In Focus delivers deeper coverage of the political, cultural, and ideological issues shaping America. Published daily by senior writers and experts, these in-depth pieces go beyond the headlines to give readers the full picture. You can find our full list of In Focus pieces here.No one should be surprised that New York’s Rent Guidelines Board has adopted the rent freeze for 960,000 “rent-stabilized” apartments in the city, including the first-ever two-year zero rent increase. Mayor Zohran Mamdani made the freeze his signature campaign issue and has appointed six of the nine members of the board. The lone landlord on the board resigned prior to Thursday’s freeze announcement, saying that “theater” had replaced the data analysis of income and expenses that the board is supposed to employ.This is more than a simple regulatory decision, however. For a mayor who endorsed a congressional candidate who made clear she does not believe in private property, this is a front in a class war. The landlords are, per Mao, an inherent oppressor class, no matter their income or wealth, and tenants are victims, even if they are wealthy baby boomers on the Upper West Side enjoying cheap housing for life. The rent freeze is a war on landlords.