Monsey, NY – County Executive Ed Day has a message for all landlords and homeowners: illegal housing will no longer be tolerated anywhere in Rockland.
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An upcoming plan expected to debut in late April will crack down on health, housing, zoning and fire code violations in each of Rockland’s five towns.
Day’s announcement came last week in a letter that appeared on the Preserve Ramapo website which noted that both illegal housing and overcrowding, two issues that plague the county’s neediest residents, are high priorities for the county executive who has been formulating his plan with the county health commissioner, the fire and emergency services coordinator and Governor Cuomo’s office.
“Some believe that violating health and building codes is no big deal,” wrote Day. “Some believe that chopping up apartments and herding students like cattle is the cost of doing business. Some believe that it’s okay to exploit those who have little voice or fear authority. It’s not.”
“Our message this year to unscrupulous landlords, or anyone participating in the illegal housing business is this: we’re coming after you,” added Day.
The proposed initiative is still in the planning stages but according to Day it will include a countywide rental registry, mandatory regular inspections of all rental properties and a system that will allow for filing confidential complaints online about any property in the county.
“Ultimately this is about preserving the quality and character of Rockland’s neighborhoods,” Scott Salotto, Rockland County’s director of strategic operations told VIN News. “We are fighting back against blight, overcrowding and down-zoning.”
Day’s initiative is not intended to target any one segment of Rockland’s population, according to Salotto.
“We have had concerns with safety and health code violations in all five towns and in a host of villages, including Tomkins Cove, West Haverstraw, New Square, New City, Haverstraw and Suffern,” said Salatto. “This is not addressed to any segment of the population or any ethnicity. From the north to the south to the west and the east, this is something that needs to be addressed.”
Day’s post pledged an end to unlawful housing practices.
“For as long as I serve as your county executive, the illegal housing business will no longer be ‘business as usual’ in Rockland,” wrote Day. “If we’re going to respect each other, we need to start with a mutual respect for our laws. Stay tuned.”
kol hakovod, I cant count on a “progressive” like de blasio to do this as half of the people living in them are in fact illegal themselves and the landlords tax the system but that pay taxes into the system. Ed Day is a true mensch.
This only hurts the low income. Their rental costs will skyrocket. If every basement rental has to be a legal basement its a big problem. Ed Day is maing a big mistake. yes you have to regulate safety. But at what cost.
Lets hope this does not come to lakewood, with thousands of illegal basement apartments, there will be a major homeless problem.
NYC City Council enacts law prohibiting progressive and community-minded county officials from holding elected office in NYC. Details to follow.
Day’s initiative is not intended to target any one segment of Rockland’s population, according to Salotto., Yeah right and the Brooklyn Bridge is for sale
Unfortunately he’s probably too late. St. Lawrence already ruined Monsey already. What was once a beautiful town is now home to thousands of multiple family homes, overcrowding, tons of traffic, school buses on every block b/c no two families sent to the same Yeshiva and lots of garbage on places. Not to mention too many people who don’t speak English and drivers who all think they have the right of way.
As if rents aren’t high enough.
He needs to target the slum landlords who put 20-40 illegals in one house and don’t have heat. He is already aware of the addresses. I hope no one cries antisemitism when the names are in the media. These slum lords collect millions in cash and don’t care about lives. Stay tuned.
It is about time. It is a danger for those living there and for first responders.
There is a gentleman from Skver who rides the monsey bus with me, and his opinion is that “people need someplace to live”, and therefore its ok to break every rule in the book. The fact that others who bought homes and like the greenery means nothing. “WE” have to understand that “THEY” need someplace to live, and we should be happy to let them tear down every home and instead build a yeshiva and/or apartment complex. Zoning rules? feh; fire codes? feh
To all claiming rent will skyrocket. If you cant rent part of your house to cover the mortgage expense, you wont just overbid the next guy when it comes to buying resulting in lower purchase prices more people can afford. Sorry developers!
Having said that, Ed Day is specifically targeting the Jewish community regardless of what he says. He is not going to Spring Valley displacing thousands living illegally. He knows good and well the commotion the media will cause.
I will start a movement Ed Day for governor of Jews for Ed Day.
Come on so far how many lives have been lst due to these codes. We all know the governemnt way overregulates. Who are you kidding? We all do plenty more dangerous stuff. Bottom line one has to do a cost analysis if its worth the payoff. i don’t think it is. We can’t just regulate the heck out of everyone because its safer.
And yes there are many simple cost effective preventions to save lives that our commuinity should be strongly encourged to withhold. Things such as proper working fire larams and smoke detctors, fire extinguishers etc.. are perhaps more importnat than that second set of stairs or a window two inches longer.