Local Law 29 – The
Safe Housing Act To Take Effect

NEW LAW WILL CRACK DOWN ON CITY’S
WORST LANDLORDS AND

GUARANTEE REPAIRS SO TENANTS HAVE
SAFE LIVING CONDITIONS

Over 60 Affected Tenants and
Community Members Will Celebrate in Front of
Dilapidated Building          

WHAT: 
Press conference.  

The Safe
Housing Act, passed by the City Council in June, to improve housing conditions
for tenants living in the city’s worst buildings, will take effect on Tuesday,
November 13, 2007.

Tenants
will gather in front of 531
Knickerbocker Avenue which has 269 open housing
code violations, including 78 Class C, or "immediately hazardous",
violations.  The building has had no heat
or hot water for several months. Tenants report that there have been ten fires
in the basement recently because of a malfunctioning boiler. The floor in one
of the apartments has collapsed. Rat, cockroach and mouse infestation is out of
control. 
 

Under the
legislation, every year the city would identify 200 buildings with the most
housing code violations and target them for aggressive inspection, follow-up,
and comprehensive repairs.  The
legislation requires landlords to make repairs that address the core of
physical problems in distressed buildings. 
Landlords would have four months to make substantial repairs, or the
city’s housing agency – the Department of Housing Preservation and Development
(HPD) – would do so to ensure that emergency conditions are alleviated and the
underlying physical conditions are addressed. 
Landlords would be required to reimburse the city for the cost of
repairs.

WHEN:  11AM, Monday  November 12

WHERE:  531 Knickerbocker Avenue, Brooklyn
between Grove and Linden L/M to Myrtle/Wyckoff

WHO:  Make the Road by Walking, Housing Here and Now, New York Immigration Coalition                 

Interviews with tenants, building
tours, copies of the Safe Housing Act, and photos of housing conditions will be
available upon request.