NEW YORK — In a powerful display of solidarity, 30 or more community members — including staff from Neighbors Helping Neighbors, Mixteca members and local residents — gathered yesterday to rally for tenants’ rights and demand immediate action from property owner Shea Sigal. The rally, held outside three buildings owned by Sigal (225, 227 and 229 23rd Street), highlighted the dire living conditions faced by tenants, who have endured a staggering 318 Department of Housing, Preservation and Development (HPD) violations and have been without heat for most of the winter, with temperatures plummeting as low as 18 degrees.

The 23rd St Tenants Association, supported by TakeRoot Justice, initiated a Housing Preservation (HP) proceeding against Sigal in 2023 due to his failure to make necessary repairs. Despite a court-issued Order to Correct for each building in December 2023, tenants report that Sigal has yet to comply, leaving many families in distressing conditions. Since April 2024, ten tenants have been on a rent strike to pressure their landlord to address their demands.

“This winter was very difficult for all of us, for me and my children,” said Susana Arias, a tenant leader. “In my case, my youngest son and I got pneumonia. Since the beginning of winter, we have been without heat. What we are asking for are our rights. And we are not alone. We have rights and we don’t have to be afraid.”

Community Organizer Jorge Paz Reyes emphasized the importance of unity among residents.

“In this building, there are babies, elderly people, young people who have a right to a home with heat and proper repairs,” said Reyes. “This is an abuse of human rights and of the immigrant community. We demand that the owner of these three buildings respect the rights of these tenants and that he makes the necessary repairs.”

Aura Mejia, Tenant Organizing and Advocacy Manager at Neighbors Helping Neighbors, called for stronger action from local authorities.

“We need justice, and we need these owners to be punished more severely,” said Mejia. “Sunset Park is not for sale. We are asking HPD to be tougher with these landlords and to better support tenants.”

As of today, Shea Sigal owes the city’s Department of Finance tens of thousands of dollars in property taxes for each of the buildings, further underscoring the need for accountability and action. Housing Attorney Alex Matak from TakeRoot Justice condemned Sigal’s gross negligence.

“Shea Sigal has claimed that it’s the tenants’ own fault for the conditions of these buildings,” said Matak. “He’s recently been put on the worst landlord’s list of NYC. This is a slumlord and he does not care about these tenants. This afternoon we filed three motions for civil and criminal contempt against the owner of these three buildings, Shea Sigal. These tenants are not going to stop fighting until they have the dignified conditions that they deserve.”

The rally concluded with a renewed commitment from tenants and community organizations to continue their fight for safe, habitable living conditions. The message was clear: the community will not be silenced, and they demand justice.