ANHD 2016 Building the Community Development Movement
Organizing Works-College Avenue Tenants Fight Back!
For years, the tenants of 1259, 1265 and 1269 College Avenue suffered with horrific living conditions that were ignored by their landlord and underreported to the City. After attending an August 2011 Community Action for Safe Apartments-NSA Tenants Rights Night, the tenants formed an association and launched a 311 calling campaign to report ignored housing violations. By December of 2011, College Management was ranked as the 7th worst landlord in New York City. There has since been a more complete accounting of all the housing deficiencies and today College Management is ranked by NYC’s Public Advocate as the #1 worst landlord in New York City, with close to 700 total violations or 11 violations per unit. All three buildings are in HPD’s Proactive Preservation Initiative, and all have been sued by HPD for repairs. The landlord has put the buildings up for sale but this fight is by no means over. Tenants have put signs in their windows and banners on the fire escapes to ensure that potential buyers know the tenants are organized, know their rights and will demand that any new landlord prioritize quality repairs. This June the tenants of the three buildings brought three separate 7A actions against College Management, with the help of Legal Services NYC – Bronx and New York Lawyers for Public Interest. Through smart and strategic organizing with the help of dedicated allies, the College Avenue tenants are effectively demanding safe housing and landlord accountability. To learn more about this amazing effort contact: CASA-NSA, Susanna Blankley, Director of Housing Organizing, 718-716-8000, ext. 125; s.blankley@newsettlement.org.
More info: http://advocate.nyc.gov/landlord-watchlist
http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/video?id=8729816
http://www.myfoxny.com/story/18980773/worst-landlord-list-released