Dozens of tenants evacuated Thursday from a New York Chinatown apartment deemed unsafe are accusing the landlord of trying to get rid of them so he can build a high rise, reports Patch.
The apartment on 85 Bowery housed at least 75 tenants, according to The Lo-Down, which reported that number is likely higher.
“I have no clothes . I just got back from work. They don’t let me take my stuff,” Jenny Hee told PIX11.
.@BrianLehrer @NYCMayor @BilldeBlasio @NYCMayorsOffice What do you have to say to the families evicted from their homes at 83-85 Bowery last night? #AskTheMayor #ShameOnBetesh pic.twitter.com/WG5NWGdNlc
— New York City YDSA ? (@nycydsa) January 19, 2018
City Council member Margaret Chin said the Red Cross is providing housing until for any tenants who have no where to go. She said the evacuation was necessary for the tenant’s safety.
State Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou told Lo Down her staff is trying to secure longer term housing for those displaced.
The landlord, Joseph Betesh, did not return calls from Patch for comment. He has said in the past he would move the tenants back in once structural repairs can be made.
Tenants are skeptical. A small protest was held outside the building Thursday. One advocate told NY1 tenants have been demanding repairs for years, but the landlord has refused and is trying to evict them.
AsAmNews has Asian America in its heart. We’re an all-volunteer effort of dedicated staff and interns. Check out our Facebook page and our Twitter feed, Please consider interning, joining our staff or submitting a story for consideration.
RE: Chinatown Building Deemed Unsafe, Tenants Evacuated: The only way the landlord gets this far is with Deblasio’s approval. It’s ok though, he’ll just shuttle the tenants to a homeless shelter that the city is paying 3,000 a month per family for.