NYC Council meetings, chaptered and linked by time.
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New York City Council
Making the certification of no harassment pilot program permanent and adding criteria for inclusion of certain buildings in the program
Read summaries and jump into the video at the segment start.
Chair Pierina Ana Sanchez calls the meeting to order, introduces herself as Chair of the Committee on Housing and Buildings, and announces the committee will vote on Intro 839A, which makes the Certification of No Harassment Program permanent and adds criteria for building inclusion.
Sanchez explains that every tenant deserves to live free from harassment regardless of citizenship status, and that it is unlawful for landlords to retaliate against tenants for exercising their rights, such as calling 311 about a rat infestation.
Sanchez highlights how federal mass deportation policies make immigrant New Yorkers particularly vulnerable to retaliation, noting dangerous and unique forms of harassment targeting immigrant communities.
Sanchez details three cases: a landlord fined $17,000 for threatening to call ICE, a Queens/Long Island management company paying $55,000 for posting signs encouraging tenants to report immigrants, and Sunnyside tenants threatened with deportation for requesting basic repairs.
Sanchez states the council will vote on 839A to make the CONH program permanent and stronger, responding to rising reports of landlords threatening to call ICE on tenants by expanding the definition of harassment.
Sanchez explains the CONH program was created in 2018 to deter owners from using construction to harass and displace tenants, and that after two successful pilots it has proven effective at identifying high-risk buildings and deterring bad actors.
Sanchez describes specific bill provisions: expanding the harassment definition to include ICE threats, monitoring problematic portfolios by reviewing buildings with the same owners as those with harassment findings, and creating stronger incentives to clear violations by requiring significant improvements before exiting the program.
Sanchez clarifies that the bill explicitly allows basic maintenance to continue without delay for any building in the program, preempting criticism that CONH prevents basic repairs. She emphasizes that only building changes historically used to harass tenants are restricted.
Sanchez thanks the coalition of advocates including ANHD whose testimony made the legislation possible, the HPD team that stewarded the program through pilot phases, and former Council Member Brad Lander who led passage of the original CONH pilot in 2018.
Sanchez recognizes committee staff members by name including Austin Malone, Billy Eck, Mark Chen, Jose Conde, Dirk Spencer, Carla Naranjo, Reese Hirota, Noah Slosberg, and Mohamed Shadid for their work on the legislation.
Sanchez thanks her personal staff including Deputy Chief of Staff Ben Ratner who she credits as holding the legislation as his 'legislative baby,' Deputy Chief Kim Castellano, District Director Maria Jose Mares, Gerard Fernandez, scheduler Dylan Campos, fellow, district team members Soraya Bonilla and Oriana Roa Acevedo, and intern Jacob Hayward.
Committee Clerk William Martin conducts the roll call. Chair Sanchez votes aye, followed by Council Members Riley, Feliz, Abreu, Hudson, Williams, Salaam, and Wilson all voting aye. Council Member Zhuang abstains and Council Member Maloney votes aye.
The clerk announces the bill passes with 9 in the affirmative, 0 in the negative, and 1 abstention. Chair Sanchez thanks colleagues for their support and closes the committee meeting.