we had to run up the stairs two at a time while the cat was in flight, and then slam the door to the baby’s room so that, if we were fast enough, the cat hit the door and slid to the ground and we gained a crucial second or so while the cat shook out the stars that floated over her head, and we could make it then to the third floor. there are 60,000 rent-controlled units in the city, most of them older buildings owned by small property owners struggling to get by under the weight of higher city fees. 