Dear Neighbors,
I am delighted to report that long-standing tenant rights advocate Sarah Desmond has been placed at the helm of the Office of the Tenant Advocate (OTA). This is a critically important step for the safety and well-being of tens of thousands of New Yorkers. Ms. Desmond will lead the OTA in combating construction as harassment, where a landlord uses unsafe and disruptive construction to force tenants from their homes, a particularly insidious and dangerous form of abuse.
Mounting reports of construction as harassment led the City Council to enact my 2017 legislation (Local Law 161) creating an Office of the Tenant Advocate within the Dept of Buildings. The DOB approves and oversees all construction projects.
Mayor de Blasio signing LL161, and other anti-harassment bills, into law in 2017.
Under Ms. Desmond's leadership, the OTA will work to ensure that construction projects across the city are reviewed from the perspective of tenant safety, monitor "Tenant Protection Plans," and respond to tenant complaints and questions about construction-related issues.
Also of note, the OTA will now be situated in DOB's enforcement division, meaning that the agency is prepared to take the most forceful action possible against landlords who threaten the safety of tenants. The next step is to significantly expand the OTA's staff and resources so that the office can respond to the full scale of the harassment crisis.
Protecting Homeowners Against Deed Theft
In 2017 the City Council enacted my legislation which ensures that New York City has a deed registration process that truly protects property owners. Deed theft is a growing issue across the city and the statute for a false conveyance is 5 years. Protect yourself and your home with these tips and resources:
- Open all your mail and notices.
- See promises and guarantees as a red flag - don’t let anyone convince you that they can save your house.
- Don’t sign anything without legal counsel.
- Never transfer ownership of your home to an LLC or stop paying your mortgage.
- Be sure to know all parties on a deed and plan for your estate.
- Sign up for notices about changes to your property's registration via HPD's Property Registration Online System (PROS).
- Check your deed title. The Automated City Register Information System (ACRIS) allows you to search property records and view document images for Manhattan, Queens, Bronx, and Brooklyn from 1966 to the present.
- Questions?
- Contact Attorney General Letitia James’ HOPP hotline at 855-466-3456
- Legal Aid Society: 212-577-3300
- Center for NYC Neighborhoods: 646-786-0888
Free Immigration Legal Services
Please spread the word that FREE immigration-related consultations and application assistance are available now on the Upper West Side. These services are provided by CUNY Citizenship Now! and supported by City Council funding. Please call (212) 652-2071 to make an appointment.
2019 Toy Drive Is Underway!
The holidays are right around the corner. I hope you'll consider making a donation to our annual Toy Drive for children on the Upper West Side. New, unwrapped toys are being accepted at our District Office until December 13th!
NEWS FROM CITY HALL
Yesterday the City Council passed an "education diversity package." The package includes bills which codify the citywide School Diversity Advisory Group into law, and mandate the establishment of diversity working groups in each community school district.
Also included are bills requiring the NYC Dept of Education to report student demographic information by grade level to provide more granular data, as well as the demographics of school staff, including leadership, teachers, and other professional employees. Click here to learn more about these and other bills passed by the Council this week.
As always, don't hesitate to contact my City Hall (212-788-6975) or District (212-873-0282) offices with any questions.
Warmly,
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