Throughout a Jan. 4 go to to 1520 Sedgwick Ave., Mayor Zohran Mamdani introduced the forthcoming launch of “Rental Ripoff” hearings and his appointment of Dina Levy as housing commissioner.
Photograph Ed Reed/Mayoral Pictures Workplace
Three days into his time period, Mayor Zohran Mamdani stopped within the West Bronx to announce a brand new effort to sort out town’s housing disaster and a brand new housing commissioner to assist lead the work.
At a press convention at 1520 Sedgwick Ave. —broadly thought to be the birthplace of hip-hop— Mamdani introduced forthcoming “Rental Ripoff” hearings in every borough inside his first 100 days.
He additionally introduced his appointment of Dina Levy, a state housing official and former group organizer, as Commissioner of the Division of Housing Preservation and Improvement (HPD). Levy takes the put up from interim Commissioner Ahmed Tigani, whom Mamdani appointed to the Division of Buildings.
Within the Nineteen Seventies, early hip-hop performances have been held within the rec room at 1520 Sedgwick Ave., which was a Mitchell-Lama property offering secure housing for low and moderate-income residents. However because the house owners left this system, the constructing fell into disrepair.
Levy was a group organizer who, in 2010, helped Sedgwick Ave. tenants safe a accountable landlord slightly than have the property bought to a non-public fairness investor.
Protected, inexpensive properties enable residents to make impacts far past their very own partitions, Mayor Mamdani mentioned.
“When New Yorkers can afford a home, New Yorkers can afford to make great art.”
In the present day, nevertheless, Sedgwick tenants once more face issues within the getting old 102-unit constructing. Information present the property has 194 open housing code violations dated as not too long ago as Dec. 31 for points together with damaged plaster and doorways, roaches, mildew, mice and smoke alarms needing alternative.
Mamdani was joined on the historic web site by Borough President Vanessa Gibson, State Senator Robert Jackson, Meeting Member Landon Dais and Council Member Pierina Sanchez, who chairs the Metropolis Council’s Housing and Buildings Committee.
Sanchez praised Mamdani for kicking off the work within the West Bronx, which she known as the “epicenter of New York City’s housing crisis.” Below Mamdani and Levy, she mentioned negligent landlords can be met with “aggressive” enforcement and inspections, however the metropolis will companion with accountable landlords to protect properties every time doable.
“Families here are living with unsafe conditions, crushing rents, and constant instability—tens of thousands one missed paycheck away from eviction. Starting here sends a clear signal about this administration’s priorities,” Sanchez mentioned.
Levy mentioned town should make use of revolutionary options to deal with housing provide and high quality challenges.
“A willingness to rethink how we do business” can be essential, she mentioned. “I know that we will not overcome this crisis by setting a low bar.”
Fitzroy Christian, an activist with Neighborhood Motion for Protected Residences (CASA), expressed pleasure for the Mamdani period but in addition mentioned, “We are going to hold our new mayor’s feet to the fire.”
CASA mentioned in an announcement that the brand new mayor will probably increase their many years of labor.
“We’ve been fighting for over 20 years against unlivable conditions and the tricks that our landlords use to inflate rent bills. We’re going to keep working and building power and we’re hoping that the next four years are our biggest yet.”
Extra data on the “Rental Ripoff” hearings is anticipated quickly, however within the meantime, Mamdani known as on New Yorkers to “start taking notes” on issues at their buildings, equivalent to unfair charges, pests, lack of warmth, peeling tiles and dripping pipes.
The mayor mentioned the hearings can be “not just listening sessions” however will inform metropolis coverage choices and doable motion towards negligent landlords. “I want these hearings to expose the ugly underbelly of our city,” he mentioned.
