NYC PUBLIC ADVOCATE'S STATEMENT ON THE CITY'S SETTLEMENT WITH THE #1 WORST LANDLORD

 

“Daniel Ohebshalom is the property owner behind the landlord at the top of my office’s 2022 Worst Landlord Watchlist, Johnathan Santana, who holds the most violations in the history of that list. This and other settlements are important measures of accountability to show him and other bad actors the consequences of putting profit over people. Penalties need to be severe enough to be more than the cost of doing business, they have to change behavior – otherwise, despite the settlement, his tenants will continue to suffer. “I urge the city to invest the funds from this settlement in expanding enforcement to hold the most negligent landlords to account for the dilapidated and dangerous conditions which they subject tenants to, allowing buildings to become unlivable as rents grow ever more unaffordable. I have a list of where to start.”