Date: Mon, 08 Sep 1997 04:13:19 -0400
Subject: Mayoral Primary Sept 9: SAL ALBANESE FOR MAYOR
SAL ALBANESE FOR MAYOR
Democratic Primary: Tuesday, September 9th
There are many reasons why Rudy Guiliani should not
be Mayor for another four years. Among many things, he stacked
the Rent Guidelines Board with landlord sympathizers, he
gutted what little was left of HPD (housing inspectors
are below 200 from over 800 and in most cases you can't
get an inspection without a court order), the Department of
Buildings is in shambles and he advocated rent deposits
into Housing Court. This spring he tried to portray
himself as a friend of tenants, but he did what any smart
politician would do: coopt the issue to avoid the hot seat
from his challengers.
In her years as Manhattan Borough President, Ruth Messinger
has done little to advance tenants rights, and she has not
put forward any reasons why she would make a good Mayor. Indeed,
she is doing her best to pull a Bill Clinton, seeing how much
she can look Republican -- or worse, allied with
the Silver/Vallone machine. It's not so much that she
supported the Trump Riverside South project, it's that she
doesn't have the philosophical "core" it takes to be Mayor.
In the last two weeks, after promising to stay out of the
District #2 Council race, Messenger endorsed Silver's crony
Judy Rapfogel in exchange for Silver's endorsement. She might
as well have endorsed Antonio Pagan! During the Rent Wars,
Messinger called for Home Rule (Lt. Governor Betsy Ross was
the other politician to make a similar call and the idea was
trashed by Silver-controlled Tenants & Neighbors).
While it was about time someone put this issue on the table it's
doubtful Messinger was sincere. At the time every politician
(except Alan Hevesi who wants to run for Mayor in 2001 and
feels compelled to cozy-up to real estate interests) was advancing
their "take" on the crisis. Now that tenant protections are
on a slow sure burn to extinction, and out of the spotlight,
Ruth hasn't mentioned housing once.
Sharpton? He has built some credibility since the Tawana Brawley
days, but he's not Mayor material. Al, come back in ten years
after you've done something.
WHY SAL ALBANESE
Met Council seems to think none of the Democratic candidates
have raised the tenant/housing since June 15th. They're wrong.
Of all the Democratic challengers, Sal Albanese of Brooklyn
is the only candidate to focus on (not just mention) tenants
and housing as a critical issue in this city. We met with
Mr. Albanese several weeks ago and challenged him to be
specific with his housing proposals; it wasn't enough that
he (as did Ruth Messinger) trounce around Albany with
hysterical tenants. It's not about militance; it's about
determination.
Although the depth of detail is wanting, the following letter
from Sal Albanese carries the most specific housing proposals
we've seen from any Mayoral candidate. What also struck us
was Sal's sense of community. Once you get below the surface
of campaign platitudes, he made it clear this city must have strong
neighborhoods to survive, and that calls for a "balance of
community and business concerns." As much as Rudy's core is
meanness and the lie, Sal's core is an overall sense of what's
good for the long-term needs of the community. No wonder he
was repeatedly elected to City Council from Republican Bayridge.
Moreover, Albanese is the only candidate to focus on
campaign finance reform. If anything, this year demonstrated
that not only Joe Bruno and George Pataki get landlord payoffs,
but also Sheldon Silver and other "progressive" Democrats are
beneficiaries of massive real estate contributions (either directly
or through PAC disbursements), and will readily sell tenants out
and declare victory in the same breath.
This Tuesday, get out to Vote for Sal Albanese. (you can
also learn more by visiting Sal's web site at
http://www.electsal97.org).
September 2, 1997
To TenantNet
As a member of the City Council and candidate for mayor, the
fight to protect tenants' rights is very important to me.
This year we worked together in the fight to protect those
rights, and only narrowly averted a disaster. New York must
make affordable housing available to all its residents.
Rents have increased 20 percent citywide in the Giuliani
administration, evidence of the current administration's
complete disregard for the interests of average New Yorkers
and tenants.
* This city needs a real housing policy.
* The Rent Guidelines Board is heavily weighted in favor of
Giuliani-appointed landlords. I'll restore the proper
balance, a fair balance, of landlords and tenants.
