About ESTC
We have been working to preserve affordable housing since the late 70's, and
formally started in 1981. We have been deeply involved in all areas of our
community, and work on landmarking, zoning, preservation and quality of life
issues. We are your friends and neighbors who want to continue to call the
East Side our home.
This online bulletin features highlights from our printed newsletter
available to all ESTC members. See membership application at the end of this
bulletin.
Contact Information
P.O. Box 20245
NYC 10021-0064
212-249-0582
Our Town Awards
Our Town newspaper gave OTTY Awards (Our Town Thanks You) to Kathy
Jolowicz, Marie Maher and Dawn Sullivan, ESTC Chair, last November 28, 1996.
The issue was a special edition for "Unsung Heroes" and some 100 community
activists were honored. Kathy is President of the 83/84th Street Block
Association; Marie has raised five children in the city and is a strong
supporter of the Grey Panthers; Dawn has been involved in numerous charities,
schools and causes, especially with children, having raised three kids in the
city herself. She is currently Vice President of the 19th Pct.Community
Council and President of the 400 East 80th Street Block Association. She
considers her top accomplishment "helping to save a tenants homes. Nothing is
more basic or vital than having a roof over your head."
Dawn Sullivan to Meet with Bruno?
One of our supporters took our Chair, Dawn Sullivan to a Skidmore Reunion
where Bruno was speaking on the rent laws. He arrived with two owners of
small buildings for moral support and his pitch was exactly what you have
seen on T.V. He did however, say he would meet with Dawn in Albany. Let's see
if he will keep his word.
Your Chance to Get Involved
You the people reading this must get involved and encourage others to educate
themselves to the dangers facing them. It is almost unbelievable but we have
had messages left on our tape telling us that Bruno wouldn't dare to end the
rent laws because there would be riots in the streets! For some, denial may
be the only way they can cope.
Some Pro-Tenant Articles
The New York Daily News did a special series on how high the rents have
climbed in and around New York. Crain's NY Business, New York Magazine and
yes, even the New York Times have had articles about unreasonable housing
costs. CBS and NBC evening news have done items on how it is impossible to
fine affordable housing. They even put things in the right perspective by
commenting that the main problem was that the supply cannot keep up with the
demand.
Keep Us Informed So We Can Inform the Media
Despite these articles, we continue to need you to advise us of abuses you
and your friends and neighbors have had to deal with. We like to be able to
use good examples when we lobby and try to educate legislators. The media
seems very reluctant to seek out tenants who have serious problems and
prefers to show tenants who seem to have the resources that enable them to
discuss their options. The vast majority of tenants don't have options and
live in fear under the intimidation of bully owners and managing agents.
Your Letters, Faxes, and Phone calls to elected officials
DO Make a Difference
For a list of points to make when writing, calling or lobbying officials and
to educate fellow tenants and friends about the threatened deregulation of
New York City housing, please go to the March, 1997 ESTC Bulletin right here
online!
Save This List of Elected Officials' Contact Information
East Side Officials:
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney
950 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022 (212)832-6531
Senator Roy Goodman
270 Broadway, Suite 2400
New York, NY 10007 (212)417-5563
Assemblyman Pete Grannis
1672 First Avenue
New York, NY 10128 (212)860-4906
Assemblyman John Ravitz
251 East 77th Street
New York, NY 10021 (212)861-9061
Assemblyman Steve Sanders
201 East 16th Street
New York, NY 10003 (212)979-9696
Councilman Andrew Eristoff
409 East 14th Street, Suite B
New York, NY 10009 (212)473-4960
Councilman Gifford Miller
336 East 73rd Street
New YOrk, NY 10021 (212)535-5554
Councilman Antonio Pagan
237 First Avenue, Suite 405
New York, NY 10002 (212)477-1203
State Senators
Guy Velella
2019 Williamsbridge Road
Bronx, NY 10461
(718)792-7180
Dean Skelos
55 Front Street
Rockville Center, NY
(516)766-8383
Nickolas Spano
1 Executive Blvd.
Yonkers, NY
(914) 969-5194
Serphin Maltese
71-04 Myrtle Ave.
Glendale, NY 11385
(718)497-1800
Norman Levy
30 South Ocean Ave.
Freeport, NY 11520
(516)546-4100
Kemp Hannon
1600 Stewart Ave. #315
Westbury, NY 11590
(518)222-0068
Carl Marcellino
250 Townsend Square
Oyster Bay, NY 11771
(518)922-1811
Michael Tully, Jr.
201 Expressway Plaza 1
Roslyn Heights, NY 11577
(516)484-7070
Joseph Holland
150 Airport Executive Park
Nanuet, NY 10954
(914)425-1818
Vincent Leibell
34 Gleneida Aven.
Carmel, NY 10512
(914)225-5590
Three Forms to Print Out, Fill In and Send or Give Out
Come to Albany May 20th for Tenant Lobby Day
Round trip fare is $15.00. East Side Buses will depart betwen 7 a.m. and
7:40 a.m. from several locations on First Avenue. Current stops will be at :
33rd,79th and 86th Streets. Other stops may be added as needed. Buses are
comfortable, modern, air-conditioned with restrooms. Join thousands of other
tenants as we picket, go to a tenant rally and meet with elected officials.
