The Jersey City Rent Leveling Board began hearing a $762 rental increase case that would impact the residents of 336 New York Ave. residents, who have been accused their landlord, Holland Management, of being slumlords.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
Holland Management attorney Matt Sebera asked the governing body to approve a rental hike the city has already told they have no issues with.
“The rents would quadruple under all these recommendations. The concern we have is, as a board, is how the tenants absorb that type of increase,” Commissioner James Ecock stated.
“My client is entitled to this rental increase,” Sebera argued.
“The live-in superintendent, do you have one?” Ecock asked, to which he said a lease was signed in September.
“You have an increase of $762 per month?” Commissioner Elda Pinchunat asked.
“That’s the increase to which my client is entitled under the ordinance,” Sabera answered, admitting is is a steep increase.
For that reason, he suggested said they could do a phase-in of the increase over time so tenants who can’t afford it have time to find a new place to live.
“Is it going to be for the new tenants?” Pinchunat asked.
“Any new tenant would be paying the rent the board determines,” Sebera stated.
“What do you think is an acceptable period of time?” Commissioner Alexander Hamilton asked, to which Sebera said that three to four month should be appropriate, as they submitted in a formal application.
Tenant Marc Rosenthal, who said his wife has lived in the building for over 20 years, declared that was not a realistic timeline and that they are “a bad faith landlord who treats the tenants poorly.”
“He was guaranteed an empty building, so he won’t put more money into the building … As far as live-in super is concerned, you were told a complete lie,” Rosenthal asserted.
“[Landlord] Zevy Stein… said I was the super!” he exclaimed.
He said their rent isn’t even being cashed, which could potentially be used against them in court. Rosenthal also stated that “rancid materials” were placed behind locked doors, which the fire department discovered.
“What’s the status of your municipal case?” Ecock asked.
“We have been to court multiple times. There is a current warrant out for Zevy Stein’s arrests,” tenant Anna Bassett replied.
“They have been ignoring us and ignoring us. It’s so unconscionable,” she exclaimed.
“There are police reports?” Ecock asked.
“There are many,” Bassett answered.
At that point, Ecock noted that they may be moving beyond their purview, which Commissioner Sullivan Johnson III remarked on.
“I was uncomfortable with several elements. In a way, yes, our hands are tied when dealing with any kind of increases. We can have some say in when these increases can be implemented,” Sullivan stated.
“We are asking for the rent leveling board to deny the increase. They’ve literally been lying to multiple people, including us. The complexity of the situation warrants a judicial scrutiny, except they don’t show up for court,” Bassett argued.
Ecock was curious if the status of the building superintendent could be verified, to which Office of Landlord/Tenant Relations Assistant Director Eric T. Bulwith said they had not received an update.
“If there’s a municipal court case, how does that affect us?” Ecock asked, to which Bulwith said summonses have been filed and the court case is pending.
“We recommend it’s approved … provisionally for six months,” Bulwith said, indicating that he was under the impression quality of life issues had been resolved.
Office of Landlord/Tenant Relations Director Shyrone Richardson said there is a hearing to assess potential hardships next month.
“Our office does have the power to reduce their rents and issue refunds … After that hearing will be a determination,” he noted, adding that they’re investigating allegations of harassment.
Sebera then apologized for not being able to confirm the super and didn’t realize it was a problem as someone in the crowd yelled out to heckle him.
“We had abated all the violations and achieved substantial compliance. I would ask that the board approve provisionally the increases sought,” he reiterated, noting that the allegations in court are a separate issue.
“I’m confident the Jersey City Municipal Court will reach the right decision. Although this property was rent-controlled, the highest rent in this building is $534.”
He claimed that even with the increase, the rent would still be below market level, to which Bassett said they have deliberately neglected the place.
“Holland Management has refused to appear in court: It has been a deliberate attempt to deceive the city!” she shouted.
“I personally have spent $8,000 on basic necessities of running water … and a bathroom. Their behavior has been emotionally and financially abusive.”
She claimed they didn’t maintain hot water and didn’t fix the locks, which caused a break-in. Bassett added they intimidated elderly tenants.
After some short debate among the board, Chair Dannon Hill made a motion to push for further deliberation.
“We need to have that information,” he noted before the case was pushed unanimously (6-0).
Afterwards, Bassett told HCV that firefighters found dead fish and feces behind locked doors, with allegations of break ins, urinating in common spaces, and refusing to remove trash also being heard in court.
Jersey City Together has taken an interest in the case and has helped tenants pushback against their landlord.
