Q&A
Inquiry about penalties for unlawful evictions
1:18:43
·
100 sec
Council Member Pierina Sanchez inquires about the penalties for unlawful evictions, focusing on when the penalty schedule was last updated and the amount of penalties collected. Deputy Commissioner AnnMarie Santiago explains that HPD does not handle illegal evictions directly.
- It's revealed that illegal evictions fall under the jurisdiction of the corporation counsel, not HPD
- HPD's actions are primarily focused on harassment, physical conditions, and housing maintenance violations
- The exact data on penalties and when the penalty schedule was last revised is not available from HPD
Pierina Sanchez
1:18:43
Thank you.
1:18:43
Thank you so much.
1:18:45
I appreciate that response.
1:18:46
On intro 6, well, the I think I have the wrong number written down.
1:18:50
So in relation to increasing penalties for unlawful evictions in particular, my understanding is that these penalties that the penalty levels that we have today were set in the eighties and have not been revisited.
1:19:03
So can you first tell us just confirm whether that's true?
1:19:07
When was the last time that the penalty schedule for unlawful evictions was revisited?
1:19:12
And second, can you can you tell us about how much HPD has collected in penalties for unlawful evictions versus how many, how how many penalties were required to be paid?
AnnMarie Santiago
1:19:24
Thank you again, council member.
1:19:26
Illegal evictions are not handled by HPD.
1:19:31
Again, these are would be under the law, under the jurisdiction of the corporation counsel, and I believe they have other tools, that they might use in these cases.
1:19:41
So we're happy to have the law department, circle back with you on this.
1:19:46
HPD's actions are around harassment or physical conditions, housing maintenance violations.
1:19:54
That is what we represent in housing court and the, conditions that we seek to enforce.
Pierina Sanchez
1:20:01
So you do not have data today on I do not.
1:20:04
The amount of penalties?
1:20:05
Okay.
1:20:06
Do you do you know when the last time the penalty schedule was revisited?
AnnMarie Santiago
1:20:10
I do not.
1:20:14
And, again, the the law department, would talk about their enforcement, whether it's under this provision or whether it's under other provisions of code.
