Page 8 - QT-11-26 03-12-26

PAGE 8 THE QUEENS TIMES THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2026
NYC School Construction Authority Begins Tenants Demand Negative Rental

Construction on New John Bowne High School Adjustment, Improvements To 311, And
Annex in Flushing Queens Accountability For Negligent Landlords

(Continued from page 7) help meet class size requirements, our staff, and the future of John At Queens Rental Ripoff Hearing On
and give students the room they Bowne High School.” March 5th, 2026
Council Member James F. need to excel.” Construction on the new annex
Gennaro said: “This is welcome Queens North High Schools began in January after six Tem- Queens tenants and electeds
news for the entire John Bowne Superintendent Hoa Tu said: “The porary Classroom Units (TCUs) gathered outside of the Queens open violations as possible means
community and for families across John Bowne High School Annex were removed in 2025. Construc- Rental Ripoff Hearing to share of forcing compliance.
my district. With the school cur- expands the horizons for our stu- tion will be managed to minimize testimony, policy priorities, There seemed to be a lot of
rently operating well beyond ca- dents in the heart of Queens. This disruption to the existing school and recommendations to the attentiveness to my concerns
pacity, the addition of this annex annex represents our commitment community. The project team Mamdani Administration and and suggestions. A lot of positive
will help relieve overcrowding and to increasing access to Bowne’s includes Plaza Construction LLC all city agencies that engage with energy throughout the event, as
ensure students have the space and diverse education programs, as and PKSB Architects, P.C., who tenants. Tenants thanked the City well. This is only a start, however.
resources they need to thrive. I am diverse as the borough we call led design efforts. NYC School for hosting a session to share We must keep the pressure on
especially pleased to see that the home, including a CTE Law pro- Construction Authority’s Public their clear vision of the future and continue to make our voices
project incorporates sustainable gram (first in the City) and a fully Art for Public Schools has also and shared solution-oriented tes- heard to ensure we achieve the
features like a green roof, which functional urban farm. Whether commissioned Adam de Boer to timony to city agencies. results we both need and deserve.”
will help manage stormwater and our students are preparing to ar- create a site-specific artwork for Tenants refuse to continue - Doug Ostling, Tenant of Zara
improve energy efficiency. As gue in a courtroom or pioneering the Annex lobby. “May on Main” begging for crumbs while Real Realty and Queens Tenant Coali-
Chair of the New York Coun- sustainable agriculture in an urban is a colorful series of four paint- Estate enriches itself. We elected tion Member
cil’s Committee on Environmen- landscape, they now have a state- ings that capture iconic views, a pro-tenant mayor because we Tenants elected a mayor who
tal Protection & Waterfronts, I of-the-art space to cultivate their from Kew Gardens to Flushing, believe New York City can build works for tenants, not real estate.
strongly support investments that passions. We are growing leaders, along Main Street. systems that proactively priori- And tenants are ready to work
both strengthen our schools and growing food, and growing the SCA continues to deliver new tize the needs of tenants. with this administration to crack
advance green infrastructure.” future of New York City, right here seats for Queens. In 2025, SCA Approximately 70 tenants down on slumlords and make sure
State Senator John Liu and in Flushing.” openings included: gathered outside in the pouring every single New Yorker has a
chairperson of the Senate Com- Principal Laura Iannelli said: • Queens Innovation Center, 53- rain, chanting “rent rollback,” safe and stable home.
