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Articles: Shalom Tenants Alliance
Articles |
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Articles About Shalom Tenants
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Landlords Would Be Fined for Harassment under Bill -- 12/7/2007 - 12/13/2007 |
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This article, about a pending City Council bill that would allow tenants to sue their landlords in court for harassment, focuses in part on a tenant at 8 St Mark's Place, which is owned/managed by the Shaloms.
Source:Downtown Express |
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A Bill Backs Fining Owners Who Harass Their Tenants -- 12/5/2007 - 12/11/2007 |
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This article, about a pending City Council bill that would allow tenants to sue their landlords in court for harassment, focuses in part on a tenant at 8 St Mark's Place, which is owned/managed by the Shaloms.
Source:The Villager |
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City Blocks St. Marks Restaurant, Siding with Tenants -- 10/24/2007 - 10/30/2007 |
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The Shaloms, after many attempts to illegally convert and rent portions of the basement and first floor of 8 St. Mark's Place for retail use, applied for a variance. Tenants put up a valiant fight and won when the Board of Standards and Appeals denied the variance. Good work!
Source:The Villager |
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Shalomo Tenants Alliance Celebrates 4th Anniversary -- 8/17/2007 - 8/23/2007 |
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This full-length feature article provides a detailed overview of the history and achievements of the Shalom Tenants Alliance. We are so proud!
Source:Chelsea Now |
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Los Angeles Shalom Tenants Get Justice! |
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Shalom tenants in Los Angeles, CA, are confronted by the same tactics the Shaloms use against tenants in New York. The Los Angeles City Attorney has successfully sued Shalom landlord "Darren Stern," aka Henry (Oheb)Shalom, and his companies, including Landmark Equity Management, in California's Supreme Court. "According to a suit filed in June by Delgadillo’s Safe Neighborhoods Division, the company had engaged in the practice of purchasing rent-controlled buildings with high occupancy rates and then embarking on a pattern of harassment, intimidation and misinformation to unlawfully empty as many units as possible without paying proper relocation fees to tenants. The vacant units were then renovated and reconfigured before being re-let at market rates. This activity allowed the properties to be sold at an inflated price." Landmark Equity Management has has direct ties to California-based NYC landlord Daniel (Oheb)Shalom and Keystone Management. |
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Manhattan's Worst Slumlords -- 10/23/2006 |
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Most of the article is about a non-Shalom building in Harlem, but two Sky Management buildings are featured: 8 St Mark's Place and 188 E 93rd.
Source: New York Resident <resident.com> |
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Tenants Allege Intimidation-- 10/3/2006 |
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Shalom tenants at 515 W 110th Street, and their neighbors at 509 W 110th Street, continue to struggle under the dominion of Fred Shalom.
Source: Columbia Spectator Online <columbiaspectator.com> |
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Massey Knakal's 1st Market Makers Breakfast Symposium -- Q3 2005 |
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On page 10 we find some charming photos of Ben, Robert, and Jon Shalom posing with Robert Knakal and Paul Smadbeck. Massey Knakal, a real estate agency, has sold numerous buildings to the Shaloms, including 188 E 93rd Street to Ben Shalom and 12 buildings in Manhattan,
the Bronx and Westchester County to Fred Shalom (see earlier articles below). Paul Smadbeck, who works for Massey Knakal, owned 188 E 93rd Street at the time it was sold to the Shaloms.
Source:Massey Knakal Building Sales Journal <masseyknakal.com> |
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CBS
2 Investigates a Manhattan Landlord -- 10/22/2005 |
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Transcript of a televised report by Cheryl Fiandaca
on the Manhattan District Attorney's raid of Sky Management's offices
and on deplorable conditions in Fred Ohebshaloms' Bronx buildings.
Source: WCBS-TV, New York <cbsnewyork.com> |
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Cops
Barge in on Bad Landlord -- 10/23/2005 |
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Brad Hamilton reports on the Manhattan District Attorney's
raid of Sky Management's offices. State Senators Liz Krueger and
Thomas Duane are quoted.
Source: New York Post<nypost.com> |
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Renting
Anger: Hundreds Slam Their Landlord from Hell -- 4/24/2005 |
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This article by Brad Hamilton is the first in a major
newspaper to state the relationship and common business practices
of David Ohebshalom (Big Apple Management) and Ben and Jon Shalom
(Sky Management), describing them as "meanspirited slumlords
for the middle class." Here's
an alternate version of the article.
Source: New
York Post <nypost.com> |
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Man of the "Cathouse" -- 2/13/2005 |
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In this article about brothels in NYC apartment buildings, we find that some of the buildings are Shalom-owned. Coincidence?
