I think the place is filled with people living in transient housing arrangements. Everyone I know who ever lived in NYC when they were recent college grads describes sharing an apartment with 3-5 other people. It was the only way they could pay the exorbitant rents.
I knew of someone who had a rent controlled apartment in Queens. She moved into her boyfriends apartment and rented each of the two bedrooms out for $900 each
Her rent controlled rent was like $400 a month
Rent control is a scam on the landlord