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A group of residents in a massive building at 3333 Broadway (at 135th Street) are filing a class action lawsuit against the owner of the building, which until 2005 was in the state’s Mitchell-Lama program for moderate-income housing but is now charging market-rate rents. The residents say the owner had not properly notified them of the change to market-rate housing, and they say they're being systematically harassed to move out so higher-paying tenants can move in.
One of the residents, James Russell Outlaw, a disabled World War II veteran still recovering from bypass surgery, received a letter from his landlord over the summer saying he would be evicted from his apartment after 32 years, all because the city had terminated his monthly housing subsidy after finding evidence of a vermin infestation and a nonworking oven. He tells the Times, "They’re doing different things to get people out. Scare tactics, I call them." Doug Eisenberg, the COO of the company that owns the building responds, "We own over 18,000 apartments — there are mistakes made."
The 35-story building has 4,000 residents and has changed hands three times in as many years, and the current owner wants to evict more than a third of the tenants, seeing opportunity in Columbia University’s planned $6.3 billion campus expansion that will reach across the street. The Stop Columbia group asserts that rent-stabilization laws only cover buildings built before 1974, and 3333 Broadway was completed in 1976. Eisenberg says, "We really felt that if we put some money into the building, invested in it, and then did all our work on the legal side to get rid of a few bad apples, it could benefit everyone"
Another resident facing eviction is one Mildred Branch, 79, a wheelchair-bound retired city employee who has lived in the building since it opened. “They want to put an old lady out,” she tells the Times. After hearing of Ms. Branch and James Outlaw on Wednesday , Eisenberg pledged to halt eviction proceedings against them, but it's doubtful that will placate the other tenants who are filing their lawsuit in State Supreme Court today.
Photo courtesy Daniella Zalcman.
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Tenants in NYC are so entitled it's ridiculous. So they raise the rent, big deal, is that so bad? They own the damn building. WTF!!!
Maybe it won't allow scum bags to leach off the system. This isn't the safest neighborhood and I'm all for bringing in some higher rents. How about paying fair market prices like anyone else that lives in Manhattan? The idea that they can sue the owner is borderline Socialism.
"James Russell Outlaw, a disabled World War II veteran still recovering from bypass surgery"
Wow. Did you really just call him a scum bag?
no I really didn't. James Russell Outlaw is certainly not. I would never call him a scumbag. He's a veteran and not going to be evicted, as well as a few other cases, if you read the article.
I'm talking about the others which he labeled bad apples.
Bad apples is an understatement.
You got that right! Complete Socialism BS. While they're at it they should also get rid of Social Security too because that has that awful stench of Socialism too not to mention Medicaid and Medicare. And no more of this public education crap!! Everyone PAYS for their own damn education at market rate like good capitalist. You can't pay for school? Tough! Also bring back debtors prison. You go bankrupt? Straight to jail do not pass GO.
I think it's time for a Class war,
and I meant that in a good sense, not the John McCain sense.
I couldn't agree more.
Social Democracy by definition not Socialists exactly. These positions often include support for a democratic welfare state which incorporates elements of both socialism and capitalism, sometimes termed the mixed economy or the social market economy.
The meek shall inherit the Earth is very true of our era. I'm glad you see it my way. Medicaid and Medicare are part of a weakening American. It would be better if we could avoid these pussies who call themselves Liberals when they are in fact bringing in the era of the fall of the empire.
errr what I just said, that was sarcasm but thanks for playing the game anyways. The fall of your so-called empire is when I and my kids have to pay off that $700+(and counting) billion for fuckup bankers and capitalist pigs for their greed. That's the ultimate Socialism. The most blatant example of a free handout to corporate welfare if there was any. Just remember who's doing the assraping the next time they start raising your taxes and it ain't Mr. James Russell Outlaw, a disabled World War II veteran.
What laughable is all the landlords are still acting like the market was in the condition it was a year ago - it isn't. There will be a lot of apartments that sit vacant in the next few years, and before you know it landlords will be clamoring for the James Russel Outlaws of the world to rent their empty apartments.
whatstheproblem, your posts are almost as funny as "thefacts"! lol
The owner wants to charge market rates? How evil!
:rolleyes:
"The owner wants to charge market rates? How evil!"
exactly...There's nothing wrong with what the owner is doing.
Yeah well, hopefully it happens to your parents. Blacks are people too. Where will the crackers run when the economy really runs down? Where will they go when they start getting their asses robbed and worse in the streets for being in neighborhood they they clearly don't belong. Back to Greenwich I suppose.
we've moved away from a society that worked for things, strived to achieve and built the strongest country on earth, to one that puts everything on a credit card whines for the rest. move where you can afford, pay your bills, don't expect a handout for life (I so think that there should be a temporary safety net when the unexpected happens, but not a permanent class of people that not only live off of others but feels entitled to do so). I'd like to like in Tribeca but I don't expect someone to hand me an apartment at their expense.
I'm by no means wealthy, I struggle to live in NYC, but I can tell you I find the direction this country going in sickening, and the politicians that drive this mentality should be swiftly voted out of office. People once looked at a nice car or house and said one day I will get their... now they feel they're entitled to it or feel its their right to leech off of someone else's success.
yeah, I can do it so can you,
no hand outs for you even though you fought a war and still renting while your fellow vets own their home in Levittown.
pull yourself up from your bootstraps. we never got anything for nothing and so should you.
I got mine, go get your own. oh no my brotha.
Funny how the NY Times is reporting on this when they did the same thing and kicked out long time tenants and businesses to build their new office building. Way to go NY times.
Move to market rate but don't evict. Instead, get tennants that aren't the "bad apples" into programs that help them with their expenses. Welfare is welfare, you get it upfront (Mitchell-Lama) or you get it on the backside. Either way, little old ladies can keep their apartments and the leeches with their nasty out of control gangsta kids can go live in the sewer.