The rent is to damn high in New York unless you live in a rent controlled (A leftover from WWII, BTW) apartment. Landlords have to make the rent higher on non-rent controlled apartments to make money.
Once again "their" solution to what the .gov screwed up in the first place will be more .gov. Thus creating the vicious cycle and death spiral... [sigh].
Solution, get rid of rent control and let the market set prices.