The NYC Rent Guidelines Board will hold two virtual Zoom public hearings on the proposed guidelines. If you would like to testify to speak at a public hearing, preregistration is the only way to assure your opportunity to speak (limited time may be available at the end of the hearing for unregistered speakers).

Registration has ended for both public hearings

For those not testifying, you may watch the hearings live on our YouTube channel.

The first hearing will be held on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, from 4 to 7 P.M.* The second hearing will be held on Thursday, June 17, 2021, from 5 to 9 P.M.* No in-person hearings will occur. 

*End time subject to change if there are registered speakers present who have not yet testified and/or if there is time at the end of the hearing, we will then hear from unregistered speakers on a first-come, first-served basis.

  • If you have pre-registered to speak with us (on this website or with an RGB representative over the phone), click here
  • If you were unable to register to speak prior to the hearing date, but would like to, click here
  • If you would like to submit testimony without attending a public hearing, you can do so on our Testimony webpage

Public hearing access and testimony instructions (for those pre-registered to speak at a hearing):

Access via Video: To access the public hearing by video:

Access via Telephone: To access the public hearing by telephone, please call 646-558-8656, then:

  • If you are testifying on Tuesday, June 15, enter Meeting ID: 838 7722 3517; when prompted for Participant ID, pressing #; then when prompted, entering Passcode: 403700
  • If you are testifying on Thursday, June 17, enter Meeting ID: 849 0770 8770; when prompted for Participant ID, pressing #; then when prompted, entering Passcode: 848480
  • Further phone instructions can be found on the Zoom website

Back to Top

Your Speaking Time: Please note that you are allowed two minutes to speak. You will be notified when your time allotment has ended. A timer on the screen will periodically alert viewers to the remaining speaking time.

Your Registration Number: When you register to speak, you will be assigned a registration number that will be emailed to you (also available by calling 212-669-7480 or by emailing [email protected]).  While you cannot use this number to determine an exact speaking time, it can give you an idea of your place in the queue. Your place in the queue will depend on the number of speakers who registered before you, and whether they are present for the hearing. In addition, we will alternate between tenants and owners, with priority given to public officials.

Your Zoom Sign-In Name (if you signed up to testify via video): When it is your turn to speak, you will be called by the name you used to register. You must use the same name to sign into Zoom, or if joining by telephone, the phone number you used to call in must be the same one that you used to register (caller ID must not be blocked).  Failure to use the same name or phone number on Zoom that you used to register may result in the loss of your place in the queue.  If you need to change the name you used to register, you must call our office at 212-669-7480 no later than June 14, 2021.

Back to Top

Your Phone Number (if you signed up to speak via phone): When it is your turn to speak, you will be called by the name you used to register, and it is required that the phone number you used to call in must be the same one that you used to register (caller ID must not be blocked).  Failure to use the same phone number on Zoom that you used to register may result in the loss of your place in the queue.  If you need to change the phone number you used to register, you must call our office at 212-669-7480 no later than June 14, 2021.

Attendance: You should plan to be an attendee of the Zoom hearing (via the method specified when registering: video or phone) when your name is called. If you are not present when your name is called, but join the hearing later, you may be heard after all other registered speakers have been heard.

Back to Top

Speaking Procedure: When your name is called, a staff member will locate you in the attendee list by using either your name or phone number (caller ID must not be blocked) and announce you as the next speaker. If you are testifying via Zoom video, a window will appear on your screen enabling you to be promoted to panelist. If you are testifying via telephone, you must press *6 on your phone keypad when it is your turn to testify. You may then begin your testimony. After you complete your testimony (limited to no more than 2 minutes, except if there are any board member questions), your microphone and video camera will be disabled and you will again be an attendee of the hearing.

Privacy Notice: Please note that once your speaking time begins, your voice will be heard by the Board members, the other attendees, as well as the public viewing on YouTube.

Simultaneous Interpretation (in Spanish) via Zoom app: If you are joining by video via Zoom app, you have the option to listen to other speakers in either English or Spanish. To listen in Spanish, use the interpretation button to select Spanish.  To listen in English, you can either leave interpretation off (however you will hear Spanish speakers in their native language) or use the interpretation button to select English (and you will hear English interpretations of Spanish speakers). Further instructions on how to access Interpretation can be found on the Zoom website. 

