Housing Expert and BxNN Blogger Greg Jost on BronxTalk Tonight

Gregory Lobo-Jost, a frequent contributor to this site who is deputy director of University Neighborhood Housing Program, will be interviewed tonight at 9. a.m. on BronxTalk (Cablevision channel 67) with Gary Axelbank.
They're sure to discuss critical Bronx housing issues such as foreclosures and the looming crisis with over-leveraged buildings purchased at unsustainable inflated prices with private equity.
I should also note that Greg and the folks at UNHP deserve a lot more credit and attention for the important work they're doing and have done since the 80s. Jim Buckley, the groups's executive director, was an organizer with the NWBCCC in the 1970s, and has been working for better housing in the Bronx ever since.
No other organization keeps such a close eye on the health of the borough's housing stock, and raises alarm bells when necessary.
These folks do the tough research and know what they're talking about. More of us should listen and make certain elected officials, bankers and other decision makers do the same. And citywide reporters should check in with them more often, rather than just the usual Manhattan suspects.
Watch Greg tonight if you can. The show will re-air at the same time all week long. We'll post the show on the blog when it's up on-line.
Oh, here's a recent op-ed by Greg in Norwood News on vacancy decontrol.

Bronx News Roundup April 30

A Baychester woman found a 60-pound tortoise in her yard on Tuesday.

Nearly 1,000 gun were handed in during last Saturday's gun buy-back events at six Bronx churches.

The Bronx-Whitestone Bridge is 70-years-old.

A pear tree that was nearly completely destroyed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks has been gaining strength and new limbs, these past few years, in a nursery in Van Cortlandt Park. In 2011 the tree will be uprooted and replanted in the plaza of the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center.

Job seekers take note. The Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition is receiving federal dollars to expand its home weatherization program. The funds will allow the organization to hire about 10 new people.

Rally Calls for End to Vacancy Decontrol

More than 500 NYC residents gathered together on Tuesday, December 9th at the New York Society for Ethical Culture to demand an end to vacancy decontrol, a practice by which landlords can take a vacant apartment out of rent regulation when the rent reaches $2,000. This rent control deregulation offers landlords incentives to raise rents to reach this threshold by whatever means necessary, including unsubstantiated improvements to common areas (major capital improvements), apartment renovations, and tenant harassment. Coalition members believe that they can get this law passed in Albany with a democratic-controlled state Senate, although that reality has been thrown into doubt by the unravelling of Malcolm Smith's deal with the Three Amigos.

A high school band kept energy levels high with pep songs at the start of the rally, and tenants led the room in chants like “La renta sube, sube/el pueblo sufre sufre” (The rent gets higher, higher/the people suffer suffer). Organized by Housing Here and Now, a coalition of non profit affordable housing providers, tenant groups, and community organizers, the rally called for the New York State Assembly and Senate to pass legislation to end this loophole.

The Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition (NWBCCC) was one of eight organizations that planned the spirited gathering, along with ACORN, Community Voices Heard, Make the Road NY, NYS Tenants & Neighbors Coalition, New York Immigration Coalition, NYC AIDS Housing Network, and the Working Families Party. Tenants involved with each of these organizations shared personal stories and reflections on the impact of vacancy decontrol on their struggle to maintain apartments in neighborhoods throughout New York City.

New York State Senators and Assembly members (or their representatives) in attendance signed a statement pledging to address repeal of vacancy decontrol with their chamber’s Speaker, Housing Chair, and the Governor by January 10, 2009. State senators in attendance were José M. Serrano, who represents parts of the South Bronx and East Harlem, Tom Duane, Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and representatives from Senators Liz Krueger, Diane Savino, Joseph Addabbo, and Daniel Squadron. There were also representatives from Assembly members Karim Camara, Hakeem Jeffires, Linda Rosenthal, and Deborah Glick.

Sitting in one of several NWBCCC sections underneath the balcony, it was difficult to assess the full size of the audience in the 812 seat venue but the main level was filled to capacity. We received a visit from Senator Jose Serrano who came to see his “Bronx people,” thanking us for coming and encouraging the work of New Settlement Apartment’s CASA Housing Organizing Initiative. Folks can get involved in future efforts to end vacancy decontrol by visiting the Housing Here and Now website or their blog.

Exploited Workers Celebrate $1.4 million Settlement

Workers rights advocates, led by Retail Action Project (RAP), held a press conference and victory march earlier today, to celebrate a successful lawsuit against the aptly named Yellow Rat Bastard (YRB), a Soho-based clothing store.

According to the Attorney General's Office, YRB and its affiliates violated labor laws by failing to pay employees minimum wage or overtime pay. More than 1,000 workers, past and present, are set to see a slice of the $1,4 million settlement. More here. Organizers said they hope the lawsuit will serve notice to other Soho retailers that low wages and poor working conditions won't go unnoticed or unpunished.

Many of YRB's current and former workers are immigrants from Africa. Idrissa, 29, was born in Burkina Faso, and now lives on 183rd Street near the Grand Concourse. He worked in YRB's basement warehouse (below the the flagship store) for six years, until resigning last summer. At first, Idrissa said, he was grateful for the money ($5.25 an hour), but that the "rat infestation" and 70-hour weeks eventually wore him down.

Idrissa, who didn't want his last name published, said the victory was about more than money. "It's about raising awareness that this type of exploitation is going on in other businesses in New York," he said.

Bronx community leaders who attended the march included Bakary Camara of the Gambian Society (pictured left) and Titikpina Djounedou (right), president of the African Peoples Alliance and an organizer with the North West Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition.