Tenants of Ridgewood are being called to attend a special meeting regarding their rights and how to stay in their homes.
Ridgewood Housing Matters (RHM) will be holding an emergency meeting on Dec. 17 at P.S. 305, located at 378 Seneca Ave., at 6:30 p.m. to provide Ridgewood tenants with information about their rights and to update them on new laws regarding buyouts.
The RHM is a campaign led by local housing groups of organized tenants, housing advocacy nonprofit organizations, legal services and local elected officials committed to fighting to end displacement of Ridgewood residents. The group aims to engage, empower and unite tenants, property owners and public agencies to combat patterns of harassment and displacement.
“We are going to have a brief talk to see what is going on in the neighborhood,” said Angela Mirabile, executive director of the Greater Ridgewood Restoration Corporation. “We are going to let people know of harassment, let people know their rights. There is a lack of services going on in the neighborhood.”
During the meeting there will be tables set up where organizations will be handing out information to tenants such as what the three new harassment laws are to protect tenants from landlords trying to buy them out of their apartment.
“We want to give people the information they need, to say these are the laws and this is what you have available to you,” Mirabile said. “We want to get you organized so you don’t leave your apartment when you don’t have to. This will be the first real forum where all the groups involved will be there.”
Some of the community groups involved with the RHM include the Greater Ridgewood Restoration Corporation, Make the Road New York, Ridgewood Tenants Union and Ridgewood Tenant and Neighbors Association.
Also involved with the group are Assemblyman Mike Miller, Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan, Councilman Antonio Reynoso and Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez.
RHM is looking for volunteers to give out flyers to advertise this event. Anyone who would like to volunteer to distribute flyers to a few blocks where you live, contact Paul Kerzner at 718-366-8721.
