Landlord Is Ordered to Jail Again Over Problems in His Buildings
The New York Times
A New York City landlord, Daniel Ohebshalom, already served a 60-day sentence on Rikers Island this year. But officials and tenants say he still didn’t fix his apartments.
Landlords almost never go to jail over bad conditions in their buildings. But one New York City property owner has been ordered to go back for the second time this year.
A New York City housing court judge signed an arrest warrant on Tuesday for the landlord, Daniel Ohebshalom, which calls for him to be detained at Rikers Island for 60 days. The city’s housing department said Mr. Ohebshalom had flouted court orders by failing to address violations for leaks, cockroach infestations and mold in two Washington Heights buildings for more than a year.
The judge, Jack Stoller, said Mr. Ohebshalom could be released early if he fixes the problems before his jail term is over.
The case is an extraordinary example of how hard it can be to hold even the worst landlords accountable.
Even before Mr. Ohebshalom was ordered to go to jail in March, the city said it had brought “more than 10 motions for contempt and civil penalties for failing to comply with court orders to correct housing code violations” in cases involving his buildings. The city public advocate had put him on a “worst landlords” list, and he also faces numerous lawsuits from tenants.
In May, Mr. Ohebshalom was indicted in a separate criminal case “for harassing rent-regulated tenants with horrific living conditions in order to induce them to vacate their apartments and enable him to sell the buildings for significant profit,” the Manhattan district attorney said.
