The New York City Rent Guidelines Board votes 7 to 1 to freeze rents on about 1 million rent-stabilized apartments, halting increases on one- and two-year leases and fulfilling Zohran Mamdani’s campaign pledge.The decision follows months of hearings, tenant protests at El Museo del Barrio and the resignation of board member Christina Smyth, who accuses the board of political bias while landlord groups warn of rising operating and insurance costs.Zohran Mamdani, who appointed a majority of the board, defends the independence of the process and proposes a city-backed insurance program to lower expenses for rent-stabilized buildings next year.