Thursday, September 23, 2010
SHOCKING NEWS: A shitload of illegal conversions in NYC!
From The NY Times:
City inspectors posing as apartment hunters discovered dozens of spaces that had been illegally converted into residences, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced on Thursday.
Armed with hidden video cameras, undercover agents visited 62 properties and found that 54 of them were not legal apartments because of a number of violations, including not having two ways to get out in the event of a fire, he said.
At a City Hall press conference, Mr. Bloomberg, who was joined by Robert D. LiMandri, the commissioner of the city’s Department of Buildings, said that Buildings Department inspectors read apartment classifieds on Craigslist looking for telltale signs of illegal conversions, like “utilities included.” (A landlord would not want to give a tenant a reason to to call Con Edison and divulge that he or she has moved into an illegal apartment, officials explained.)
As a result of the investigation, which started in May, the city imposed orders to vacate on 33 properties because the violations were so serious, city officials said. Officials said it was difficult for inspectors to police illegal conversions unless they get a warrant.
“It is also often legally very difficult or impossible for inspectors to gain access to buildings they suspect have been illegally converted,” Mr. Bloomberg said. “But we do believe that our stepped-up enforcement efforts, through creative approaches such as these undercover investigations, are going to make building owners think twice about keeping their properties up to code.”
How long do you think this crackdown will last?
BTW, this effort started here in Queens.
16 comments:
How about those illegal underground hotels? They are much more dangerous in case of a fire.
The city should not only check the craig list but also the local spanish and chinese newspapers as well.
I thought Helen Marshall was on top of this.
I thought Helen Marshall was on top of this.
You misunderstood. She's in the attic!
My neighbor, 5 houses down, threw one of his tenants out, for whatever reason, years ago. The evicted guy knocked on my door practically crying for a space to live in. That's when I found out the neighbor had converted his attic into a living space. I have no idea what became of the guy.
Where is this new crop of evicted people now going to go?
Blame the US system or immigrations. Illegal immigrants can't get places to live without ssn and other proof and therefore will pay places cheaper.
And even legal ones will pay for cheaper rents.. 300 to 500 bucks a month for someone's garage converted to living space. Tell me - where are you going to get 300 bucks rent on LI or NYC?
But we do believe that our stepped-up enforcement efforts, through creative approaches such as these undercover investigations, are going to make building owners think twice about keeping their properties up to code.
Illegals are creating a situation that require cheap housing and landlords are creating rooming houses in single family homes. These houses have beds squeezed in every corner and numerious unrelated folks quietly coming and going. Occasionally, there are sqabables between the landlord and boarder that reveal the illegal housing situation. But the telltale signs of these places are visibly unrelated nationalities of those who don't speak English, quietly move in and out usually after dark and the constant stream of furniture placed at the curb. The houses typically do not maintain their garden nor sweep the front sidewalk or curb. Typically individual little garbage bags are placed at the curb for pickup. The Sanitation Dept works doubly hard to remove these.
Ain't just immigrants creating illegal spaces. They abound in every neighborhood in Queens in basements, cellars, attic, and garages.
Just walk down Northern Boulevard in Flushing from Parsons to Utopia.
EVERY pole/street light has a "se renta cuarto" (room for rent) or rent a room in chinese or Korean on it.
Couldn't the city make BILLIONS of dollars in fines given out to the owners of the illegally converted homes/apartments/houses/dwelling etc...?
Blame the US system or immigrations.
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"take me to queens!"
"which part?"
"the common part!"
Blame the US system or immigrations.
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"take me to queens!"
"which part?"
"the common part!"
=====================
I don't get the joke.
the tenants in one illegal , 2& 1/2 conversion are paying $1500. per month rent. they were just told that they could not park on the driveway.
the absentee owner has been summoned for years, but after two non-responses to d.o.b., it is dropped.
the d.o.b. should report these cases to I.R.S. and N.Y.S. Dept.of Taxation.
$300/mo doesn't even get you a 10x10 in a Public Storage in Queens, and they discourage residents.
Time to bring in the Feds. Every illegal basement or attic apartment brings in revenue for the owner (landlord), but is not reported as income to the IRS. They could have a field day and reap in a ton of cash if our local police and politians reported these people. In New York, Bloomberg turns a blind eye to illegals and proclaims that NYC is a Sanctuary City. He has instructed the Police Force to leave them alone. Therefore, if the Feds get involved and make people pay back taxes, and the Fire Department closes down these illegal dwellings, the illegals will have nowhere to live and will move on. I think Bloomberg should open Gracie Mansion to them.
"n New York, Bloomberg turns a blind eye to illegals and proclaims that NYC is a Sanctuary City."
This is because he needs cheap labor to wipe the asses of his non tax paying Wall Street Gang.
Blame the US system or immigrations.
--------------------------
"take me to queens!"
"which part?"
"the common part!"
=====================
I don't get the joke.
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Prince Akeem quoted(Eddie Murphy)... "Coming To America"
"This (part of Queens)shitty enough for ya?"
"Yes, this is perfect."
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