Left: Shannon Flaherty, an aide to Assemblymember Richard Gottfried, talks with Chelsea resident Steve Levitt about a tenant issue. Right: Assemblymember Gottfried discusses tenant issues with DHCR Housing Specialist Georgina Richards.
Gottfried, DHCR talk tenant rights in Chelsea
By Patrick Hedlund
New York’s Division of Housing and Community Renewal held an “Ask DHCR” informational session at Assemblymember Richard Gottfried’s W. 27th St. office in Chelsea last Friday for tenants to lodge queries about issues of rent stabilization and rent control. The event was hosted by Gottfried, Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, State Sen. Thomas Duane and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn.
Over 40 residents attended both sessions, noted Gottfried aide Shannon Flaherty, with questions ranging from tenant harassment and rent overcharge to rent reduction and decreased service. Seven DHCR employees, as well as Gottfried himself, consulted tenants individually at both sessions to address their concerns.
“It’s just so nice to be able to sit down with someone and talk with them one on one,” said Flaherty, who also fielded tenants’ questions. “We never had to cut anyone off.”
The state DHCR deals with tenant issues related to rent overcharge and leases, service reductions, tenant harassment, major capital improvements, and senior citizen and disabled rights.
“There will always be the need for it,” added Flaherty of the events, which her office hopes to host again in the future.
