Since there was only a single candidate for the opening on our tenant association's executive committee, we acclaimed Andrew Dubin a new member.
Building issues:
Food waste collection: If you leave your food waste in a plastic bag (except for compostable bags that you buy), it can't be easily composted. So please dump the contents of your plastic bag into the brown compost bin, and put the empty plastic bag in the small (non-compost) bin next to it. Then close both bins to prevent bugs.
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The elevators continue to be a mess. Please report all problems on a requisition slip at the front desk so there's a written record.
The garage has been filled to way over its legal 114-car capacity. The NYC Depart of Consumer Affairs issued a violation, and the tenant association contacted ICON. As a result, the situation has improved. If you see overcrowding again, file a 311 complaint and send the complaint number to CPGTenAssoc@gmail.com.
Tenant movement issues:
- The Right to Counsel NYC is holding a "People's Tribunal on Evictions" to highlight those most affected - and who benefit most from the right to free legal counsel in housing court. Stellar apparently is the largest evicter in Manhattan. Tenants under certain incomes in certain zip codes are eligible for free legal counsel, and the organization wants to expand both the zip codes and the income levels.
- Housing Justice for All (the coalition that brought us the new rent laws, with the help of the "No IDC NYC" group that changed the State Senate), is launching its 2020 campaign on Wed., Oct. 16 at 6 PM at Washington Irving High School, 60 Irving Place (near Union Square). We're a member, so you are invited. If you'd like to participate in HJ4A's weekly phone calls, contact CPGTenAssoc@gmail.com.
The New Rent Law - Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act (HSTPA) of 2019.
Talk about knowing what there is to know! Legal Aid Attorney Ellen Davidson gave a wonderfully clear presentation based on these slides that she printed out and distributed.
Some things are answerable. (Click on "read more" for the well-presented Park West Village Tenant Association summary of the new law and more.) Ellen was recently awarded the NY County Lawyers Association’s Public Service Award for her work on this new tenant bill.
She explained that while the State Legislature passed the
statute that the governor signed into law, there are two other sources
of law: the administrative agency (NYS
Homes and Community Renewal) that enacts regulations to interpret the
statute, and court decisions, all yet to come. Tenants in Housing Justice for All (HJ4A) are
working with DHCR (part of NYS HCR) to draft the regulations.