Source:New
York Post <nypost.com> |
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The
Coalition Revolution: Multi-Building Tenant Alliances
-- Winter 2005 |
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Explains why tenants have begun forming multi-building
tenant alliances -- including the Shalom Tenants Alliance, Croman
Coalition, and Granite Tenants Coalition -- and how these groups
are working together as citywide anti-slumlord alliances.
Source:
Cooper Square News <coopersquare.org> |
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GNE
Sets Tone for Civil Discourse on Rezoning -- 8/20/2004 |
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An article about zoning issues and controversy surrounding
212-230 Middle Neck Road, a Great Neck Estates property managed
by Sky Management.
Source: Great Neck Record
<antonnews.com/greatneckrecord> |
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110th
St. Residents Disgruntled -- 4/27/2004 |
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Profiles the efforts of west side tenants, working
with Local 32BJ, various elected officials, and Shalom Slumlords
NYC, to hold Fred Shalom and his companies accountable for "possible
unscrupulous landlord practices."
Source: Columbia Spectator Online <columbiaspectator.com> |
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Residents:
Landlord Shoves Out Tenants, Union Workers
-- 3/1/2004 |
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Describes Fred Shalom's practice of threatening evictions,
firing union workers, and neglecting building services in three
buildings in the Morningside Heights area.
Source: Columbia
Spectator Online <columbiaspectator.com> |
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Ganging
Up on a Grinch: Tenants and Workers Unite --
12/22/2003 |
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Tenants of 664 W 163rd, 509 and 515 W 110th Street,
and 244 W 72nd Street join foces with Local 32BJ and Assemblymembers
Scott Stringer and Danny O'Donnell to battle Fred Shalom's neglect
of building services, harassment of tenants, and cutting of salaries
and benefits of building services employees.
Source:
City Limits Weekly <citylimits.org> |
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"They're
Making Our Lives Impossible" (English translation)
-- 7/2/2003 |
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"Nos
Hacen la Vida Imposible" (Spanish original) --
7/2/2003 |
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In addition to detailing the plight of Shalom tenants,
this article provides some background on Shalom Brothers Rugs and
describes a protest staged in front of Macy's, Bloomingdales, ABC
Carpets, and other locations on Long Island and New Jersey where
the Shalom carpets are sold.
Source: Hola Hoy |
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Harlem
Tenants and Supers Fear Acquisition -- 5/19/2003 |
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Details the plight of tenants and building services
workers in Fred Shalom's Harlem buildings and the joint efforts
of these tenants, Local 32BJ, Assemblymember Danny O'Donnell, State
Senantor Eric Schneiderman, and City Councilmembers Philip Reed
and Bill Perkins to address the problems.
Source:
City Limits Weekly <citylimits.org> |
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Public
Advocate Joins Tenants, Building Workers to Protest Service Reductions
and Job Cuts -- 3/27/2003 |
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Press release announcing Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum
has joined Shalom tenants and building service workers representing
Local 32BJ to demand that Fred Shalom / Acquisition America / Empire
Management restore tenant services and the jobs, pay, and benefits
of building workers.
Source: Public Advocate for the City of New York <pubadvocate.nyc.gov> |
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Sky's
the Limit! City-wide Harassment Takes Its Toll -- 3/6/2003 |
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A day in the life of Sky Management tenants of 8
Saint Mark's Place, with references to conditions at 231 E 14th
Street, 220-228 Sullivan Street, and 340 E 62nd Street.
Source:
Shalom Slumlords NYC <shalomslumlords.org> |
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Silk
Stocking District Embraces Time-Honored Blue-Collar Tactic
-- 2/4/2001 |
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Sky Management tenants at 340 E 62nd Street went
without gas for 74 days, so they went on a rent strike.
Source:
New York Times <nytimes.com> |
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Hell's
Kitchen Is Burning -- 9/2/1998 |
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Discusses increasingly bad conditions in Hell's Kitchen
/ Clinton buildings, including 364 W 51st Street, owned by James
Kinsey and managed by Big Apple Management.
Source:
Village Voice <villagevoice.com> via Hell's Kitchen Online
<hellskitchen.net> and Tenant Net <tenant.net> |
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Articles About Shalom Purchases of Individual
Buildings |
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Upper
Eastside Investment Property Sold (188 E 93rd Street)
-- July 2003 |
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See page 6: describes the sale of 188 E 93rd Street (1656-1660
Third Avenue), including details of gross revenue, net operating
income, capitalization rate, and gross rent multiple. See also page
1 for details of the sale of 12 residential buildings in Manhattan,
the Bronx and Westchester County to "Acquisition America."
Source: Massey Knakal Building Sales Journal
<masseyknakal.com> |
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Massey
Knackal_Sells Portfolio for $109,000,000 -- July 2003 |
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See page 1: discusses the sale of 12 residential buildings in
Manhattan, the Bronx and Westchester County for $109 million. Provides
details of gross revenue, net operating income, capitalization rate,
and gross rent multiple. See also page 6 for details of the sale
of 188 E 93rd Street (1656-1660 Third Avenue).
