodate. Please contact rsvp@urbandesignforum.org.
Continuing Education
This event has been approved for AIA CES credit.
About Public Works
Public Works is a discussion series to drive civic dialogue around new and forthcoming built environment projects in New York City. Throughout the year, we invite government officials and private sector leaders to present design and development initiatives that shape the public good. Our goal is to create an open and collegial venue for deeper conversation between the public sector and our network of civic leaders building, caring for, and maintaining our city.
Support Our Work
Public Works is made possible through the support of our Board of Directors, Circle Members, and company and individual members. Our programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
To learn more about supporting Public Works, please contact Miranda Bellizia, miranda@urbandesignforum.org.
Image credit: Nestor Galina
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