* I will lobby to restructure the Division of Housing and
Community Renewal. Pataki has made it a pro-landlord body.
* I will lobby to clean up the housing courts system in order
to bring about speedy and fair adjudication.
* We need to protect the Sound Housing Act and prevent the
demolition of affordable housing in favor of luxury
high-rises. I'll get the Demolition Clause of the new law
repealed.
* We must reform and reorganize the Department of Housing
Preservation and Development, making it more responsive to
community housing needs. Above all, we must hire more
housing inspectors.
I'm asking for your support in my campaign for mayor. Among
the candidates, I have the strongest record on tenants'
issues. I was the only candidate to testify before the Rent
Guidelines Board against the citywide rent increase in
rent-regulated apartments in 1996. This year I was the first
candidate to go to Albany to protest state de-regulation.
My campaign is largely based on the idea of reform, whether
it is in housing policy, tax structure, or campaign finance.
This last part of my agenda, campaign finance reform, is
vital to carrying out the rest. It would level the playing
field, making public officials accountable to average New
Yorkers rather than wealthy real estate or other special
interests.
I think that if we combine our efforts, we can bring about a
government that works for all its citizens.
Sincerely,
Sal F. Albanese
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The Tenant Network for Residential Tenants
TenantNet: http://tenant.net
NYTenants Interactive: http://nytenant.net
NYTenants Express: http://members.aol.com/nytenant
email:
NYtenants Discussion List: email to and in
the body of the message put "subscribe nytenants".
Information from TenantNet is from experienced non-attorney tenant
activists and is not considered legal advice.
Date: Mon, 08 Sep 1997 07:48:40 -0400
Subject: Vote Margarita Lopez: Critical City Council Race for Tenants
TENANTS ALERT
Vote for Margarita Lopez for NY City Council
tomorrow September 9th in the Democratic Primary.
Lower East Side, Loisada, Gramercy Park, Murray Hill
Parts of Soho, West Village, Chinatown
see map at http://tenant.net/Lopez/
MARGARITA LOPEZ FIGHTS BATTLE AGAINST CORRUPT MACHINE
"Unbought and Unbossed"
The NEW YORK TIMES called Margarita Lopez
"an advocate, with an intense commitment... whose energy and
dedication would be an asset"
But her opponent Judy Rapfogel, who is bought and controlled by
Sheldon Silver, says she was "on the front lines of the fight to
save rent laws"
NONSENSE -- HERE'S WHAT THE LANDLORDS SAY?
"The new [Silver] law provides the most sweeping benefits and relief
measures for property owners in the history of rent law negotiations.
Never before has the hosing industry gained so much without giving
up anything in return."
--RSA Reporter, Rent Stabilization Assoc.
NYC's landlord trade association July/August 1997
Shel Silver, who took $25,000 from landlords and then gave away half of
tenant protections to landlords stated:
"Judy Rapfogel was a key part of my team to fight to save
rent protection" -- letter to voters, June 28, 1997
But Joe Strasburg, President of the RSA stated:
"Now the full story can be told. In the compromise agreement, and
in the details hammered out afterwards, property owners gained more
relief and benefits than they have in twenty-five years. And we
conceded nothing to the tenant organizers." (July 1997)
Landlords are so grateful to Silver and Rapfogel that the Associated
Builders and Owners are considering naming Sheldon Silver as "Man
of the Year" (Real Estate Weekly, June 25, 1997)
IN THE 1980's JUDY RAPFOGEL WAS CAUGHT
USING HER GOVERNMENT POSITION
TO FATTEN HER OWN POCKETS!
As a member of Area Policy Board #3, Judy Rapfogel helped to take
funds away from legitimate social service organizations, and to
give more than $127,000 to her husband's agency (her husband is
reported to be a Guiliani fundraiser). The defunded agencies
sued and won. After her role was exposed, Judy resigned from the Board.
The State Supreme Court found a conflict of interest and denied her
husband's agency the money.
At the time, Margarita Lopez was employed by "Action For Progress"
one of the defunded agencies, and she worked without a salary due
to Judy Rapfogel's shenanigans.
