A day after the Rent Guidelines Board voted to approve the largest rent increase in years, NY1's Anthony Pascale spoke to some New Yorkers Friday who said they feel like they are being forced out of the city.

"I think it's terrible," said resident Eileen Johnson. "I think they're pricing out ordinary people and pretty soon Manhattan will be only for the rich."

There were lingering feelings of anger and concern Friday, the morning after hundreds of tenants shouted and blew whistles to try and prevent the Rent Guidelines Board from voting to raise rents. But when it was all said and done, an increase that many feared became reality.

"We got robbed," said one New Yorker outside the hearing Thursday night. "Today is a sad day. We got robbed."

The Rent Guidelines Board voted to increase rents by 4.5 percent for one-year leases. For two-year renewals, rents will increase 8.5 percent. But the board gave landlords another option in the case of tenants who have lived in their apartments for six years or more: instead of a percentage increase, they can raise rents $45 a month for one-year leases and $85 a month for two.

"I'm a teacher and my salary is not huge and I work for a non profit and it's very hard," said one tenant. "I have two children in college and I think it's difficult for a lot of people."

There are roughly a million rent-stabilized apartments in the city. Many tenants say without the below-market rates, they couldn't afford to live here.

"I don't like it," said tenant Benny O'Conner. "I'm 75 years old; they're chasing us out of New York. What do you have to do go live with your kids?"

Landlords, especially small-building owners, say they need the increases because fuel costs have spiked and city water and sewer rates are set to go up by 14.5 percent later this year.

"The vote, as always, is a balancing act. It's hard to hear the balance that we struck, but we did strike a balance," said Rent Stabilization Association President Joseph Strasburg. "The vote was 5-4 and I think it was the right situation given this year's economics."

"I can understand the landlords have a beef, but what do you do with people? Ship them off somewhere?" said tenant Sultana Chad.

The new increases will apply to leases signed after October 1st.

- Anthony Pascale