Tenants from Spring Creek, formerly known as Starrett City, rallied on the steps of City Hall Wednesday as lawmakers met on closing loopholes that allow landlords to raise rents.

City Council members are urging the state to change laws allowing landlords to benefit at tenants' expense. The loopholes allow landlords to raise prices on rent-controlled apartments that remain vacant. Housing advocates say the practice weakens the Mitchell-Lama affordable housing program.

Dozens of tenants from Brooklyn's Spring Creek housing complex are demanding the government throw out developer Clipper Equities' new offer to buy their complex. Spring Creek is the nation's largest federally subsidized complex with 6,000 units.

The federal government blocked the developer's $1.3 billion sale earlier this year after an outcry from residents.

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