NYC Landlord’s Arrest Leaves Tenants Looking To Take Charge

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY — More than 20 Washington Heights tenants rallied Monday morning outside housing court demanding the city to let them take ownership of their buildings after their landlord was arrested last spring in a first-of-its-kind tenant case.

Daniel Ohebshalom, 62, who topped New York City's annual worst landlord list two years in a row, was accused of taking "advantage of rent-regulated tenants living in five Manhattan apartment buildings by creating dangerous living conditions in an effort to push them out," Alvin Bragg, district attorney for Manhattan, said in May 2024.

Among the list of complaints from tenants include collapsing ceilings, lack of heat and pest infestations, according to the tenants at the rally and previous Patch reporting. In court Monday, several tenants testified to these conditions.

Now, tenants in two of Ohebshalom's buildings — 705 West 170th St. and 709 West 170th St. — are advocating for the city to remove his ownership and transfer ownership to themselves.

"We are here because we have been fighting as organized tenants for three years in a row," Bianca Camil, a 709 tenant, said at the rally. "we are fighting until the end — until we can own our buildings."

The tenants were joined by advocates from the Northern Manhattan Community Land Trust, and the Metropolitan Council on Housing, as well as elected officials, including Councilmember Carmen De La Rosa, who represents Washington Heights, Inwood and Marble Hill.

According to a spokesperson for De La Rosa, the tenants were in talks with the city to move forward with gaining ownership over their building, but lately, conversations have stalled.

"This issue is not unique to our tenants, and they are fighting for all New Yorkers who suffer at the hands of negligent, unscrupulous landlords who are not in the business of housing for the right reasons," De La Rosa said. "It’s time we give real New Yorkers who have long cared for their homes without management’s help the ownership of these buildings."

"Being here today is an example that they're just having enough of this harassment," Eva Santos Veloz, a tenant organizer with Met Council, said at the rally. "They deserve a path where they are finally over these ongoing conditions."

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