Ithaca Tenants Confront Local Landlords Over “Soft Evictions”
and demand that the city take additional measures to protect renters
At around 9AM on Thursday, October 1st a crowd began forming in Dewitt Park and discussed their goals, answered questions about the day ahead of them, and distributed additional signs and literature.
Shortly thereafter, chants of “Out of your house into the streets, that’s what eviction means” and “People over property” could be heard as the group of organizers and demonstrators proceeded from from the park to Travis Hyde Properties. After some time, the group marched down Buffalo Street to the Mazza & Mazza Law Office on Tioga Street.
At each of these locations, they discussed the large amounts of wealth and property held by these landlords, their mistreatment of tenants, and highlighted the disparity between the upkeep of their main offices and the actual units they rent. They also hosted teach-ins at these location, drawing attention to the deceitful nature of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s eviction moratorium, which was announced on Monday.
Throughout the day the lively group continued chanting, listening to speakers on megaphones, and marching to multiple locations. The demonstrators made their way from the law office to C.S.P. Management on Seneca Street and Iacovelli Properties, also on Seneca.
Organized by the Ithaca Tenants Union (ITU), Thursday’s actions were focused on drawing attention to the many “soft evictions” that are becoming increasingly commonplace for tenants struggling to pay rent. Examples of strategies used by landlords for “soft evictions” include unanswered maintenance requests, verbal abuse and harassment, threats of evictions, and asking roommates to pressure others into moving out. Landlords engage in these behaviors because they value the bottom line of their property over their tenants well-being.
Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on Monday that New York’s eviction moratorium has been extended until at least January 1, 2021, but this has not stopped landlords from undertaking actions that put pressure on tenants to vacate their homes. Furthermore, Gov. Cuomo’s eviction moratorium is a moratorium in name only.
The moratorium still allows tenants to be brought to eviction court, but it allows COVID-related job or income loss to be raised as a defense for rent non-payment. This “moratorium” places a burden on tenants to declare and prove financial distress due to COVID-19, that they are doing their best to make partial payments toward rent after other essential expenses, and that they expect to become homeless or lose stable housing if evicted.
According to the most recent US Pulse data collected by the U.S. Census bureau, up to 45% of renters are very likely, or somewhat likely, to be evicted from their homes within the next month, further amplifying the necessity of a true moratorium to protect tenants.
The speakers at Thursday’s actions also highlighted general mismanagement and tenant neglect by landlords and property management companies. In front of C.S.P Management, ITU organizer Genevieve Rand recounted a story told by one tenant: “We had a tenant write in to the Tenants Union explaining that even though they notified their landlord that there was a water leak — even thought they notified their landlord that it was causing damage and changing the structure of the building — their landlord did nothing and one of their roommates ended up falling though the floor of the building.”
Later in the day the demonstration occupied the corner of Seneca and Meadow St. next to Iacovelli properties. Here the demonstrators displayed banners decrying the “soft evictions” happening here in Ithaca and the hoarding of intergenerational wealth at the expense of public health. Supporters also took to the intersection of Seneca and Meadow St. to distribute literature and information about ITU and its aims, namely no evictions whatsoever during the COVID-19 crisis, no utility shut-offs, and no soft eviction behaviors by landlords. These aims intend to keep tenants safe and housed, especially as colder temperatures approach.
During the protesters’ occupation outside Iacovelli Properties, they used rice to visually quantify the wealth disparity between Iacovelli owners and its renters. In one pile, they estimated approximately $10,000,000 in the Iacovelli’s known property sales, and in another pile, they quantified the relative amount of 6 months rent, demonstrating the small impact COVID related nonpayment has had on Iacovelli assets.
As individuals, tenants often feel helpless against landlords who abuse their power and use the “soft eviction” tactics noted above. Many tenants are not aware of the extent of their rights or, that as renters, they have any rights at all when it comes to interactions with their landlords.
In fact tenants do have rights when dealing with their landlords and they’re not alone. The Ithaca Tenants Union seeks to empower tenants through collective action and access to union stewards and legal experts who can provide advice to tenants experiencing unpleasant interactions with their landlords.
On September 22, ITU launched an eviction response tip line. If you or someone you know is at risk of eviction or are facing any pressures from your landlord that could amount to a “soft eviction”, you can dial (607) 358–5048 or visit www.ithacaTU.com/evictions
