NEW YORK – Public Advocate candidate Bill de Blasio joined supporters today at City Hall to rally against the negligent landlords whose unsafe buildings put tenants across New York City in danger. De Blasio also announced the launch of the Slumlord Watch List on his website, listing landlords in all five boroughs who have let their buildings fall into dangerous disrepair. Through this tool, New Yorkers will be able to use an interactive map to locate existing slumlords, and submit their address to determine if it meets the Watch List’s criteria.

“Leaking pipes, exposed wires, no fire alarms, broken locks – New Yorkers across our City are forced to live under these and many other deplorable conditions each day, with no recourse against their negligent landlords. The Public Advocate must be an independent leader standing up for tenants, not bogged down by financial ties to the real estate industry. As Public Advocate, I will organize disaffected tenants so they can stand up for their needs and their rights,” said Bill de Blasio.

At the rally, de Blasio was joined by Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, State Senator Liz Kruger, State Assemblymember Micah Kellner, New York City Councilmembers Julissa Ferreras and Melissa Mark-Viverito, and other supporters.

“When landlords let their buildings fall into dangerous disrepair we cannot stand by and let them get away with it.  Bill de Blasio’s creation of an online Slumlord Watch List will help tenants fight back and hold negligent landlords accountable to the public.  This is exactly the kind of leadership and creative thinking New Yorkers need  in their next Public Advocate,” said Mayor Ed Koch.

For a landlord to make the Slumlord Watch List, their housing has to meet minimum health and safety standards, and have open, life threatening violations. Buildings with fewer than 35 units must have an average of three open, serious violations (B and C violations) per unit. Larger buildings must have an average of at least two open serious violations (B and C violations) per unit.

This summer, Bill de Blasio has joined elected officials and tenant groups in neighborhoods across New York City to expose negligent landlords and bring tenants together to speak out against the dangerous conditions they are facing. As Public Advocate, de Blasio will update the Slumlord Watch List monthly, and the list will be distributed to tenants in the affected buildings, all local elected officials, and community boards. De Blasio also plans to help introduce residents to tenant organizations, convene quarterly tenant association leader meetings in each borough, and assist in expediting the process to deliver rent reductions to tenants who are in trouble (a little-known process that can help).

(YWN Desk – NYC)