Sumathy Kumar

Sumathy Kumar is the Executive Director of the New York State Tenant Bloc and Housing Justice for All. Kumar has led successful campaigns for statewide Good Cause Eviction and NYC’s two-year rent freeze. From 2020 to 2022, Kumar served as co-chair of the NYC Democratic Socialists of America. Under her leadership, NYC-DSA elected six socialists to the New York State Legislature, including now-Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Attendees react during a vote by the Rent Guidelines Board in New York, US, on Thursday, June 25, 2026.

New Yorkers Won a Rent Freeze. But We Can’t Stop There. New Yorkers Won a Rent Freeze. But We Can’t Stop There.

There is so much more to be done to seize power from landlords and real estate directly.

Jul 14, 2026 / Sumathy Kumar and Tracy Rosenthal

x