Here with an URGENT request to support Fitzroy Christian, a long-term, rent-stabilized tenant who has lived in the same apartment in the Bronx for about 46 years (nearly half a century!). He joined CASA - New Settlement in 2010 to learn about his tenants' rights, joined CASA's leaders team in 2011 and has been a leader in the New York tenant movement since then, fighting in the Bronx with CASA and across the city and New York state leading campaigns and supporting countless tenants fight to stay in their homes and live in dignity in safe conditions. To help him, we need to raise funds by MONDAY JULY 31st - read more below for details about why & how the money will help community members after he wins this case! For years, Fitzroy has been fighting his own battle for his apartment, and has been withholding rent since August 2024 as a result of multiple ceiling collapses - spanning over a decade of chronic leaks that were exacerbated by Tropical Storm Henri in 2024. His landlord and their lawyer routinely lie about who Fitzroy is and discount all claims of constant dangerous conditions in the apartment and Bronx Housing Court is notoriously slow on addressing tenant claims and unwilling to hold landlords like Fitzroy's accountable. The landlord filed a bogus motion last week, but it opened the door for Fitzroy to pack a large punch - which includes amending his answer to include a defense pursuant to MDL 302-a otherwise known as the rent impairing violation defense. In order to raise this defense, we need to raise $6,543.83 by MONDAY JULY 31st to support Fitzroy in this moment. Rent Impairing Violation (RIV) defenses are a strong tactic tenants can use legally in court to fight for 100% rent abatement for conditions that have been designated by HPD as a RIV and remained open for at least 6 months. However, to raise this defense in Housing Court the tenant must be able to deposit a check with the clerk of the court - in this case for $6,543.83. After the answer is submitted and deposit made, it's pretty clear cut that if an RIV existed for over 6 months and tenant made deposit, then tenant is entitled to 100% abatement in rent for period the RIV remained open until it's been corrected. Once the funds are returned to Fitzroy, they will be used for a Community Fund for other tenants in the same situation. The New York tenant movement has had multiple victories using this defense that has helped individual tenants and Tenants' Associations win repairs and avoid eviction and our movement is growing! Help Fitzroy and other New York tenants take on the Housing Court and stand up to their landlords! When we fight, we win!!
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