Urge your friends and neighbors to join us!
For more information call ESTC at 249-0582.
Tenant Lobby Day, May 20th (online form)
Name___________________________Phone(day)__________Evening_______________
Address_________________________Apt.#______City______State________Zip______
___ Yes, please reserve a seat for me!
___ My check for $15.00 is enclosed
___ I would like a complimentary seat
___ Sorry, I can't come, but would like to sponsor a seat.
Mail to: East Side Tenants' Coalition
P.O.Box 20245
New York, Ny 10021-0064
Join the East Side Tenants Coaltion
ESTC Membership (online form)
Become a member --active or supportive. All members receive our printed,
illustrated newsletter and flyers.
Suggested fees:
Students and Seniors: $10.00
Individuals: 18.00
Tenant Associations: 25.00
Block Associations & Community
Based Organizations: 30.00
If you wish to also include an extra donation along with your membership fee,
as a 100% volunteer organization, your donations are welcomed and needed.
Name___________________________Phone(day)__________Evening_______________
Organization(if any)________________________________________________________
Address_________________________Apt.#______City______State________Zip______
Please check one or more boxes that apply:
___ I can be active ___ I can't be active
I would like to attend events held from Monday to Friday during the
___ day
___ evening
on weekends during the ___ day ___ evening
I would like to attend ___ public hearings ___ rallies ___ Albany trips
I would like to help with ___ petitions ___ xeroxing ___ surveys
___ phone calls ___ art/graphics
___ tables at street fairs ___ typing ___ word processing
___ writing ___ mailings
___ distributing fliers in my building, etc.
___ donating supplies or services (please specifiy)
________________________________________________________________
___ other________________________________________________________________
Please mail this with your check to
East Side Tenants' Coalition
P.O.Box 20245
New York, Ny 10021-0064
Flyer to print out and make copies of to give out to retail merchants and
small businesses
..............................................................................
To the Retail Merchants and Small Business Owners on the East Side of
Manhattan: What would happen if your sales dropped by 72%?
The greatest threat to the survival of your neighborhood business is being
planned right now and you are probably not aware of it! Governor Pataki and
politicians friendly to wealthy real estate interests, both in the state
Legislature and the City Council, are working to weaken or destroy the rent
laws. These laws protect over 2-1/2 miolion tenants in New York City.
Seventy-three percent of the households on the Upper East Side, Turtle Bay
and Stuyvesant Town are tenant households! Nearly 85% of these tenants, YOUR
CUSTOMERS, are protected by these rent laws or other laws. Your customers
are already spending more than 30% of their gross income on rent. Some
tenants, especially seniors, spend up to 75% on rent. Haven't you heard your
customers complain that after paying the rent, the gas and electric and the
telephone, they have nothing left?
That means nothing left for you!
Every extra dollar that your customers are forced to pay for rent is a dollar
less for your business. Every dollar diverted to the landlord is a dollar
less spent on food, clothing, housewares, furniture, appliances,
entertainment and travel; even haircuts and dry cleaning. The last time the
rent laws were weakened, residential rents in New York City rose overnight by
an astounding 72%.
If such an increase in tenants' rents is allowed to happen again, your sales
will surely be devastated! Many small businesses will not survive.
The City Council extended the rent laws for three years on March 25 but
failed to end the $2,000 a month vacancy/luxury decontrol provision. Mayor
Giuliani and Speaker Vallone are going to Albany to lobby for the
continuation of the law, but they must speak out against vacancy and luxury
decontrol.
Please contact the following and tell them to renew the rent laws, WITHOUT
WEAKENING AMENDMENTS and NO VACANCY OR LUXURY DECONTROL.
If you need the names of your local Council, State Assembly or Senate
representative call the East Side Tenants Coalition at 249-0582.
Hon. Sheldon Silver Governor George Pataki
NYS Assembly, Albany, NY 12248 Executive Chamber, Albany, NY 12224
Tel.#212-385-6680 Fax#212-312-1425 Tel.#212-681-4580 Fax# 212-681-4643
Hon. Joseph Bruno Mayor Rudolph Giuliani
NYS Senate, Albany, NY 12247 City Hall, New York, NY 10007
Tel.# 518-455-3191 Fax#518-455-2448 Tel.#212-788-2614 Fax #212-788-3142
Senator Alfonse D'Amato Hon.Peter Vallone
7 Penn Plaza,Ste. 600 NY, NY 12247 City Hall, New York, NY 10007
Tel.@212-947-7390 Fax#212-564-5066 Tel.#212-788-7210 Fax#212-788-7207
Call Your Merchants Associatiion - Protect Your Business
East Side Tenants Coaltion has been a leader in the fight for reasonable
commercial rents.
ESTC P.O. Box 20245 New York, NY 10021-0064 212-249-0582
