A wide array of organizations is set to meet on Thursday night to hear from residents at 50 West 93rd street who say they were harassed by armed men who said they were police officers. The New York Press reported a few weeks ago that police had closed their investigation of this case without any arrests, but the issue clearly hasn’t gone away. Rent-stabilized tenants have criticized Stellar Management, which owns the building, for trying to push them out, but the company has said it has no involvement in alleged police impersonation and doesn’t harass tenants.
Council member Helen Rosenthals’ office sent out the following notice about Thursday’s meeting:
After two instances of harassment from police impersonators entering their building, tenants at 50 West 93rd Street on the Upper West Side are holding a meeting with advocates and local elected officials to learn their rights and how to protect themselves.
The first instance occurred on August 20, 2015 when armed men, who identified themselves as police, entered the building, went to several rent stabilized tenants’ apartments, and questioned them about how long they lived in the building and who they lived with. Two weeks after the first incident, the suspects
returned and rang the bell of another rent stabilized tenant. The police impersonators have not yet been caught.
WHAT: A meeting about police impersonators who have harassed tenants at 50 West 93rd Street with tenants, tenant advocates, and local elected officials.WHEN: Thursday, October 22, 2015 at 7:30pmWHERE: Community Room at 50 West 93rd Street, ManhattanWHO:
- Tenant Protection Unit, NY State Department of Homes and Community Renewal – Jeffrey Margulies, Assistant Commissioner
- Office of Gale Brewer, Manhattan Borough President
- Office of Helen Rosenthal, Council Member
- Office of Bill Perkins, State Senator
- Office of Daniel O’Donnell, State Assembly Member
- New York City Commission on Human Rights
- Goddard Riverside Law Project – Larry Wood
- Community Development Project at the Urban Justice Center – Sadia Rahman, Supervisor Attorney
- Pa’lante Harlem – Elsia Vasquez, Founder
- West Side Neighborhood Alliance & Housing Conservation Coordinators – Bennett Baumer
- Metropolitan Council on Housing – Sheila Williams
- Sue Susman, Esq.
- Police officers from the 24th Precinct
- Tenants from 50 West 93rd Street
As much as I’m against rent stabilization I’m very much against landlords breaking the law to kick out regulated tenants.
However, I find this story hard to believe. In fact, so does the police as they apparently investigated and found nothing.
Nevertheless, the usual gang of UWS lefty politicians -ie Brewer, Rosenthal etc – are exploiting this event for political purposes. In their next newsletter they will boast about how they arranged this meeting to protect tenants from evil and greedy landlords.
I agree the district executives are milking it for political adverticement if you will for lack of better words however I believe the problem does exist and the police dismiss only raises even a greater red flag but there is a need for some police police invilvement. How do you report something local department is allowing and dismissing if reported thus resuling in further unreportable harassment. I recommend committing a federal crime resulting in being on the FBI’s offender watch list which seems to be an effective solution and working for me.
In an article in the New York Times Real Estate Section over the summer they discussed in detail some of the tactics of landlords to try to frighten or harass rent stabilized tenants. It’s documented that this fake police scenario has occurred. There were a couple of landlords in particular who were guilty of it, especially those who were in the midst of flipping apartments into condos or co-ops. It’s sad but true. I clearly don’t know if that’s the case here — but it seems there is nothing as low as an underhanded landlord.
Jezbel I agree. And assure you I am not under handling . I think I’m handling them well where it hurts them the most . Although I wouldn’t say handling is right word more like im kinging them where it hurts most . And I’m gonna hit there wallet too!
Keep feeding them rope , you know what happens.
I’m not that smart . I’m not that stupid, however I am a rent stabilized tenant board president. And any and all my tenants well being is of utmost importance to me and I consider to be my duty to personal take into concern.
If this harassment is indeed still going on and the police have closed the case has Eric Schneiderman (State Atty. General) been notified? I don’t see his office listed here as one of the local officials represented. And think he probably should be.
From my understanding, upon political pressure the NYPD did indeed open an investigation. All surveillance videos were reviewed, residents were questioned, and leads were followed. All resulting in nothing , , , Nada. There was no clear evidence of such an occurrence other than heresay.
However, something ‘fishy’ is taking place in this building were some residents are taking advantage or abusing their rent stabilized apartments. It appears they are trying to use the management’s past history against the Mgmt company by claiming management abuse. This might backfire on them, as it appears there is no relevant fact to back this up.
It just takes a bad few tenants to ruin a building. And the same can be said about a management company!
Good Luck Neighbors.
ps: back in the 1970s, drug dealers would pose as cops to steal from fellow drug dealers.
Back in the 70’s you didn’t need to pose as a cop because back then the actual police would be the ones robbing you for your drugs/cash.