Starting when he first ran in 2013, Ben Kallos refused money from real estate developers and has been a critic of elected officials who do, something that has led to regulatory capture of New York City by the real estate industry.
As a Council Member, Ben Kallos, protected the landmarks law, reformed the Board of Standards and Appeals, supported the first community-led rezoning that stopped Billionaires row at 2nd Avenue, and led a borough-wide rezoning to stop supertalls in residential neighborhoods above 59th Street,.
In his second term starting in 2018, Ben chaired a City Council Land Use Subcommittee where he authored legislation to force developers to disclose financial relationships with politicians, questioned the transfer of city-controlled property to real estate developers who donated money, and uncovered that the city was giving away mansions as "affordable housing." By 2019, Ben's independence and leadership had frustrated real estate developers, leading the Council to dissolve the committee.
Ben Kallos has been recognized as one of the politicians who calls the shots on real estate by the Commercial Observer. Our firm is here to help you and your community fight real estate developers, protect your community, and fight to keep you and your neighbors from being displaced from your neighborhood.