Days after Ridgewood residents marched through the streets demanding that the neighborhood remain affordable for everyone, the community is invited to an emergency tenant workshop forum regarding the housing crisis in Ridgewood.
Councilman Antonio Reynoso is sponsoring the event on Thursday, Dec. 1, at the Greater Ridgewood Youth Council, located at 59-03 Summerfield St., to alert residents of their rights when it comes to staying in their homes and apartments.
The lawmaker encourages anyone who has been a victim of landlord/tenant harassment, has experienced a lack of services or has repeatedly been made buyout offers from landlords or developers, to come down to the meeting and learn about the legal rights they have as tenants.
The emergency meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. and lawyers from Queens Legal Services, Catholic Migration Services and the Legal Aid Society will be available to answer questions.
Tenant organizers such as the Legal Empowerment and Assistance Program, Greater Ridgewood Restoration Corporation and the Ridgewood Tenants Union will be there to advise and guide residents on questions they may have.
Representatives from city and state enforcement agencies such as the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and the Department of Housing and Community Renewal’s Tenant Protection Unit will be able to help those in attendance.
Reynoso has been active in speaking out against unscrupulous landlords trying to illegally evict long-term residents of Ridgewood as the neighborhood remains scorching hot on the real estate market and new multi-story residential units are popping up more and more. Because of this, Reynoso believes it is essential for residents to know their rights, especially if they live in a rent-regulated apartment and receive rent subsidies from the government to remain in their homes.
For more information about the Dec. 1 meeting, contact Councilman Reynoso’s office at 718-963-3141.
