Reopening Housing Court Is "Premature And Dangerous," Brooklyn Lawmakers Say

Zellnor Myrie

Originally published in Gothamist

Fully reopening the current housing courts in person in Brooklyn during the COVID-19 pandemic would be "premature and dangerous" due to conditions with narrow hallways, small elevators, and windowless rooms for conferences, a group of lawmakers charged in a letter to Mayor Bill de Blasio this week.

"Given the conditions and structure of the housing court's building, we believe that reopening the building too soon would pose an unacceptable risk to public health and exacerbate the crisis, and we urge you to secure an alternative location," 23 elected officials, led by Brooklyn State Senator Zellnor Myrie, wrote on Monday.

The Brooklyn elected officials demanded City Hall and the Department of Citywide Administrative Services find a new location and end the lease at the Brooklyn housing court, at 141 Livingston Street, altogether.

Read the full story on Gothamist here.