Revisiting Local Law 11: NYC Façade Inspection & Safety Program (FISP)

RCNY §103-04 rules. A shareholder in Forest Hills complained that his 200-unit, 7-floor coop paid $250,000 last cycle to a Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector. Report was “SWARMP”. The current cycle has the same designation, but the cost tripled to $750,000. Another 130-unit coop in Kew Gardens had one brick off, and its shareholders need to…

Candidate for City Council in 2023
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Brief History of NYC Legal Right to Shelter

Callahan v. Carey (1979) lawsuit by Robert Hayes, co-founder of Coalition for the Homeless, mandated adequate provision for housing single men of “all of the destitute and homeless alcoholics, addicts, mentally impaired derelicts, flotsam and jetsam, and others during the winter months.” The suit asked for 750 beds. The Constitution of the State of New…

Candidate for City Council in 2023
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Intro 1144-2023: Landlords must advertise names of incumbents upon lease signing or renewal

“We want more thoughtfulness from landlords as they rent out to folks,” according to sponsor, Councilwoman Jennifer Gutiérrez. Politicians come and go; landlords stay. How many versions of political names will there be during lifetime of a lease. What if tenant is non-resident or non-voter, will those elected officials act attentively? “Covered elected officials” include…

Candidate for City Council in 2023
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Honesty is not the best policy when it comes to NYC Department of Buildings!

House was built in 1915, and it has no Certificate of Occupancy on file. Current owners bought the house in 2001, and did not do alteration nor construction to the property. A “work without permit” complaint was filed last year against the property and five other properties on the same block. Knowing no work was…

Candidate for City Council in 2023
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Elevated JZ Subway tracks along Jamaica Ave has been redone 3 times; no noise improvement!

A resident who lives close to the 104 Street Station for 30 years saw major capital improvements done along the tracks at least 3 times. Technology for noise abatement has advanced, just like brake and shock absorbers for buses. Why would MTA still use the same old material technology without considering to reduce its noise…

Candidate for City Council in 2023
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