Back to Top

Simultaneous Interpretation (in Spanish) via telephone: If you would like to listen to a hearing with simultaneous interpretation in Spanish, and do not have access to the Zoom app (mobile device or computer), you may do so by calling 646-558-8656, then:

  • UPDATED 6/9/21: For the Tuesday, June 15 hearing, enter Meeting ID: 869 3130 7819; when prompted for Participant ID, pressing #; then when prompted, entering Passcode: 705009
  • UPDATED 6/9/21: For the Thursday, June 17 hearing, enter Meeting ID: 872 8890 3885; when prompted for Participant ID, pressing #; then when prompted, entering Passcode: 139724
  • Further phone instructions can be found on the Zoom website

If you are listening to the Spanish interpretation by telephone and plan to testify during one of the hearings, you will have to switch over to the main webinar to testify. Your testimony will be interpreted in English for the Board. Shortly before it is your turn to speak, call 646-558-8656, then:

  • For the Tuesday, June 15 hearing, enter Meeting ID: 838 7722 3517; when prompted for Participant ID, pressing #; then when prompted, entering Passcode: 403700
  • For the Thursday, June 17 hearing, enter Meeting ID: 849 0770 8770; when prompted for Participant ID, pressing #; then when prompted, entering Passcode: 848480
  • Further phone instructions can be found on the Zoom website

Other Testimony Options: Please note that we are expecting a large number of speakers.  If you prefer, you may submit testimony via other means. We are taking written, audio, and video testimony up to June 17, 2021. To submit prerecorded audio/video or written testimony, visit our Testimony webpage. To record and submit audio testimony via phone, call (929) 256-5472, state your name clearly and leave a recording of up to two minutes. 

Back to Top

Public hearing access and testimony instructions (for those unable to pre-register to speak, but would like to):

Live Testimony Options for Unregistered Speakers: If you were unable to secure a registration slot and if there is time after preregistered speakers have been heard, we will offer an opportunity for those who wish to speak on a first-come, first-served basis.  There is no guarantee of additional time at the end of each hearing for unregistered speakers, nor is there a guarantee that we can hear from every unregistered speaker.

Access via Video: To access the public hearing by video:

Back to Top

Access via Telephone: To access the public hearing by telephone, please call 646-558-8656, then:

  • If you are testifying on Tuesday, June 15, enter Meeting ID: 838 7722 3517; when prompted for Participant ID, pressing #; then when prompted, entering Passcode: 403700
  • If you are testifying on Thursday, June 17, enter Meeting ID: 849 0770 8770; when prompted for Participant ID, pressing #; then when prompted, entering Passcode: 848480
  • Further phone instructions can be found on the Zoom website

Raise Your Hand: At the conclusion of registered speakers, the Chair will ask other members of the public to “raise their hand” in Zoom if they wish to speak. 

  • On a desktop computer: Click “Raise Hand” in the webinar controls (or press ALT+Y on Windows or Option+Y on a Mac)
  • On a smartphone: Tap Raise Hand in the webinar controls
  • For those joining by telephone: Press *9 (Press *9 again to lower hand)
  • Further hand raising instructions can be found on the Zoom website.

Back to Top

Speaking Procedure: You will be called by either the name you have used to sign into Zoom or the last three digits of your phone number (caller ID must not be blocked). See Speaking Procedure, Speaking Time, and Privacy Notice above for instructions about the process of testifying. Please note that you are allowed two minutes to speak.

Simultaneous Interpretation (in Spanish) via Zoom App or Telephone: You have the option to listen to other speakers in either English or Spanish. See Simultaneous Interpretation (Spanish) above for instructions about the process of listening in Spanish.

Other Testimony Options: Note that we are expecting a large number of speakers.  If you prefer, you may submit testimony via other means. We are taking written, audio, and video testimony up to June 17, 2021. To submit prerecorded audio/video or written testimony, visit our Testimony webpage. To record and submit audio testimony via phone, call (929) 256-5472, state your name clearly and leave a recording of up to two minutes. Written testimony may be submitted via online form (or email testimony to [email protected]).

Back to Top