"COPA is a sensible, targeted tool to support organized tenants and vetted preservation buyers to fight displacement in the buildings where New Yorkers' safety and stability is most under threat. Across the five boroughs, organized tenants are fighting to ensure the livability and affordability of our homes-often alongside mission-driven preservation partners. The Community Opportunity to Purchase Act ( Intro 902-B), or COPA, would strengthen these efforts to preserve affordable housing and fight displacement."
"The tenants of 705 and 709 West 170th St. offer a stark example of why New York City needs COPA. Not long after Daniel Ohebshalom became owner about 20 years ago, conditions began deteriorating drastically. Ohebshalom was named the worst landlord in New York City in back-to-back years by the Public Advocate's Office. Tenants have endured entire weeks, including holidays, without heat and hot water. They've dealt with mold, leaking pipes, and smoke from boiler fires."
COPA would give qualified preservation buyers the first opportunity to purchase properties when landlords decide to sell, prioritizing long-term affordability and tenant stability. Organized tenants and mission-driven preservation partners across the five boroughs use first-refusal tools to preserve livability and prevent speculative displacement. A broad coalition of over 200 community organizations, unions, and faith institutions supported passage by the City Council, but the mayor vetoed the bill on his last day. Tenants in buildings like 705 and 709 West 170th St. faced chronic heat and hot water outages, mold, leaks, boiler smoke, malfunctioning doors, infestations, and pandemic-era retaliation, underscoring the need for preservation authority.
Read at City Limits
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]