Source:
Massey Knakal Building Sales Journal <masseyknakal.com> |
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Acquisition America Buildings: |
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Partners
and Associates Working on NY Real Estate Deals -- 4/9/2003 |
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Discusses the sale of 12 residential buildings in Manhattan, the
Bronx and Westchester County for $109 million..
Source:
New York Lawyer <newyorklawer.com> |
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170-178
Thompson Street -- 4/2/2003 |
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Discusses the sale of a "five building package"
for $20.5 million.
Source: "Lawyers Working on NY Real Estate
Deals," New York Lawyer <newyorklawer.com> |
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Hildona
Court Apartments (341-345 W 45th Street) -- 2/10/03 |
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Reports the sale of the Hildona Court apartments for $16.5 million.
Source: Besen & Associates Commercial Real
Estate <besenassociates.com> |
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The
Captain Rose House: 273 Water Street --
11/28/1998 & 1/3/1993 |
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Two articles about the historic Captain Rose House: its purchase
by Edmond Ohebshalom and Eli Sakhai for $325,000 in 1998 and contract
disputes over its restoration in 1993.
Source:
New York Times <nytimes.com> |
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Articles About the Shaloms and Related
Background |
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Two Distinct
Groups of Persian Jews-- 11/28/1998 |
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Feature article about Persian Jews in Great Neck in which Fred
Ohebshalom is interviewed.
Source: New York
Times <nytimes.com> |
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Making
Slow Progress Fostering Understading-- 12/5/1999 |
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Feature article about the Persian community of Great Neck in
which a "Mr. Ohebshalom" is quoted.
Source:
New York Times <nytimes.com> |
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Enduring "Tribunals"
Over Building Houses-- 12/5/1999 |
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Another feature article about the Persian community of Great
Neck, this time focusing on clashes over the Persians' construction
decisions.
Source: New York Times <nytimes.com> |
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Fred
Ohebshalom Joins Iranian_Democrats -- 4/15/2001 |
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Press release announcing Fred Shalom's membership on the board
of directors.
Source: Iranian Democrats <iraniandemocrats.com> |
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For Rental Buildings,
A Rising Market -- 10/5/2003 |
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This feature article from the New York Times Real Estate
section provides an in-depth look at the motives real estate speculators
have for investing in rent-stabilized buildings. Fred Ohebshalom
is quoted.
Source: New York Times <nytimes.com>,
reprinted in a blog, "World of Mr. Steen" |
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The
Rug Merchant of Persia -- 4/29/2005 |
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A blog/rant about Fred Ohebshalom, arguing tenants are the bad
guys; written in response to "Renting Anger," the April
2005 New York Post article.
Source:
Lettuce Have Pease </iceberg18.blogspot.com> |
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Other Relevant Articles
Other City-wide Tenant Alliances: The
Croman Coalition and Granite Group |
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East
Side Standoff: Tenants Fight New Owner's Eviction Plan
-- 3/20/2005 |
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Tenants living at 12 E 72nd Street are fighting eviction because
the owner, Steven Croman, has decided the building "would make
the perfect home for his extended family." The Croman Coalition
is ready for battle.
Source: New York Daily
News <nydailynews.com> |
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Eviction
Battle in East Village -- 3/2/2005 |
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Granite Tenants are fighting hard to stop Catherine Economakis
and her husband Alistair from booting residents of 47 E. 3rd St.
are fighting to keep residents in the rent-stabilized apartments
where many have lived for more than 25 years.
Source:
New York Daily News <nydailynews.com> |
Other Slumlords |
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DC
Slumlord to Sell; Tenants Get Proceeds -- 2/20/2002 |
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A Washington, DC, slumlord refused to address problems in his
buildings, so he spent time behind bars and was forced to sell one
of his buildings and donate the proceeds to the tenants association
of one of his former properties, plus he was required to
live in one of his buildings for six months, sell all of his properties,
and he cannot have any ownership stakes in such properties
in DC for the rest of his life.
Source: Washington
Post |
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Walter
and Evan Blum: 14 Second Avenue -- 6/24/2001 |
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When 14 Second Avenue (at Houston Street) partially collapsed,
requiring its demolition, the building's owners, Walter and Evan
Blum, were charged with reckless endangerment and filing false documents
in connection with renovation work. Walter Blum, an architect, filed
false, self-certified plans with the Department of Buildings.
