Visitor put up by Joel Gilbert
New York Lawyer Normal Letitia James, champion of the poor and wretched, is now dealing with criticism for her conduct as a landlord.
Information from the New York Metropolis Division of Buildings and the Division of Housing Preservation and Improvement (HPD) point out a troubling sample of neglect at her five-unit house constructing at 296 Lafayette Avenue in Brooklyn.
Previously 20 months alone, there have been 17 complaints in opposition to James with the New York Metropolis Division of Buildings.
These embody unauthorized building work with out correct permits, the alteration of a load-bearing wall with out permits, unlawful use of residences as resort rooms, unlawful conversion, a fence over the peak restrict, and a failure to inform authorities of scaffold work.
Extra alarming nonetheless, all 4 of Letitia James’s tenants are listed as having bedbug infestations and re-infestations.
Moreover, two tenants have not too long ago complained of peeling paint. These are each clear violations of housing upkeep codes designed to safeguard tenant well being.
Bedbugs and peeling paint in residential settings pose critical well being and security dangers to tenants.
Bedbugs are parasitic bugs that feed on human blood, typically at night time, forsaking itchy welts, allergic reactions, and extreme scratching.
Infestations can unfold shortly by way of partitions, flooring, and shared areas, inflicting widespread discomfort, anxiousness, and sleep disruption.
Peeling paint, particularly in older buildings, presents one other hazard – significantly if it accommodates lead, which is frequent in buildings like James’s which have been constructed earlier than 1978.
Lead-based paint can flake or create mud that, when ingested or inhaled, is poisonous – particularly to younger youngsters and pregnant ladies.
Collectively, these hazards replicate a failure by Letitia James to take care of protected and wholesome dwelling circumstances and may point out landlord negligence and even systemic housing code violations.
These circumstances paint an image of James not a lot as a landlord, however as a slumlord – a landlord who shirks primary obligations whereas residents undergo in substandard dwelling environments.
Slumlords are recognized to neglect the upkeep and security of their rental properties, typically to maximise revenue on the expense of tenants’ well being and well-being. Slumlords are sometimes related to exploiting low-income or weak tenants who could have restricted housing choices or concern retaliation in the event that they complain.
On February 18, 2025, James posted on Twitter, “All New Yorkers deserve honest, steady housing, and I’ll at all times tackle landlords who attempt to evade our legal guidelines for their very own monetary acquire”.
Satirically, James constructed her political model on her professed dedication to tenant advocacy and housing justice. All through her profession, she has spoken out forcefully in opposition to negligent landlords, supported sweeping enforcement actions, and emphasised the necessity to preserve protected and first rate housing for all New Yorkers.
James, in actual fact, has persistently positioned herself as a defender of town’s most weak residents. Her public statements typically stress that nobody is above the regulation and that those that exploit or endanger tenants must be held accountable.
As New York Lawyer Normal, James has taken vital actions to prosecute landlords for code violations. Just lately, as an example, in December 2024, James secured a $6.5 million settlement with Lilmor Management for subjecting tenants to hazardous dwelling circumstances.
All of James’s lofty rules at the moment are clashing with a troubling actuality. The hypocrisy is troublesome to disregard. Whereas publicly condemning landlords who enable their properties to deteriorate, James has did not uphold these very requirements in her personal constructing.
At this stage, addressing the code violations at her property is a needed first step. A needed second step is to acknowledge her failure to dwell as much as her personal requirements. Something much less erodes public belief and diminishes the legitimacy of the tenant advocacy she has lengthy championed.
Joel Gilbert, is a Los Angeles-based movie producer, and president of Highway 61 Entertainment. He’s on Twitter: @JoelSGilbert.
