This year's fight is being led by Joseph Bruno, Republican majority leader of the state senate, who has threatened to let the rent-control laws expire on June 15th if Democrats do not agree to overhaul them.

ECONOMIST: New York��s housing market

Around two-thirds of the apartments enjoy below-market rents protected by New York's notorious rent-control laws, and many tenants fear that a new, more commercially minded owner who has paid top dollar for the properties will make their lives less comfortable.

ECONOMIST: Housing in New York

Their evolving list of demands, hammered out in days and nights of sweaty argument, includes calls for higher direct taxes for the rich, lower VAT for everyone, more hospital beds, free nursery-school, rent control and cheap home-building enforced by the state.

ECONOMIST: Israel

Chicago, in contrast to New York City, has no rent control, and it has abundant hous-ing for all levels of income earners.

FORBES: Don't Junk Property Rights

Evictions for non-payment of rent have increased by 20% since rent control was abolished, and more than 7, 000 eviction complaints were handled by Boston's housing court last year, compared to 5, 000 in 1993 before rent control ended.

ECONOMIST: Rent control

They filmed interviews with bankers, financial commentators, and homeowners suffering foreclosure, and pulled together sorrowful footage of stable neighborhoods both prosperous and working class slipping into dereliction, with junk-laden yards, boarded-up doorways, and squatters taking control of abandoned houses and charging rent to the homeless.

NEWYORKER: American Casino

In order to soften the end of rent control, Boston secured federal rent subsidies for roughly 400 elderly, disabled and low-income tenants.

ECONOMIST: Rent control