Service reduction to limit RS contact with other residents

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Building was built in 1964. There are 14 units- 4 rent stabilized and 10 for transient residents.The owner is a non-profit.
RS tenants have had the right to use the basement laundry facilities since 1993. Now, the landlord has revoked RS tenant access to the basement laundry and all other common areas of the building ( we may go to our mail boxes in the lobby and go up and down the stairs to our apartments). We ( not transients) have been barred from speaking to transients for several years.
Now, the presence of our physical bodies in the building is also perceived as a problem.
Because of our complaint letter to them, the landlord, subsequently, has just made application to DHCR to reduce services ie deny us use of the laundry facilities in order to" reduce opportunity for RS tenants to interact with transient building residents." Transient residents will continue to enjoy use of the laundry facilities.
While in the process of filing our R-84 complaint for denial of access to the laundry, we just received our copy of the belated landlord application of reduction in services. We have 19 days left to respond.
We do not wish to be forced to accept a reduction in rent in exchange for the loss of the laundry. RS tenants have used the laundry along with transient residents without incidence for 17 years. DHCR told us the landlord could offer us an alternative ie the reduction the rent. DHCR also told me on the phone that RS tenants should not be "looking for empathy" from DHCR in our response.
We have been fighting for our right to exist here for a long time.
QUESTION- What would be a successful argument to DHCR when the landlord is objecting to our physical bodies moving through the building? How can we not ask for empathy as to how we are forced to live ( many other restrictions on us) to keep a roof over our heads?
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