Vol. 8 No. 1 ___ ____________________ ________ Spring_ 1998 Tenant Benefit Concert: Groups Sing Out For Tenant Action Around Town Editor's Note: These updates are based on interviews with representatives from the buildings at the time of publication. 5t. James f owers Apartments The St. James Towers Tenants Association is having the SHARE Program at the building once a month. The SHARE Program provides food for a low fixed cost each month to its members. The Tenants Association hopes more members will join SHARE. Repairs are being made in an improved manner at the building. A voter registration drive is being conducted. Garden Spires Apartments Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio presents a check from the More than once, there has been no heat in the Campaign for Human Development to Maude Davis building. There have been floods, due to plumbing and Frank Morris from the HUD Tenants ’ Coalition. problems. The elevators have required daily repairs The Coalition received a national CHD grant for because they are in such poor shape. 1998. 12<? Chancellor Ave. Aspen Riverpqrk Apartments The management in the building is currently The Tenants Association is holding a monthly working to correct the violations. The doors need to be recreation program for the building’s children, in repaired, and there is much more that needs to be done. partnership with two United Church of Christ The Tenants Association is continuing to meet.. congregations, including St. Stephan’s of Newark. During March, there will be a trip for the young people to the Liberty Science Center. During April, the program will focus on literacy. The Tenants Association has a Steering Committee meeting on a regular basis. The group is circulating building surveys. Meetings have been happening regularly with management. The group met with the head of the security company recently. HUD has been doing inspections in the building. Page 2 Tenant Action News Spring 1998 Around Town 2 West Kinney 5t. This building has many problems, but the residents are meeting to deal with them. Some tenants have problems with no heat. The elevator gets stuck and at times the doors do not open. There is no security guard at the building, and no superintendent is available for emergencies on the weekends or at night. Ho/ries Court Poor living conditions continue in this building. A better superintendent has been employed. On The Cover The Voices of Hope Newark Housing Authority Choir performed as one of the groups for the Benefit Concert Seniors Manor for the HUD Tenants' Coalition, which was held in September, 1997 at Essex County College. Tapes of the concert are available for $15 by calling the HTC office There are problems with the plumbing in this at (973) 643-7711. All proceeds go to continue tenant building. Residents have complained but the problems organizing work. Shown above are some of the tenants continue. who enjoyed the many beautiful performances that day. Georgia King Village_____ Four Bills That Would Hurt Tenants The Tenants Association is working on a A-1289: Eliminates 3 day waiting period for Warrant of children’s’ activities program, along with Seton Hall Removal to issue after judgement for possession and government bodies. The Tenants Association meets (eviction). every third Tuesday of the month. A-694: Removes single family homes from protection of Eviction for Just Cause Law, and allows eviction in Kuzuri Kiiiii_________ buildings of 4 units or less for occupancy by owner, or family member (instead of 3 units). A-1295: Eliminates municipal rent control on Kuzuri Kajiji, a building member from East 12/31/2000. Immediate permanent vacancy decontrol. Orange, has set up a Family Empowerment Group. A-292: Destroys Tenant Property Tax Rebate Act. The group meets weekly to help families address Basically eliminates tax rebates for tenants. issues and problems. The building has also gotten a For an update call New Jersey Tenants new boiler, and tenants are very happy with the new Organization at (201) 342-3775 or HTC 643-7711. heating system. Spring 1998 Tenant Action News Page 3 Help Build Tenant Power In Newark! The Coalition To Save Rent Control (CTSRC) & the HUD Tenants' Coalition have been volunteer organizations that help provide information on tenant rights and assists individual tenants