mittee on NYC Education said: “The start of construction on 16 Northern Blvd. – 3,066 seats to deliver a message center- Weak penalty structures cur-
“For decades, too many high this annex marks a transforma- • P.S. 26 Addition, 195-02 69 ing affordability for all, clear rently allow landlords to treat
schools in Queens and across New tive moment for the John Bowne Ave. – 399 seats accountability structures for violations as a cost of doing busi-
York City have been forced to op- High School community. We are • P.S. 160 Addition, 145-14 Glass- neglectful landlords, and a will- ness. The City must significantly
erate beyond capacity because the incredibly grateful for this in- boro Ave. – 354 seats ingness to work with the city increase and escalate fines for
need to reduce excessively large vestment, which does more than • Q509 Lease Renovation, 101-11 on solutions that are focused on violations, which should cor-
classes was never treated as an ur- just add seats—it adds possibili- 104 St. – 229 seats improving the lives of tenants. respond with repair costs. Fines
gent priority. This new annex will ties. By bringing state-of-the-art • P.S. 182 Annex, 88-13 Parsons Tenants asked the City to pri- that are lower than repair costs
go a long way toward improving Healthcare and Culinary Arts Blvd. – 100 seats oritize conversations around their are effectively an incentive for
the quality of student learning and laboratories to our campus, we • Far Rockaway High School concern of affordability, not just landlords not to make repairs,
ensuring all students have access are ensuring our students have room conversion, 8-21 Beach 25 repairs. The rents increased 12% as are laws that allow landlords
to a sound, basic education. Many the 21st-century tools they need to St. – 59 seats in just 4 years under Adams, and to continue to take out loans on
thanks to Principal Iannelli and lead and succeed in high-demand • Elmhurst Educational Campus they were already too high. dilapidated buildings and use that
all the students, teachers, parents, careers. I am particularly excited room conversion, 45-10 94 St. – 50 For far too long, landlords money to buy new properties.
and staff who have advocated for about how these new facilities will seats have been sitting on mountains “When violations continue with
this annex and worked to make bridge our historic agriculture The 2026-2027 school year will of profits while tenants’ buildings no improvement, (1) buildings
this important investment in our program with our future culinary mark the addition of another 2,600 are falling apart. When landlords should be transferred out of land-
children’s future a reality.” arts laboratory. By allowing stu- new seats with two new schools, raise the rent, that money goes to lord ownership and (2) landlords
Assembly Member Sam Berger dents to bring the products they’ve three additions, and four room line their pockets and buy new should be prevented from buying
said: “John Bowne High School is grown and harvested directly into conversion projects throughout buildings, not fixing our homes. new buildings.
a remarkable school serving the a professional-grade kitchen, we the borough. Tenants will not allow the land- Tenants should not be the en-
27th District and beyond, and we are creating a unique, hands-on For additional information on lord lobby to use changing the forcement arm of the City. Tenants
can always use more space to edu- learning experience that few the New York City School Con- code and creating more avenues need proactive building-wide in-
cate the next generation. This new schools in the nation can match. It struction Authority, please visit for enforcement as an excuse for spections and agencies must step
annex will relieve overcrowding, is an exciting day for our students, www.nycsca.org raising rents or deregulation. in to conduct emergency repairs
for open, long-standing viola-
Attorney General James And NYPD Announce Takedown of Tenants are demanding both tions.” - Jamie Gilliam, The Youth
repairs and truly affordable rents,
Stolen Vehicle Ring Operating in New York City neither is negotiable. Landlords Alliance for Housing (YAH)
“NYC tenants are dealing with
Five Individuals Charged for stop this criminal operation and traditional investigative opera- are making massive profits but an affordability crisis and it’s time
haven’t used a fraction of those
to hold landlords accountable for
Roles in Multistate Operation protect our communities.” tions. profits to make repairs – and
That Sold Stolen Cars Throughout “To criminals who traffic in Through electronic and physical instead have just kept making their part in creating this issue. I
presented our clear and consistent
New York City and New Jersey stolen vehicles, our message is surveillance, the investigation re- more money from both building
