Renters slam slumlords

More than 100 people, most of them Black, Latinx and Asian, rallied on Oct. 13 in Lower Manhattan’s Foley Square against their slumlords from hell. Tenants spoke out about their long, courageous struggles.

New York City Public Advocate Letitia James released her annual list of New York City’s worst 100 landlords. It’s a catalog of horrors.

Harry Silverstein racked up more than 2,000 housing violations in just eight buildings. As an example, last winter, Anthony Kelly, one of Silverstein’s tenants, had to keep his stove on all the time because of a broken radiator. (Daily News, Oct. 14)

Behind the slumlords are big banks and insurance outfits that often own the mortgages on these rundown properties. The so-called “justice system” — looming over the protesters in the marble-fronted state and federal courthouses on the square — brings no relief.

Many community groups helped build this rally, including the Metropolitan Council on Housing, Asian Americans for Equality, Make the Road While Walking, Churches United for Fair Housing, New Settlement Community Action for Safe Apartments (CASA) and the Banana Kelly Housing Program.

Decent housing is a human right. Fight, fight, fight!