Tenants rally to keep eviction courts closed
BY JACON COHEN
“Cancel rent” and “close
the courts” were chants heard
on July 7 outside of the Bronx
Housing Court as activists and
residents gathered demanding
the cancelation of rent.
Facing the looming eviction
crisis, tenants held protests
in the Bronx and Brooklyn
calling for eviction courts
to remain closed through the
end of 2020.
The eviction moratorium
in New York does not protect
many Black and brown tenants
who were hit hardest by
COVID-19. Moreover, many of
those people are part of the gig
economy, work for cash, undocumented
and can’t prove fi -
nancial hardship.
Leaders and members of
Housing Justice for All, Right
to Counsel NYC Coalition,
tenants at risk of eviction in
New York City and Community
Action for Safe Apartments
(CASA) were among the
groups there.
“It’s not a coincidence that
we are near the Bronx Housing
Court known as the eviction
mill for landlords,” said
CASA Leader Fitzroy Christian.
“Governor Cuomo and
elected offi cials have failed to
protect New Yorkers during
this pandemic.”
According to Christian,
the recent Tenant Safe Harbor
Act is “rubbish.” The Tenant
Safe Harbor Act prohibits the
issuance of warrants of eviction
and judgments of possession
for nonpayment of rent
during the COVID-19 period,
which began March 7 and ends
when all businesses closed by
executive order are permitted
to reopen, if a tenant has experienced
fi nancial hardship
during this same period.
However, the fact that the
eviction courts are now open
and already seven people are
facing being homeless since
July 1, many in the Black and
brown communities are worried,
he said.
“Human lives are more important
than property,” Christian
said. “Human lives are
more important than profi t.”
Marta Burgos, a paralegal
with the Legal Aid Society,
has seen fi rsthand what housing
court does to the Black
and brown community. If rent
is not canceled and there is
no eviction moratorium, the
streets will be fi lled with people,
BRONX TIMES R 2 EPORTER, JULY 10-16, 2020 BTR
Burgos explained.
“I am a witness to the fact
that this court always functions
at the expense of people
of color,” Burgos said.
Burgos noted housing
court frequently mistreated
the elderly and disabled.
“The court punishes people
for not being able to attend
court for disability,” she said.
“This court makes it very
easy to our vulnerable elderly
people on the street.”
Aldo Resendiz of the South
Bronx Tenant Movement
was furious with the governor.
After dealing with thousand
of Bronxites dying from
COVID-19, he said that tenants
should not have to fear
eviction.
Resendiz explained people
are prioritizing health and
food over paying rent and
questioned how landlords
could still demand money
when they know millions are
still unemployed due to the
pandemic.
“Governor Cuomo isn’t just
complacent with the killing
of Black and brown lives, but
also complacent with the systemic
displacement and torture
of Black and brown families,”
Resendiz said. “Cuomo
is not here to protect the interests
of poor Black and brown
people. He is out here protecting
the interests of blood sucking
capitalist landlords. We’re
not asking, we’re demanding
you cancel rent.”
Nora Kenty of Legal Services
Staff Association, one of
the organizations that helps
people in housing court, was
fi red up this morning
According to Kenty, the average
landlord owns 21 buildings
in NYC, so she fi nds it
hard to believe they are hurting
for money.
“Why should landlords get
the bailout at the expense of
working New Yorkers,” she
shouted. “People are literally
dying and they’re worried
about their profi ts. Let people
stay home. Housing is a necessity.
Housing is a right.”
People at the Cancel Rent protest Photos by Miriam Quinones