NY Times describes how controlled rental rates are set

No reason to make sure that those who value the apartments the most are the ones who get them. This is a civilized way of setting prices:

In June 2006, hundreds of jeering tenants with drums, whistles and handmade rattles tried to shut down a board meeting, prompting the board chairman, Marvin Markus, to call a two-and-a-half-hour recess. The notice for tonight’s meeting warned that “items that are reasonably likely to disrupt the proceedings, such as noisemakers and drums, are prohibited and may not be brought into the meeting venue.”

Thanks to Jack Langer for sending me this link.