Page 16 - The Indian EYE 032026

North The Indian Eye

AMERICANNewsline

16 MARCH 20, 2026

Mayor Mamdani Announces Historic $2.1m

Court Judgment Against Bronx Landlord,

Requiring Repairs And Financial Penalties

First-of-its-Kind Judgment Requires Maximum Civil Penalty and Repairs within

One Month at 919 Prospect Avenue

OUR BUREAU in protecting the health and safety of
New Yorkers and holding those re-
NEW YORK, NY
sponsible accountable.”
YC Mayor Zohran Kwame “TakeRoot Justice has been fight-
Mamdani and New York ing alongside the tenants from 919
NCity Corporation Coun- Prospect Ave since 2016 for the right
sel Steve Banks have announced a to safe, dignified living conditions.
first-of-its-kind ruling in a case that This judgement is a sign of prog-
the City brought against the owners ress, and the tenants are hopeful,
of 919 Prospect Avenue in the South but it is important to highlight that
Bronx. The ruling, the first to im- this new administration has much
pose the maximum penalties avail- work to do to enforce housing codes
able under New York City’s Nuisance and hold slumlords accountable,”
Abatement Law, will require the said Claribel Morales, Staff Attorney,
landlord to address the most severe and Nova Rivera, Advocacy Coordi-
of the building’s noncompliant con- nator, TakeRoot Justice.
ditions within two weeks, all non- 919 Prospect Avenue is an oc-
compliant conditions within one cupied, rent-stabilized building
month, and pay $1,000 for each day said Leila Bozorg, Deputy Mayor for needed to provide their tenants with owned by Seth Miller, who has con-
that a public nuisance has persisted — Housing and Planning. a safe place to call home,” said Build- sistently been placed on the Public
including a full retroactive penalty of “In the Mamdani administra- ings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani. Advocate’s “Worst Landlords Watch-
$2,174,000. tion, the Mayor of New York City is “This major ruling sends a strong list,” and the associated building is
“This judgment is a landmark vic- on tenants’ side. The tenants of 919 message that putting our fellow New currently part of Housing Preserva-
tory not only for those who call 919 Prospect Avenue have fought for a Yorkers in harm’s way in their own tion and Development’s (HPD) Al-
Prospect Ave home, but for tenants livable home for more than a decade, homes is not acceptable. We are ternative Enforcement Program. At
across the five boroughs who must and this victory is a turning point in thankful to the Law Department for 919 Prospect Avenue, there are vio-
contend with the daily misery, mis- that fight. We will leave no stone un- their dogged pursuit in this case.” lations for a deteriorated facade, un-
treatment and neglect of a bad turned in our work to create a city “Tenants should not have to live safe electrical equipment, obstruct-
landlord. Let the scale of this pen- where every tenant can live in com- for years with conditions like un- ed fire escapes, an unsafe elevator,
alty show how seriously we take the fort and dignity,” said Cea Weaver, safe electrical equipment, pests, or inoperable boiler, a partial vacate
threat of building mismanagement Director of the Mayor’s Office to broken building systems because an order, peeling lead-based paint, lack
that put residents’ and neighbors’ Protect Tenants. owner refuses to make basic repairs,” of self-closing doors, mice and roach
health at risk,” said Mayor Mamdani. “The City will use every tool avail- said Housing Preservation and De- infestations, and the failure to erect a
“We will continue to use every tool at able to ensure tenants are protected velopment Commissioner Dina Levy. necessary sidewalk shed.
our disposal to protect tenants across and building owners comply with the “At HPD, we’re going to keep using After the City sought an injunc-
New York.” law,” said New York City Corpo- every enforcement tool we have to tion, a New York State Supreme
“Every New Yorker has the right ration Counsel Steve Banks. “This make sure landlords meet their ob- Court Judge issued a Decision and
to a safe and well-maintained home. court ruling not only helps us hold ligation to keep their buildings safe Order granting the City’s motion to
For far too long, the residents of 919 this one landlord accountable, it will and livable.” order the correction of code viola-
Prospect Avenue have been denied also enhance our efforts to safeguard “Housing maintenance issues tions and abatement of all public nui-
that right – and this judgment will building residents in numerous other like peeling lead-paint and pest in- sances at the premises, and the impo-
finally turn the tide. The City’s ac- cases.” festations aren’t just a public nui- sition of Nuisance Abatement Law
tions in this case show how we can, “This court decision is an import- sance, but a threat to public health,” penalties in the amount of $1,000
and will, ensure that building owners ant step towards finally compelling said NYC Health Commissioner Dr. per day for each day the building had
are upholding their legal obligations, the owners of 919 Prospect Avenue Alister Martin. “We applaud Mayor an open violation that rendered it a
whether through building or housing to live up to their legal responsibil- Mamdani and Corporation Counsel public nuisance – including full ret-
code enforcement or legal action,” ities and make the building repairs Banks for their steadfast leadership roactive penalty of $2,174,000.

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