Cindy Rodriguez
Cindy Rodriguez has been a staff reporter at WNYC, New York Public Radio since July of 2002. As the station’s urban policy reporter she covers the impacts of poverty on communities in all five boroughs. ...
Tenants, Landlords Face Off Over Harassment
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
New York, NY –
Tenants and landlords are at odds over legislation that would allow renters to sue for harassment in housing court. Two different bills were recently introduced in the City Council. WNYC's Cindy Rodriguez reports.
REPORTER: One bill was introduced by Councilwoman Maria Baez. She says it's still a work in progress. This, after Bronx tenants picketed her offices saying the legislation favors landlords. They charge it creates an unreasonably high burden of proof for tenants and allows landlords to claim tenants are harassing them if they complain too much. Bronx resident Glenda Poe says senior citizens and immigrants are especially vulnerable
POE: Some of the tenants in this area are really scared to say anything as it is. If they add any of this stuff into the tenant protection act tenants won't be able to say anything at all.
REPORTER: A landlord group says the Baez bill will help keep frivolous claims from clogging the court system. The tenants favor competing legislation backed by Council Speaker Chris Quinn and other council members. For WNYC, I'm Cindy Rodriguez.
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