AG’s Investigation Recovers More clear: the NYPD will find you vealed that Raulin Rodriguez and value and our rents. The landlord demands: (1) rent rollback with
an agency that can provide a real
Than 40 Stolen Cars and hold you accountable,” said Jender Santos-Ulloa were Silves- poverty narrative creates space
NYPD Commissioner Jessica tre’s sources for stolen vehicles. for abusive large landlords to study of landlord overcompensa-
New York Attorney General S. Tisch. “The five individuals Court-authorized eavesdropping, push false claims of poverty so tion, (2) stronger guarantees for
Letitia James and New York City charged in this case were part of covert electronic surveillance, that they create an argument to emergency repairs, tenants should
not be the enforcement arm of the
Police Department (NYPD) Com- a crime ring responsible for steal- and analysis of records in con- reduce services. And it lays the
missioner Jessica Tisch today ing more than 40 vehicles valued junction with other investigative groundwork for future lobbying city, (3) stronger enforcement,
and accountability via fines for
announced the takedown of a car at more than one million dollars. tools further revealed that Josue to de-regulate rent-stabilized
theft operation that sold stolen This year-long joint investigation Dejesus Gonzalez, Juan Tavarez housing. noncompliant landlords by in-
creasing and escalating fines for
vehicles throughout New York spanned multiple jurisdictions Cabrera, and other individuals Tenants are asking the City to
and New Jersey. An investigation across two states – and led to the served to locate, acquire, and commission a study on landlord violations. It’s time for New York
City tenants to live in homes that
led by the Office of the Attor- dismantling of this criminal op- transport vehicles to be resold to a overcompensation and where rent
ney General’s (OAG) Organized eration and recovery of the stolen network of customers throughout money actually goes, and to con- provide health, safety, and dig-
nity.” - Wanda Martinez, Jackson
Crime Task Force (OCTF) recov- vehicles. I applaud our NYPD New York and New Jersey. The sider a negative rental adjustment
ered more than 40 stolen motor detectives and the Attorney Gen- vehicles were stolen from various for rent-stabilized tenants. Heights Tenant and and Queens
Tenant Coalition Member
vehicles, with a total value of more eral’s Office for their tireless ef- locations throughout Bergen and “I was encouraged by the turn-
than one million dollars. Five forts on this case.” Passaic Counties in New Jersey, as out despite the nasty weather, and “Rent stabilized apartments
should be some of the most af-
individuals were charged with 92 The takedown was the result of well as New York, Kings, Bronx, even more so by the fact the Rent
crimes for their roles in selling a year-long joint investigation led Queens, and Westchester Coun- Ripoff Hearings were being held fordable housing available. And
yet in Queens and across the city
stolen cars across New York and by OCTF and the NYPD’s Bronx ties in New York. in the first place. My testimony
New Jersey. Auto Crime Unit. The investiga- The investigation recovered focused on the need for a reduc- rent stabilized tenants are being
crushed by rising rents and are at
“A stolen car can completely tion began in February 2025 when more than 40 stolen vehicles, tion in rent that would allow me
upend a family’s life, making Jonathan Mercedes Silvestre was including: to stay in my home and the city risk of eviction.
The new mayor has promised
it harder to get to school, work, identified as the broker for the • 19 Honda CRVs I love. I also noted my landlord’s
and do essential errands,” said sale of stolen motor vehicles. The • Six Lexus IS 350s (Zara Realty) violations and to freeze the rent but we know that
this is not enough. Queens tenants
Attorney General James. “This investigation included physical • Five Toyota Highlanders harassment, and emphasized
investigation stopped a far-reach- and covert video surveillance, • Four Honda Accords the need to hold landlords more urge the city to rollback the rent
and alleviate tenants from the
ing criminal operation that sold court-authorized wiretapping of • Three Acura TLXs accountable; citing adding more
dozens of stolen cars across New cellular telephones, the analysis • Two Lexus IS 500s inspectors, raising fines, prevent- 12% rent increases that the Adams
administration has enforced.” -
York and New Jersey. I thank the of electronic evidence, including • One Honda Civic ing landlords from raising rents,
NYPD and our partners in law cellphone communications and evicting tenants, and buying/ Nabiha Nasir, Tenant Organizer
enforcement for their work to tracking information, and other (Continued on page 10) selling properties when they gave (Continued on page 9)