MORRISANIA, The Bronx (WABC) — History was made on Thursday by a judge in New York City against a negligent landlord in the Bronx.
The first-of-its-kind judgement was against the landlord of 919 Prospect Ave., who now faces the maximum penalties, including more than $2.1 million for retroactive punishments.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has long been a proponent of tenants rights, said the thrust of the ruling will be applied going forward, to all five boroughs.
“The radiator is leaking and all my floorboards are starting to come apart, and then I found the mold. It was, like, completely black,” said Yolinda Taylor, a resident at 919 Prospect Ave.
Taylor and her mom Renee Dunbar say the conditions they’re living with at the building are awful.
Gloria RodrÃguez showed Eyewitness News the mold in her bathroom and where she has had to seal her bedroom windows from the cold. She also said she nearly set her apartment on fire when her space heater blew up because the heat never really works.
“The poison, the traps, the spray-it doesn’t stop the cockroaches,” she said. “Downstairs the rats jump on you.”
The landlord of 919 is identified as Seth Miller. He’s regarded by the city one of the worst landlords in New York.
On Thursday, a judge issued a $2.1 million injunction requiring him to make his building livable.
“I want this legal decision to put other bad landlords across our city on notice,” Mayor Mamdani said. “If you do not change your ways, we now have a strong precedent to pursue the same kind of legal action against you.”
The injunction was granted under the city’s Nuisance Abatement Law.
Attorney Stephanie Rudolph filed the first lawsuit against the landlord years ago.
“We got a $1 million judgment in Brooklyn that was never enforced by the city that I’m aware of at least,” said Rudolph, an attorney for the Legal Aid Society. “So, it would be great to see some enforcement from the city and follow through. So I’m excited.”
Maria Rodriguez is hoping the landlord will finally comply.
“I don’t see him as a human being. A human being has some feelings, and why do we have to go through all that, you know?” Rodriguez said.
Neither the landlord nor his attorney returned Eyewitness News’ calls and emails for comment, but Mayor Mamdani says it’s only the beginning.
His budget includes $85 million to hire lawyers and support staff for more cases just like this one.
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