NEW YORK, NY August 31, 2005 —The Democratic candidates for Mayor took a tour of what housing advocates call some of the worst buildings in the city. WNYC'S Cindy Rodriguez reports.

REPORTER: The group Housing Here and Now led a tour of sub-standard buildings in parts of the Bronx and West Harlem. A building on West 150th street was the last stop. Anthony Weiner greeted tv cameras clutching the hand of one young boy and holding another in his arms.

Tenants chanted as the candidates gathered in front of the dilapidated building with more than 3-hundred, seventy violations. Each candidate addressed the crowd. Gifford Miller used his time to unify with his Democratic opponents and chided Mayor Bloomberg for not being there.

MILLER: I want to thank my colleagues in this democratic primary, All of whom are here to show our united support for enforcing the law and protecting tenants in the city.

REPORTER: In order to combat slumlords, all the candidates said they would hire more inspectors and as much as triple the fines for building violations. Mayor Bloomberg was not invited to take part in the event.