Source: Manhattan District Attorney <manhattanda.org> |
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Background and Context
Dysfunctional NYC Agencies: DOB and HPD |
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Audit Report
on the Effectiveness of the Department of Buildings in Investigating
Safety-Related Complaints in a Timely Manner -- 5/26/2004 |
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The NYC Comptroller's 64-page audit recommends that DOB follow
up on open ECB violations, periodically review outstanding violations
and take steps to re-inspect or issue court summonses, modify BIS
to eliminate duplicated complaints, increase the proportion of inspectors'
time spent in the field rather than performing administrative tasks,
and remove obsolete procedures from its website and procedural manuals.
Source: NYC Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. |
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Audit
of The Department of Housing Preservation and Development's Enforcement
of the Housing Maintenance Code -- 6/30/1995 |
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[EXTERNAL LINK] NYC Comptroller Alan
G. Hevesi's audit of HPD revealed, among other things, that 43%
of Immediately Hazardous violations still existed an average of
one year after they were identified by HPD inspectors, that followup
inspections are not done to ensure correction of violations, and
that an average of 27% of owner certifications of corrections of
violations are false. Note that the Summary
of Uncorrected Housing Code Violatons includes several Shalom
buildings.
Source: NYC Comptroller Alan G.
Hevesi via <Tenant.net>. |
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Follow-up
Audit Report on the Enforcement of the Housing Maintenance Code
by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development
-- 6/27/2002 |
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The NYC Comptroller's 26-page followup audit of Alan Hevesi's
1995 audit shows that HPD partially implemented about half of the
1995 recommendations.
Source: NYC Comptroller
William C. Thompson, Jr. |
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Inequitable
Enforcement: The Crisis of Housing Code Enforcement in New York
City -- 10/28/2003 |
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The Public Advocate's 31-page report identifies many of the same
problems with HPD as the Comptrollers have, but with more detailed
recommendations for improvement.
Source: NYC
Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum |
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Why Slumlords? |
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Slumlords:
How They Make a Buck -- Dec. 1999 |
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This e-journal, geared towards individuals in finance, describes
common slumlord tactics.
Source: AEGIS <lubrinco.com> |
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Problem
Housing and Property Information Networks: Milwaukee Case Study
-- Dec. 2002 |
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This 75-page Master's degree study, while focusing on information
networks and housing conditions in Milwaukee, provides some insights
into reasons for neglected and abandoned properties and landlords'
responses to code violations.
Source: University of Wisconsin -- Milwaukee <www.uwm.edu/~cmaene/CMaene_UrbanStudiesMasterPaper.pdf> |
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Specific Issues
Buyouts and Preferential Rents |
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The
High Cost of Leaving |
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Discusses trends in buyouts offered to rent-regulated tenants.
Source: New York Metro <newyorkmetro.com> |
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An
Escape Clause on Preferential Rents -- 8/15/2004 |
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This article discusses the impact of changes in rent laws which
allowed landlords to suddenly revoke rent discounts.
Source:
New York Times <nytimes.com> |
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Charges for New Keys |
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Recently the Shaloms have decided to intall new entrance door locks with Mul-T-Lock keys in their buildings. The Shaloms provide only one key and sometimes refuse to provide keys to occupants other than the tenants named on the lease. The keys cannot be duplicated by tenants, and the Shaloms are selling copies at a premium. |
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DHCR Statement
Concerning Keys -- 1/25/2001 |
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This statement from the Department of Housing and Community Renewal takes a firm position that charges for keys must adhere to terms stated in individual leases and previous practice.
Source: DHCR |
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Queens Supreme Court Decision Concerning Keys - 11/18/2005 |
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This case upholds a DHCR decision that "a tenant is entitled to a duplicate key in addition to a key for each apartment occupant 10 years of age or older, and that the failure to provide such keys constitutes a decrease in essential services."
Source: http://decisions.courts.state.ny.us/fcas/fcas_docs/2005dec/4000167512005100sciv.pdf |
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Illegal Lease Riders |
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Sky Management's
Illegal "Rider on Mold" -- 2003 |
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Sky Management routinely attaches this "mold rider"
to regulated tenants' renewal leases, which is illegal.
Source:
Sky Management |
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Refusal of Rent Payments |
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Tender
and Refusal of Rent Overcharges |
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Refusal of rent is a standard Shalom tactic. This fact sheet states,
"A landlord repeatedly refusing to accept a tenant’s
offer of the proper amount of rent owed is not entitled to a judgment
of possession or a Marshal’s Notice of Eviction in a nonpayment
proceeding." The fact sheet also discusses rent overcharges.
Source: unknown |
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J-51 Tax Abatements |
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J-51 Guidebook
-- April 2004 |
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HPD's 45-page guidebook provides an overview of the J-51 Tax Exemption/Abatement
Program, which gives tax incentives to landlords for building improvements
and for establishing rent-stabilized units.
Source:
Department of Housing Preservation and Development |
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