FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Kristia Winter
718-629-2900 / KWinter@council.nyc.gov

BROOKLYN, NY—New York City Council Member Farah N. Louis, a member of the Council’s Committee on Housing and Buildings, released the following statement after Flatbush landlord Jason Korn was cited as the top offender on the City’s 2019 Worst Landlords List. Four of his properties are located in the 45th Council District.

  • 250 East 29th Street (477 open violations)
  • 1439 Ocean Avenue (258 open violations)
  • 712 East 27th Street (237 open violations)
  • 3402 Avenue I (289 open violations)

“Year after year, we come back to The Worst Landlords List hoping that this public display of outrage might hold them to account. Instead, they seem to be wearing it as a badge of honor. The Worst Landlords List is a reminder of the bad actors in our community who have endangered the health, well-being, and safety of their tenants – especially children. No one should ever have to live with mice, rats, roaches, lead paint, mold, piles of garbage, leaks from the ceiling, illegal building modifications that are hazardous, and sloppy patchwork. These are the inhumane living conditions of everyday hard-working New Yorkers who are rent-burdened and DESERVE BETTER,” said Council Member Farah N. Louis.

“These landlords own one or more buildings with hundreds of open violations who have repeatedly ignored calls for necessary repairs yet have the audacity to collect the rent check on the 1st of every month without hesitation. This behavior leaves tenants in limbo, holding them hostage in substandard conditions without the means to move into a clean, safe space. And unfortunately, over the past year, we have seen an increase in these issues in our own backyard. 

“Instead of striving to get off of the Worst Landlords List, Jason Korn has moved from 9th place in 2018 to 1st place this year. With the privilege of tax exemptions comes the responsibility of properly managing the upkeep of the buildings that thousands of New Yorkers call home. As we approach the coldest months of the winter season, the management of this property needs to immediately resolve the inadequate heating, hot water, and carbon monoxide alarm violations.  

“I am calling on the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) to consider including this property into the next round of the Alternative Enforcement Program (AEP), ensuring that they monitor the owner’s progress in making these necessary repairs. If HPD finds that the owner is not in compliance with AEP requirements, according to the rules, HPD should step in, make the repairs, and bill the owner accordingly. 

“If tenants need assistance with filing complaints, they can always come to my office (1434 Flatbush Avenue) where community-based organizations and partners are readily available every Monday. In addition, my constituent services staff can assist with outreach to City agencies. We are here to empower this community with education about tenant rights and the free City resources that exist to advocate on your behalf. Let us help you! You are our eyes and ears. It is important that we hear directly from you about the issues that you are facing.  

“I look forward to the day when we will no longer need a Worst Landlords List. It requires accountability from all property owners, the City agencies with oversight, but also the community – more specifically the tenants who must speak out. We must work more closely with our partners in government to identify legislative solutions that empower tenants to address housing concerns in the community. 

“However, we must also recognize that there are small and large landlords in the community who abide by the rules and treat their tenants with dignity and respect. We need more of them, and they need more support to help provide safe and livable conditions.” 

New York City Council Member Farah N. Louis represents the 45th District, which is comprised of Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood, Marine Park, Flatlands, & Kensington in Brooklyn, NY. She is a member of the committees on Civil Service and Labor; Economic Development; Education; Finance; Housing and Buildings; Committee on Youth Services; and Justice System. Council Member Louis is also a proud member of the Women’s Caucus as well as the Black, Latino/a, and Asian Caucus.

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