Letters to the Editor
Village Tenant Celebrates Overcharge WinTo the Editor:
Enclosed please find a check for $335. I am paying my regular annual dues of $35, plus an additional donation of $300 for Met Council to continue your good work in trying times.
I am able to make this donation at this time because I have, after a very long and drawn-out fight with my landlord, finally won a sizable rent-overcharge award (and he actually paid). Nearly six years ago, I realized that I was the victim of a “Illusory Prime Tenant” scam and fought an illegal eviction as well as demanding a refund of the rent overcharges. Well, the the landlord’s best friend (a.k.a. the prime tenant) finally gave up and paid after the third ruling in my favor.
It was the good advice I got from a walk-in meeting on a Saturday morning on East Fourth Street that put me on the road that eventually led to this outcome. I feel you should share in my fortune. I wish it could be a larger donation, but unfortunately, my landlord is threatening to take this case to the appellate courts. If he does that, you can share in the satisfaction that he has paid for my legal battle as well.
Mine is one of those stories that should be told to prove that it is possible to win these fights against “Dracula landlords.” Someday, maybe when I have time, I’ll tell or write the story for you to publicize in your monthly paper. But for now, share in my good fortune and put it to good use.
Scott Sirkin
Manhattan
Pets in Housing Update
Since your November issue went to press, we have learned that Intro. 1056, the City Council bill that would clarify the city’s existing pets-in-housing law and grant special protections to senior citizens with pets, has been co-sponsored by eight other Councilmembers: Lloyd Henry and Annette Robinson of Brooklyn; Helen Marshall and John Sabini of Queens; C. Virginia Fields and Guillermo Linares of Manhattan; Wendell Foster of The Bronx; and Jerome O’Donovan of Staten Island.
We also urged supporters of the bill to write to members of the Council’s Housing and Buildings Committee. However, instead of Councilmember Federico Perez, the article inadvertently gave the name of his predecessor, David Rosado.
Since action on the bill is not expected before the end of the current Council session and it should be reintroduced when the Council reconvenes in January, you can also write to your Councilmember and ask him or her to co-sponsor the bill
Stanley Michaels
Councilmember, Manhattan