Jewish Theological Seminary Still Trying To Evict Families

By Vajra Kilgour

The Jewish Theological Seminary is still trying to evict 22 rent-stabilized families from 515 and 521 West 122nd St. Two families whose leases expired on November 30, 1996, were served with court papers on Christmas Eve,and their court dates were set for New Year's Eve. "I've served this community for 25 years," said Jim Fitzer, proprietor of The Bread Shop, a popular neighborhood bakery. "Now they've served me with court papers."

The seminary rejected most of the alternative housing offered by the city last summer and reneged on an agreement with elected officials to remove one tenant from its "hit list" for every apartment it obtained from the city or from a non-targeted tenant’s voluntary departure.

Tenants have scheduled a demonstration for March 15 to demand an end to the evictions. It will begin at noon at the State Office Building at West 125th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard, and march to the seminary, on the northeast corner of Broadway and West 122nd Street.

They are also holding a vigil and demonstration every Thursday evening from 5:30 to 6:30 outside the seminary. All are invited.

The JTS tenants’ situation should be a wake-up call for all rent-stabilized and rent-controlled tenants in New York City. As the rent-stabilization law now stands, only not-for-profit institutions have the right to refuse to renew leases under certain circumstances. But if rent regulations are not renewed this year, no landlord will be required to renew leases. And if a theological seminary can be shameless and pitiless enough to put 22 hard-working, rent-paying families into the street, how can anyone imagine that other landlords will be more compassionate?

For further information, call (212) 665-4183 or visit our Web site, http://www.idc.net/ tenants. To get to the State Office Building on Saturday, March 15 at noon, take the 2 or 3 train to 125th Street and Malcolm X Boulevard and walk one block west.