On Margarita Lopez, CITIZEN'S UNION stated
"Margarita Lopez "demonstrates impressive and detailed knowledge of the
district she would represent. Her legislative priorities center on the
issues of affordable housing, education and economic development. She
would strengthen small business as the economic backbone of the district
and the sector most likely to plow profits directly back into the
neighborhoods... Ms. Lopez' creative ideas for the improvement of the lot
of small businesses and the middle and lower income sectors of the
community
would surely be major factory in her effective representation of this
district"
JUDY RAPFOGEL GETS THOUSAND FROM SPECIAL INTERESTS
Why would large corporations, Political Action Committees (PACs), Albany
lobbyists,
politically connected lawyers, out-of-district hospitals, executives
from Coca Cola
and Pepsi Cola Bottling, NYS Tobacco and Candy Distributors and Empire
State
Beer Distributors contribute to Judy Rapfogel?
Their interest is not in the Lower East Side or Gramercy Park. But they
know what Rapfogel's boss Shel Silver can do for them as Assembly Speaker.
After six years of landlord advocate Antonio Pagan, Margarita Lopez is
poised to bring integrity back to New York City Council. Don't let
Shel Silver, who created Antonio Pagan, now create Judy Rapfogel as the
"Heir of Pagan".
For more information, go to http://tenant.net/main.html
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The Tenant Network for Residential Tenants
TenantNet: http://tenant.net
NYTenants Interactive: http://nytenant.net
NYTenants Express: http://members.aol.com/nytenant
email:
NYtenants Discussion List: email to and in
the body of the message put "subscribe nytenants".
Information from TenantNet is from experienced non-attorney tenant
activists and is not considered legal advice.
Date: Wed, 24 Sep 1997 14:15:07 -0400
Subject: DHCR offices move -- new locations and numbers
New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR)
which administrates Rent Control and Rent Stabilization,
is moving a number of its offices.
The DHCR offices at 156 Williams St., 270 Broadway and 1 Fordham Plaza will
be relocating to:
New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal
25 Beaver St.
New York, NY 10004
(212) 480-6700 & 6701
Manh. District Rent Office 5th floor (212)480-6238 and 6239
Effective September 15
Housing Operations 6th floor (212)480-7231 and 7232
Effective September 22
Executive Offices,
Administration,
Community Development,
Legal Dept. 7th floor (212)480-6700 and 6701
Effective September 22
The main processing office at Gertz Plaza remains where it is.
Below are the new locations:
Bronx Borough Rent Office:
One Fordham Plaza, 2nd Floor, Bronx, NY 10458
Brooklyn Borough Rent Office:
55 Hanson Place, 7th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Buffalo Rent Office:
Statler Towers, 107 Delaware Avenue, Suite 600, Buffalo, NY 14202 /
(716)842-2244
Central Office for Rent Administration and Queens Rent Office:
92-31 Union Hall Street, Jamaica, NY 11433
Harrassment Unit:
25 Beaver Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10004 / (212)480-6238 and
(212)480-6239
Lower Manhattan Borough Rent Office: (South Side of 110th St. and below)
25 Beaver Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10004 / (212)480-6238 and
(212)480-6239
Upper Manhattan Borough Rent Office: (North Side of 110th St. and above)
Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Office Bldg, 163 West 125th St, 5th Floor,
NY, NY 10027
Nassau County Rent Office:
50 Clinton Street, 6th Floor, Hempstead, NY 11550 / (516)481-9494
Rockland County Rent Office:
94-96 North Main Street, Spring Valley, NY 10977 / (914)425-6575
Staten Island Borough Rent Office:
60 Bay Street, 7th Floor, Staten Island, NY 10301
Westchester County Rent Office:
55 Church Street, 3rd Floor, White Plains, NY 10601 / (914)948-4434
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The Tenant Network for Residential Tenants
TenantNet: http://tenant.net
NYTenants Interactive: http://nytenant.net
NYTenants Express: http://members.aol.com/nytenant
email:
NYtenants Discussion List: email to and in
the body of the message put "subscribe nytenants".
Information from TenantNet is from experienced non-attorney tenant
activists and is not considered legal advice.
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