Statement from Executive Director Nick E. Smith on the New Arrest Warrant Against NYC’s Worst Landlord Daniel Ohebshalom
Statement from Executive Director Nick E. Smith on the New Arrest Warrant Against NYC’s Worst Landlord Daniel Ohebshalom
In light of Manhattan Housing Court Judge Jack Stoller issuing an new arrest warrant to New York City’s notorious landlord Daniel Ohebshalom, Communities Resist Executive Director Nick E. Smith released the following statement:
“The Public Advocate’s office named Daniel Ohebshalom as New York City’s number one worst landlord for a reason. For years, Mr. Ohebshalom has put New Yorkers in danger by allegedly neglecting tenants, refusing repairs, and allowing his buildings to deteriorate so significantly it has become uninhabitable. Since Mr. Ohebshalom has clearly disregarded legal orders, failing to resolve over 125 hazardous violations, Judge Stoller issuing a new arrest warrant was absolutely necessary.
As First Deputy Public Advocate, I was proud to work with Public Advocate Williams, Council Member De La Rosa, Senator Jackson, Assemblymember Taylor, and tenants to shine a light on the city’s worst landlord and push the court to do the right thing for these long-suffering tenants.
I want to thank the organizers and elected officials who stood outside Manhattan Housing Court, including our friends at the Met Council on Housing, for calling on Mr. Ohebshalom to be held accountable. Communities Resist stands with these tenants and calls on the city to facilitate repairs that the landlord continues to refuse to make, even after action by law enforcement.”
About Communities Resist
Communities Resist (“CoRe”) is a community-based housing legal services and advocacy organization established and led by people of color to empower, educate and represent low-income communities and community coalitions preventing gentrification and displacement. Founded in 2019, CoRe has racked up several impressive wins, stopping nearly 1,000 evictions, filing 4,000+ affirmative litigation cases, engaging more than 8,000 New Yorkers at housing rights workshops and recovering settlements of all sizes for tenants across New York City.
“After years of feeling powerless against our abusive landlord who wasn’t providing heat and hot water nor repairing my apartments, my neighbors and I had no other choice than to reach out for help. With the help of our attorney from Communities Resist we were able to organize a Tenant Association and fight back against the abusive landlord. We finally won,” said Ramona Blash of 316 Suydam St. Tenant Association.