BROOKLYN, NY (May 30, 2023) – In a historic ruling, a Kings County Housing Court judge ruled in favor of tenant Beverly Rivers, who utilized a rarely-used defense called the Rent Impairing Violations (RIV) defense to eliminate alleged rent arrears and, together with her tenant association, force the landlord to make repairs.

NEW YORK, NY (May 8, 2023) – Today, Legal Services NYC, The Legal Aid Society, New York Legal Assistance Group, Urban Justice Center’s Safety Net Project, NMIC, Mobilization for Justice, The Bronx Defenders, Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem and The Right to Counsel NYC Coalition, ahead of the New York City Council’s Committee on General Welfare Executive Budget hearing, echoed City Council members and Borough Presidents’ call for the City to boost funding for the Right to Counsel program by $351 million to ensure that every eligible tenant facing eviction gets a lawyer.

BRONX, NY (April 28) – Today, rent-stabilized tenants at 1230 Woodycrest in the Bronx demand that their notorious landlord, Isaac Kassirer is held accountable and fix hazardous living conditions that have gone unchecked for years, including rodents, roaches, mold, leaks, plumbing problems, inconsistent heat and hot water, and dysfunctional elevators. Tenants sued their landlord in May 2022 with the organizing support of  New Settlement’s membership-driven tenant organizing project, Community Action for Safe Apartments (CASA), and represented by Bronx Legal Services’ Tenant Rights Coalition. Earlier this month, the court imposed ordered the landlord to pay $270,000 in civil penalties over their failure to make court ordered repairs in timely manner, tenants are now withholding rent until repairs are made, and today attended a court hearing. 

NEW YORK, NY (April 19, 2023) – Legal Services NYC, The Legal Aid Society, , New York Legal Assistance Group, the Right to Counsel NYC Coalition, Mobilization for Justice, Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A, Urban Justice Center’s Safety Net Project, Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, The Bronx Defenders, NMIC, Housing Conservation Coordinators, CAMBA Legal Services, and the Goddard Riverside Law Project released the following statement following New York City Council Progressive Caucus’ call for $351 million for the Right to Counsel providers in their Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Priorities:.

NEW YORK, NY (April 12, 2023) — New York City’s Right to Counsel (RTC) Providers today echoed a budget request from the New York City Council on Albany lawmakers to appropriate $50 Million in New York State’s Fiscal Year 2024 to help ensure that low-income New Yorkers facing eviction in New York City Housing court have access to legal representation.