Council Member Pierina Sanchez on permanent Certification of No Harassment program

Thank you, Majority Leader, and thank you to my 30 colleagues who have co-sponsored the certification of no harassment bill today.

Every tenant in New York City deserves to live free from harassment, regardless of their

citizenship status.

Yet we are in a moment where the federal government is targeting immigrant communities, and we must ensure that all of our neighbors receive the strongest possible protections in their homes.

Today, the council will vote on 839A, legislation that will bring the certification of no harassment program, will make it permanent and stronger.

CONH was first created in 2018 to deter owners from using construction to harass and displace tenants from their homes.

After two successful pilots, CONH has proven itself to be useful for identifying high-risk buildings and deterring bad behavior.

Today, we build on that success and codify CONH as a permanent tool in the city by doing three things.

First, responding to rising reports of landlords threatening to call ICE on their tenants by expanding the definition of harassment.

Second, monitoring problematic portfolios by reviewing all buildings that have the same owner as those with finding of harassment.

And third, create a stronger incentive to clear violations, allowing buildings to exit the program only if owners significantly improve living conditions for their tenants.

Finally, this bill will clarify that the basic maintenance continues to be allowed without delay for any building in the program, which has been a point of misinformation during this debate.

And to close, I just want to thank my team, the Coalition of Advocates who made this possible, and the agencies.

But just very particularly want to thank our Deputy Chief of Staff, Ben Ratner, and our legislative fellow, Dylan Campos, who really took this on as their legislative baby, as I keep saying.

and really made this happen.

So thank you, congratulations.

And holler back at my team who's in the back.

Okay, thanks.

Thank you, Councilmember.

Councilmember Ressler, followed by Narcisse.