To: President Donald Trump

From: [Your Name]

April 1 Has already passed and many hard working people are behind on their rent and don't know how they are going to pay next month's rent as they are out of work and don't know when their next paycheck is coming.

Even before the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19), millions of New Yorkers struggled to afford rent each month. According to an analysis from the Citizens Budget Commission last year, half of all renters in our city are rent burdened, spending more than 30% of their income on housing. For many, it’s upwards of 50%. It’s only in the final two or three weeks of the month when these New Yorkers finally earn enough money to cover next month’s rent--and often barely.

Now, as the coronavirus pandemic shutters businesses and plunges the economy into recession, these same renters have lost their economic lifeline. Many of us have no idea how we’re going to pay rent in the coming months.

We are seeing looting and robbery start to begin because people are desperate and don't know how they can take care of their families.

Many are calling to "Suspend" rent leaving NY tenants with months of rent to pay back once this is all over. While it's a nice gesture That doesn't solve the problem that just postpones it. That's why we are calling to CANCEL rent for the duration of this crisis while people can't work to prevent homelessness and looting.

We, the undersigned, are calling on you to work urgently and aggressively with landlords, management companies and all relevant parties to immediately CANCEL RENT collection until the crisis is contained and people can safely return to work.

We recognize the financial hardship this will place on small landlords. The City and State should work with lenders to CANCEL mortgage collection during rent cancelation and this crisis. City and state officials must make resources available for essential repair work during and after this period

Such a call may be unprecedented. But we are living in unprecedented times. The people cannot risk losing the very place where they are being asked to shelter.

Thank you.