NEW YORK, NY – April 15, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) — Public Advocate Bill de Blasio today launched a tenant, condo and co-op owner assistance webpage and hotline designed to help the over one million New Yorkers who could be impacted by a possible strike next week if the Realty Assistance Board (RAB) and building service workers do not reach a deal.
Over 30,000 doormen, superintendents, resident managers, porters, handymen and concierges could go on strike as early as April 21. The Public Advocate’s office is preparing to connect affected New Yorkers with available City services to help with building problems they may face during the strike, including garbage cleanup, loss of power, and rodent or insect infestation.
“Regardless of whether you stand with the building owners or the workers, I believe it is the responsibility of City government to make sure one million building residents have access to essential services. If these workers are forced to strike, my office will help connect building residents to City services that can fill the gap and provide essential services they need,” said Public Advocate Bill de Blasio.
The Public Advocate office has launched a new tenant, condo and co-op owner assistance page on its website which provides ways tenants can request assistance from City agencies to address loss of service in their apartment buildings. This webpage can be found at: http://www.pubadvocate.nyc.gov/pages/TenantAlert.html.
Specifically the web page provides resources to help tenants deal with the following issues:
* Loss of Heat & Hot Water
* Rodents Problems
* Bed Bugs & Insects Infestation
* Garbage Cleanup
* Loss of Power
* Rights to Safe and Livable Residence
The Public Advocate’s office will also be training its constituent service operators to specifically assist any tenants, condo and co-op owners impacted by loss of service their apartment buildings. New Yorkers can report problems and have questions answered by calling the Public Advocate’s Constituent Services hotline at (212) 669-7250 during business hours, weekdays from 9:00AM – 5:00PM.
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Contact:Matt Wing
Communications Director
Office of the Public Advocate
1 Centre Street, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10007
T: (212) 669-4193
email: mwing (at) pubadvocate.nyc (dot) gov
website: http://pubadvocate.nyc.gov/