in organizing their buildings. Clip this coupon and return it with any amount of money you can contribute to help continue this work. □ Here's my $5 donation to this newsletter, keep it coming. □ I can't afford to subscribe, but keep me on the mailing list. □ Here's my subscription and a donation to help work for Tenant Awareness and Rights in Newark. □ $10 □ $20 □ $25 □ other $______ Name ___________________________________________ Address _________________________________________ City --------------------------------------------------State ____________Zip Phone __________________________________________ Checks should be made out to: NCN - Tenant Project and sent to NCN, 944 Broad St., Newark, N.J. 07102 Election Season Thought Thank You! A question tenants ask frequently: Why Special thanks to: United Church of Christ, do large apartment complexes, which get state Campaign for Human Development, the VISTA and/or federal subsidies, allow some candidates, Program, IOLTA Fund, Essex Newark Legal but not all, to distribute or post their election Services, Metropolitan Ecumenical Ministry, material? Marianist Sharing Fund, Unitarian Universalist State officials have told HTC that the Social Justice Fund, the Funding Exchange, St. process is supposed to be fair to all candidates, Stephan’s United Church of Christ in Newark, and federal officials have said there should be no First Congregational United Church of Christ in campaign material posted at all. Yet election Westfield, Ironbound Community Corporation, after election, certain candidates get access, and and the Claretian Fathers Social Justice Fund.. others don't. Why? Page 4 Tenant Action News Spring 1998 What’s Washington D.C. Up To? In the fall of 1997, Congress passed the Multifamily Assisted Housing Reform and Affordability Act of 1997. On January 29, 1997, Billy Easton, from the New York State Tenant and Neighborhood Information Service, gave a workshop, organized by the HUD Tenants’ Coalition (HTC) about what the new law will mean for Newark tenants. “The new law may mean some dramatic changes in the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s role in Section 8 buildings,” said Mr. Easton. The new law is aimed at saving the federal government money it is now spending on the Section 8 program by “mortgage restructuring”. This means changing the way the debt is structured to allow rents to be lowered and the property to be repaired if necessary so that it meets Housing Quality Standards (HQS). Tenants attending one of the many workshops sponsored by the HUD Tenants’ Coalition over the The new law says that in properties where there years._________________________________________ is a Section 8 contract that is expiring, and rents are above 120% of the area’s Fair Market Rents, the owner so that they have a voice in decisions which are being can choose to leave the Section 8 program. Residents made about their buildings,” said Mr. Easton. could get displaced, or be given housing vouchers, and told to go look for housing somewhere else. While “There are many questions which the new law vouchers sound appealing in theory, they last only for a raises which have not been answered. The National limited time, and are not accepted by many landlords. Alliance of HUD Tenants (NAHT) will have to work hard to make sure that tenants voices are heard.” Instead of HUD, the “Participating Administrative Entity (PAE) will be responsible for Tenants who want to be involved in what is overseeing the day to day business and going to happen to their buildings should be in touch owner/management requirements for the Section 8 with their building Tenant Association, and with the buildings. The PAE could be the local housing agency HUD Tenants’ Coalition, (973)643-7711, 944 Broad or a private for-profit company working for HUD. They St., in Newark. will be making decisions as to the future of a given apartment complex. The information for this article is based on Mr. Easton’s workshop in Newark at Grace Episcopal “It will be very important that tenants be Church, and on information prepared by the New York involved with whoever the PAE is for their buildings, State and Neighborhood Information Service. Spring 1998 Tenant Action News Page 5 Resources The following are available from the HUD Tenants' Coalition. To order, call 