[count-your-change]

Firstly, Dos the state, in fact, NOT have the power to regulate an economic activity such as renting out a living space?

[nathanbedford]

As you are aware, the answer to your question is self evident, of course the state has the power to regulate economic activity including renting out living space.

The question is when does that regulation run afoul of the Federal Constitution? Does the New York rent control law violate the federal Constitution and if it does, why? In other words what right, presumably of the landlord, found in the federal Constitution has been violated and has been applied to the states by the 14th amendment or otherwise?