Homophobia & Greed
Lower East Side Recipe for Eviction
by Gloria Sukenick

Drums beating… chanters chanting… and of course the usual complement of Rudy’s boys in blue making certain the landlord’s property remains safe from all those dangerous protesters.

That was the scene on East Sixth Street on Dec. 2, outside the offices of Matel Realty LLC. And why were the protesters protesting? Matel, one of the Lower East Side’s bigger landlords, is attempting to evict long-term tenants John Curtis and Winston Marchand from their home on East Third Street. When Curtis left the city for health reasons, Matel, like so many other landlords, could not resist the opportunity to add to their already overflowing coffers, and started eviction proceedings. They claimed that Curtis no longer lived in the apartment and Marchand was a “stranger.” Therefore Matel would not renew their lease.

Curtis and Marchand have been domestic partners for 20 years and have lived in the Third Street apartment for 17 years. They are known by other long-term tenants in the building, many of whom have said they are willing to testify on their behalf in court if that becomes necessary. Matel’s attempt at eviction violates state regulations that give succession rights to non-traditional family members.

Oh, what landlords like Matel will do to oust rent-stabilized tenants from their homes and then get that juicy 20% increase the law now allows every time a rent-regulated apartment is vacant and a new tenant moves in. Even better, Lower East Side landlords can get some of the many New York University and New School students in need of housing into their apartments and charge whatever the traffic will bear. Students rarely have the time, inclination, or knowledge to take on a long and costly struggle with a landlord. What could be better?

So what do we call this? Homophobia? Greed? Whatever you call it. Curtis and Marchand (and their many friends) have no intention of letting Matel management deprive them of their home. The protest at Matel’s offices at 303 East Sixth St. will be repeated on January 6, from 12:30 to 2 PM, and as many more times as necessary.

To get involved or for more information, contact Met Council at (212) 741-3562 or Coalition for a District Alternative at (212) 774-9404.