City Councilman Faces Eviction for Back Rent

Long Beach City Councilman Michael Fagen owes his landlord, Jason Schatzberg, more than four months in back rent, approximately $12,000, and faces possible eviction from a home in the city’s Canals neighborhood, according to court papers filed in Long Beach City Court. 

The court filings states that Schatzberg has terminated Fagen’s lease and has petitioned for a warrant to remove the councilman from his Armour Street home and for a judgment in the amount of $12,762 for back rent, according to Newsday.

While Schatzberg’s attorney, Leslie Martin Shamis of Long Beach, declined to comment about the case, Fagen said that he withheld rent because he was deprived of heat during winter, but he intends to reach a settlement with Schatzberg this week before the case goes to Long Beach City Court on June 19. Said Fagen:

"I really do want to stay here,” adding that he is "dying to get this thing settled."

Let Patch save you time. Get breaking news and great local stories like this delivered right to your inbox or smartphone everyday with our free newsletter. Simple, fast sign-up here.

In a separate case that Patch reported in February, a grand jury that month indicted Fagen on felony charges that he illegally collected more than $14,000 in unemployment benefits by concealing his employment as an elected city official from the state labor department.

Fagen’s attorney, Marc Gann of Mineola, maintains that the case is a “political witch hunt” from the prior Republican administration, who set up Fagen by filing false documents on his behalf, stating that he worked full time when Fagen reported he worked as little as six hours per week.

The District Attorneys Office said the case will resume in court on June 26.