News From Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz

Assemblyman Dinowitz and Senator Peralta’s Bill Requiring the MTA to Examine Lead Paints Levels at Elevated Subway Lines Passes Senate and Assembly 

  Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and State Senator Jose Peralta’s legislation requiring the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the New York City Transit Authority to conduct a study relative to the amount of lead paint in elevated subway tracks passed both the State Senate and the State Assembly. The bill is now at Governor Andrew Cuomo’s desk, and who will decide whether or not to sign it into law. 

  

The bill was introduced by Senator Peralta and Assemblyman Dinowitz on May 1st. Under the proposal, the MTA will have to submit a written report offering recommendations to eliminate any possible exposure to lead paint by falling chips form the elevated tracks of the subway system.

 “I am pleased that both houses of the legislature passed this important public safety measure. This bill requires the MTA and the NYCTA determine and report which areas of the aboveground transit infrastructure are plagued with hazardous levels of lead paint and which parts of New York City’s aging transit system must be immediately remediated before the thousands of New Yorkers who rely upon city transit become sickened or poisoned. We cannot expect people to live and work while being forced to use subway platforms coated in flaking lead-paint chips that may increase their risk of lead poisoning,” said Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz. “It is almost inconceivable in this day and age that people must put up with any lead-poisoning related dangers, yet this legislation will go some way toward ending this problem.”

“I am glad we were able to move this vital piece of legislation quickly through both houses of the legislature in order to protect New Yorkers. In a little less than a month and a half, it was possible for us to introduce and pass this bill in regards to the amount of lead paint in elevated subway tracks, including the 7 line. This subway line cuts across several hard-working communities in my district, and unfortunately lead paint chips are falling onto the streets and sidewalks,” said Senator Peralta. “We must ensure we remove hazardous lead paint from tracks, stations and trestles. The safety of New Yorkers comes first.” 

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Senator Marisol Alcántara Pass Bill Cracking Down on Illegal Non-Rental Fees

Bill Requires DHCR to Notify Rent-Stabilized Tenants of Which Non-Rental Fees Landlords can Legally Charge 

  The New York State Legislature passed legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and Senator Marisol Alcántara yesterday, the last scheduled session day, which cracks down on illegal non-rental fees some unscrupulous landlords use to pressure tenants out of their apartments or trick them into paying more than they owe. Pending the signature of the Governor, the DHCR will now be mandated to provide the full list of legally allowable non-rental fees on the lease rider it issues for all rent-stabilized tenants. The New York Times recently brought to light this issue, which affects many low-income tenants. Often, fees will appear on the monthly rent bill or other correspondence without any explanation, which leads many tenants to believe that they must pay these fees in order to stay in their housing, which is false. Rent-stabilized tenants deserve freedom from arbitrary and in some cases illegal charges that burden an already rent-burdened population in a city undergoing a housing crisis.

“As a result of unscrupulous practices by landlords who insert various non-rental fees into lease agreements and monthly rental bills, we have passed legislation that would put vital information on the legality of these fees into the hands of the tenants they’re targeted at. Recently, some landlords have been attempting to pressure tenants, who may not know their rights, into paying for various legal fees, late fees, and fees for background checks by putting those fees directly into the lease agreement and monthly rent bills. DHCR has called into question the legality of some of these fees, and has put out Fact Sheet #44 to help tenants know their rights. Landlords will no longer be able to bully tenants into paying for things that they are not obligated to pay for,” said Assemblyman Dinowitz. “It is my hope that the Governor will demonstrate his support of tenants’ rights by signing this into law.”

State Senator Marisol Alcántara said: “Rent-stabilized tenants have the right to know whether the fees their landlords charge are legal. This bill, which I urge the Governor to sign, will close a loophole that has allowed unscrupulous landlords to take advantage of their tenants. This will be especially helpful for low-income and immigrant tenants, who may be more unfamiliar with the state’s rent laws and who are at particular risk of tenant harassment such as the use of illegal fees.”