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Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a major judgment against a notorious South Bronx landlord at Bronx Borough Hall on March 12, 2026.<\/p>\n
Photo by Lloyd Mitchell.<\/p>\n
Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a \u201clandmark victory\u201d against a notorious NYC landlord on March 12, who was issued a major financial penalty in court for allowing residents of 919 Prospect Ave. to live in conditions the mayor described as \u201cnear complete neglect.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
According to Mamdani, the March 2 court judgment<\/a> against Seth Miller and Aegis Realty marked the first time the courts levied the maximum civil penalties against an owner under the Nuisance Abatement Law \u2014 up to $1,000 per day if housing violations are not promptly addressed. Miller was also ordered to pay $2.174 million in retroactive penalties covering April 2019 to 2025.\u00a0<\/p>\n Miller\u2019s name is all too familiar among those involved in tenants\u2019 rights, including Cea Weaver, who heads the Mayor\u2019s Office to Protect Tenants and joined Mamdani at the press conference.<\/p>\n When Attorney General Letitia James was NYC Public Advocate, she dubbed<\/a> 919 Prospect Ave. the worst building in the borough and Miller one of the city\u2019s worst landlords, and he remains at number 40 on the current list<\/a>. <\/p>\n The Bronx Times did not receive a response for comment from Miller.\n<\/p>\n 919 Prospect Ave. has 42 rent-stabilized units and 53 open violations relating to inadequate heat and hot water, mold, mice and roach infestations, lead-based paint, loose fa\u00e7ade debris without required scaffolding and other problems that Mamdani said have persisted for years, resulting in more than 1,000 complaints in the past two years.\u00a0<\/p>\n The tenants have organized since 2016 with TakeRoot Justice<\/a> but faced many challenges in bringing their landlord to justice. Mamdani said the owner has retaliated against tenants by locking them out and taking them to court.\u00a0<\/p>\n At the press conference, Mamdani vowed to bring more cases like the one against Miller and Aegis Realty.\u00a0\u00a0\n<\/p>\n He said the court decision should \u201cput other bad landlords across our city on notice. If you do not change your ways, we now have a strong precedent to pursue the same kind of legal action against you.\u201d<\/p>\n Speaking to tenants, he said, \u201cI promise that if your landlord does not responsibly steward your home, City Hall will take action to protect you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n News of the court ruling came the day after Mamdani attended the Bronx Rental Ripoff<\/a> hearing, a forum in each borough where residents can speak directly about problems in their buildings. Mamdani said at the press conference that the hearings were not simply a listening exercise but a means for residents to inform real policy and action.\u00a0<\/p>\n More cases like Miller\u2019s will likely be forthcoming, as Mamdani said he plans to beef up the city\u2019s legal budget to add 200 more attorneys and 100 support staff members.<\/p>\n Borough President Vanessa Gibson applauded the city\u2019s action and encouraged residents to always call 311 to report substandard housing conditions.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \u201cDo not be afraid because you have rights,\u201d she said. \u201cNew Yorkers should never have to choose between affordability, quality and safety.\u201d\u00a0 One of the tenants who stood alongside Mamdani was Maria Rodriguez, who has lived at 919 Prospect her entire life, since 1977.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI feel good because at least something was done about it, after waiting so many years,\u201d Rodriguez told the Bronx Times.\n<\/p>\n She said she pays $950 per month for her apartment, which was recently painted, \u201cbut they did a sloppy job.\u201d Rodriguez also said she\u2019s dealt with elevator outages and inconsistent heat and water.<\/p>\n After years of organizing with her neighbors, \u201cI hope it will teach [Miller] a lesson,\u201d she said. \u201cIt might take a lot of years, but things will be done.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Reach Emily Swanson at\u00a0eswanson@schnepsmedia.com<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0(646) 717-0015<\/a>. For more coverage, subscribe to our\u00a0newsletter<\/a>\u00a0and follow us on\u00a0Twitter<\/a>,\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram<\/a>!<\/p>\n \t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC_2441.jpg\")
Mayor Zohran Mamdani meeting with tenants affected at 919 Prospect Ave. Photo by Lloyd Mitchell.<\/p>\n
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Maria Rodriguez speaks to press about the challenges of bringing the landlord of 919 Prospect Ave., to justice. Photo by Emily Swanson\n<\/p>\n