Rent Stabilized Tenants File Suit to Stop East Harlem Rezoning

"Over the past year, the community of East Harlem has been in struggle against the New York City government over its plan to rezone the neighborhood. Although the City Council ultimately approved the plan on Nov. 30, the rezoning of East Harlem for luxury high rises is far from being a foregone conclusion. In a new development, the Legal Aid Society filed a lawsuit against New York City on Jan.18, challenging the rezoning plan. If successful, the suit could lead to stopping the rezoning altogether.

The lawsuit is being brought by two longtime residents of East Harlem, who share their stories of being harassed and pressured to move out by landlords after their buildings were bought by new owners. Even though the two residents lived in rent-stabilized units– or, it would be more accurate to say because they lived in rent-stabilized units– they became targets of harassment by their new landlords..."

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