Our 78-year-old neighbor Francis dealt with almost a year of non-stop harassment from the building owner Yehuda Gruenberg and his associates after Francis refused a buyout for his rent-stabilized brownstone apartment in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, NY. He has lived at his home for 25 years. He was at one point the building’s superintendent. Francis sued his landlord in Housing Court for harassment. It has been a long road, and we are all supporting Francis as he makes his home into a place of comfort again. The months-long campaign of organized harassment included: another tenant breaking into Francis’s apartment grilling food in Francis’s hallway loose chickens in entryway blocking the entrance with tents and port-o-potties itinerants occupying the front yard and cellar, making threats playing loud music 24/7 destroying locks and removing doors large leak from kitchen ceiling for months sewer water dripping into the entrance hallway for months lack of heat over an extended period Brownstoner New York Times All money from this fundraiser will be used by Francis for: Storage unit rental from September 2024 to September 2024 A used bedroom furniture set Twin mattress Repairs to living room furniture Veterinary costs and other care for Francis’s cat, Trixie Incidental expenses (repairs, security, misc costs) This fundraiser is being organized by the Crown Heights C.A.R.E. Collective and the Crown Heights Tenant Union on Francis’s behalf. Francis will donate any remainder of funds raised to the Park Place 900s Block Association to support his neighbors on the block through block beautification projects and community-building events. Statement by the Park Place 900s Block Association: “The block association is gratified that the court has compelled Yehuda Gruenberg to take responsibility for the dangerous living conditions faced by our neighbor, Mr. Roberts. For months, we have witnessed the dangerous and disruptive tactics that Aaron Akaberi, Yehuda Gruenberg, and their associates used to try and force Mr. Roberts out of his apartment, including violence, break-ins, public defecation, high-decibel sound, fires, encampments, and more. Although Mr. Roberts was the target of the harassment campaign, our whole block suffered the consequences, with many residents afraid to let their children and pets cross in front of the house. By standing together and organizing alongside Mr. Roberts, we are sending a message that our block will not stand by and allow our neighbors to be harassed or the peace of our community to be threatened.” Francis is a rent-stabilized tenant. Last year, when the Rent Guidelines Board voted to pass the largest hike on rent-stabilized housing in almost a decade, Mayor Eric Adams justified the rent increase as necessary to protect the interests of “small landlords” like Francis’s abusive landlord Yehuda Gruenberg, though Gruenberg, like many small-time building owners, has let his tenant’s home fall into disrepair as an investment strategy. Francis has been very grateful for the widespread outpouring of community support in the wake of this ordeal, which has given Francis and his neighbors a chance to re-connect and build anew.
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