Hanif asks which cases take longest and about ramp delays

Which cases are taking the longest?

Which kinds of cases are taking the longest to be resolved?

I don't think there's a particular type of case.

Again, it's very...

And I hate to sound like a lawyer in this perspective, but it really is pretty fact intensive.

And so it's going to depend on the complexity of the modification that's being requested.

If we need to involve other city agencies such as DOB or Landmark Preservation Commission, how many respondents are involved and what the nature of the accommodation is.

I mean, the example of the individual who was waiting for a ramp to get installed and dying in the process, I mean, that to me is avoidable, unavoidable circumstance

in terms of getting that ramp built.

Like, could you describe...

What the complexity we're dealing with, that a ramp took four years to get approved.

And I know there's this challenge of needing to also work with the landlord or the building management in the process, and they have their own process.

I'm trying to understand the trends because it seems to me that concerns regarding getting ramps built as an area of issue,

that there's a systemic change that needs to get made so that a ramp isn't taking five years to get built.

That it is an area where we have...

Seen enough of these kinds of cases that it should only take six months, given we know from

start to end, what are the kinds of issues that will come up.

But so could you just describe a little bit more about, and I get the complexity being a part of each case, but there's absolutely no reason for a ramp taking, needing five years.

Yeah, absolutely, Chair Honey.

Thank you for that.

You know, Project Equal Access is very successful, I would say, in ensuring and following through with ramp construction.

We often enter into settlement agreements prior to a complaint being filed that tries to closely track some of the issues that we know can come up with ramp installation, right?

Predominantly around a feasibility and getting appropriate architects through the door and beads dealing with

permit delays and those sorts of nuances and getting through with DOB.

In the case that you're talking about in particular, Ray, I think the big issue is when we have

landlords that have become emboldened right now in this federal atmosphere and saying, we're not going to do this, we're not going to agree to do this,

or if they're raising undue burden defenses, particularly around finances, where we have to take a very analytical view of all of their resources, whether that's an individual LLC or business entity

or an individual person, right?

We're requesting tax year.

of tax records, bank account statements, rent rolls to see what really is the financial hardship here.

And ultimately, if we do have to go to litigation, we recognize that that is also a separate time-consuming process outside of our investigation efforts.

And so trying to get that

through the door with OVE to a final decision in order can take time.

Although I recognize like we are moving quicker than probably a federally filed or state filed case.

We want to move these cases as quickly as possible in every instance.