Leading a Panel at Annual Tenant’s Conference

As a longtime tenant advocate, I have always fought to preserve and expand New York State’s Emergency Tenant Protection Act and to ensure that tenants are armed with the information they need to defend themselves against harassment, neglect and unwarranted evictions.  Toward that end, I was a proud sponsor the Sixth Annual West Side Tenants’ Conference on November 5, 2011, where I led a break-out session with New York State Assembly Member Dick Gottfried and Legal Aid staff attorney Ellen Davidson on the new rent laws, recent legal rulings and what tenants can do to help in the fight for stronger rent regulations.  I focused my remarks on the struggles and gains of the past year’s rent law renewal fight, as well as the challenges that lay ahead.  This annual conference, organized by Housing Conservation Coordinators, is an invaluable organizing and education tool for tenants, and I believe we all finished the day energized by the collective commitment to our ongoing struggle.