589-3353 or 643-7711: Numbers Every Tenant * Know Your Rights Fact Sheets. These 2 fact sheets Should Know... cover tenants rights on eviction, and most of the local ordinances in Newark. They are free. • Newark Rent Control Board * Truth In Renting Law. This booklet covers the state Staff: 733-3675 laws which apply to tenants. Available for its cost, $1. It Administrator: 733-6362 is also available in Spanish. Copies of rent control ordinance. * Knowing Where To Call. A five page list of key • Rutgers Urban Legal Clinic 15 Washington St. phone numbers for tenants in Newark. Free while they 648-5576 last. • Newark City Clerk's Office * Recertification. This booklet was developed for a 733-3844 or 733-3669. workshop and includes a summary of common questions To find out about city ordinances. and important documents during your recertification • Landlord Tenant Court 621-5343 or 621-5346. process. $1 for duplication. • Essex-Newark Legal Services 106 Halsey St. * Tenants Rights Manual: A Manual For Tenants 624-4500 Who Live in Privately Owned, Federally Subsidized • Essex-Newark Legal Services Housing (April 1992). This 161 book includes chapters Senior Citizen Unit on: HUD Housing Programs (definitions of terms of all 672-3838,-3839,-3840,3895. • Rutgers Legal Aid Clinic major HUD-subsidized programs), Leases, 15 Washington St. Discrimination, Rents, Rent Increases, Tenant 624-5300 Organizing, Evictions, and many other topics. Copies are • Newark Offices of Code Enforcement available from the Low Income Housing Information 733-6470,733-6471,733-6481 Service, 1012-14th St., N.W. Washington, DC 20005, • Newark Municipal Council 733-3788 (201) 662-1530. The cost is $10 to members of LIHIS, $20 to all others. Prepayment is required. Groups Working With Tenants • Coalition To Save Rent Control ^Habla Espanol? Frank Hutchins, 643-7711 • HUD Tenants' Coalition Bill Good, Jeanette Miller 643-7711 You don't, but others in your building do? Nancy Zak, 589-3353 Fact sheets, videotapes, and Truth in Renting Tashana Parrish, 344-7210 books are available in Spanish. Contact 589- 3353 for Spanish tenant education materials for residents of your building. Page 6 Tenant Action News Spring 1998 HUD Tenants' Coalition Producing Cablevision Show On Housing The HUD Tenants’ Coalition is reaching out ■ An interview which focused on tenant in a new way: cable television. HTC is producing a opportunities for economic development. show called “Housing Is A Human Right ”, which airs on Channel 26, usually on Wednesday nights. “We are very excited about the Cablevision show,” said Frank Hutchins, from the HUD Tenants’ Some of the shows which HTC has taped Coalition. “It is a way for us to reach out to tenants we may not have been able to contact before.” include: ■ The history of the HUD Tenants’ Coalition, with Cynthia Pullen interviewing Nancy Zak and Taped copies of the shows are available for $ 10. To order tapes, or to get more information about the Frank Hutchins. ■ An interview with HTC members Maude show topics and times, please contact HTC at (973) Davis and Ethel Ellis. 643-7711. What you get if you join HTC: HTC helps tenant organizations: ♦ get started and continue to be effective (write by-laws, hold elections, etc). ♦ monthly meetings to share strategies ♦ Tenant Action News - the only newspaper for tenants ♦ help in fighting harassment by managers/owners, illegal rent increases, etc. ♦ workshops at Seton Hall, Law School ■ An interview with Cesar Torres, Housing How do you join HTC? Director for Essex Newark Legal Services. ■ An interview with Paul Aprigliano from the local office of the Department of Housing and Urban Individual membership is $5.00; Building Development. membership is $25. Make checks out to. ■ A program with Phillip Grate and Ethel Ellis, HUD Tenants’ Coalition (mark check: for HTC members who sit on the board for the National membership dues); and send to 95 Fleming Ave., Alliance of HUD Tenants. Newark, N.J. 07105 ? ■ An interview with a number of guests on the For more information call: 643-7711, chaftges in federal housing policy and what they will 643-7712. mean for residents of HUD buildings. Spring 1998 Tenant Action News Page 7 HUD Tenants’ Coalicion: Organizando Con . Que obtiene si se hace Inquilinos miembro de HTC: HTC ayuda a organizaciones de inquilinos: “Este grupo esta manteniendo inquilinos ♦ ayudar a iniciarse y seguir siendo efectivo informados acerca de lo que esta pasando y sabiendo (escribir las reglas de la organization, de cosas es el primer paso para involucrararse uno, tener elecciones, etc.) participar y hacer cambios.” Esto es lo que dijo un inquilino recientemente ♦ reuniones mensuales para compartir acerca del HUD Tenants’ Coalicion (HTC), el glrupo estrategias que organiza a inquilinos en edificios de duenos privados que reciben asistencia gubemamental en ♦ Noticias de Action de Inquilinos - el Newark. unico periodico para inquilinos Algunas de las cosas que HTC ha hecho recientemente incluye: ♦ ayudar en luchar contra el hostigamiento * Patrocinando foros acerca de los cambios a de duenos, incremento de renta ilegales, leyes federales de vivienda y trabajando con etc. inquilinos de Newark para disenar una estrategia para preservar vivienda de bajos ingresos. ♦ talleres en la escuela de leyes Seton Hall * Foros Regionales con oficinas locales y ) V____________________________________ federales de HUD, patrocinado con inquilinos del estado de Nueva York. * Reuniones con el Director Timothy Touhey y el representante de la Asamblea John Kelly y el presidente del Ccmite de Vivienda del estado, Como se hace uno miembro? enfocandose en regulaciones del incremento de renta que estan teniendo un impacto negativo a residentes Miembrecia individual es $5.00; Miembrecia del edificio es $25. Haga el cheque Mas importante, HTC ha estado trabajando y a: aconsejando a inquilinos alrededor de la ciudad y HUD Tenants’ Coalition atendiendo muchas reuniones. HTC esta asistiendo a (marque el cheque: for membership dues) residentes que estan organizando muy bien en sus y mandelo a edificios. Los trabajadores de HTC estan presentemente enfocandose en los edificios de 95 Fleming Ave., Garden Spires, Spruce Spires, Center City Housing y Newark NJ 07105 Aspen Riverpark Apartments. Para mas information llame a: (201) Celebrando su decimo aniversario, HTC ha 643-7711 0 643-7712 crecido de 8 edificios de apartamentos a 23 edificios de alrededor de la ciudad que ahora son miembros.. Page 8 Tenant Action News Spring 1998 HTrabajadoresH Pongon jQuedese con loan la devolution de impuestos este ano! jSea Inteligente, Ahorre Dinero! Los trabajadores que ganen DINERO salanos modestos pueden recibir ayuda gratuita para llenar los formularios de Jedaracion de impuesros. Para enterarse de Sa localization de h oficma mas cercana a usted, llame al 1-800-829-1040. jRecuerde! Conseguir una devolucion rapida del dinero de E X T R A impuestos es la manera mas cara de presentar la declaracion de impuestos. Recibir la devolucion rapidamente le resta dinero de su Credito EIC o de cualquier otra devolucion de impuestos a la que tenga derecho. Reclame Su Credito por Ingreso de Trabajo (o Credito EIC) en sus bolsillos jUn Seneficio Fiscal para Gente Que Trabaja! El credito por Ingreso de Trabajo es un beneficio fiscal espe­ cial para gente que trabaja a tiempo completo o a tiempo parcial. Si usted califica, reduciran sus impuestos, y podria recibir dinero de vuelta. Incluso si usted no debe impuestos, Para recibir information puede obtener el Credito EIC. Pero tiene que presentar una sobre como recibir el Credito de Ingreso declaracion de impuestos. de Trabajo y asistencia gratuita para tQuien puede recibir el Credito por Ingreso de Trabajo? declarar sus impuestos, llame al IRS al • Los trabajadores solteros o casados que criaron a ninos en 1800 829 1040 su hogar, v que ganaron menos de $29,290 en 1997 (o - - - . menos de $25,760 si criaron a solo un nino). Presente el jEvite la demora de su devolucion! Este Formulario 1040 o el 1040A e incluya el formulario llama- seguro de darnos correctamente, el do “Schedule EIC”. nombre y numero Seguro Social de cada • Trabajadores solteros o casados que tem'an entre 25 y 64 persona que se encuentra registrado en ahos de edad, que no criaron a ninos en su hogar y que su formulario de impuestos. ganaron menos de $9,770 en 1997. Presente cualquier for­ mulario de impuestos. Spring 1998 Tenant Action News Page 9 Inquilinos Tienen El Derecho A Organizarse! Usted sabe que tiene el derecho a organizar Un folleto acerca de los derechos de a inquilinos en su edificio sin intervention? inquilinos debe ser proveido cada ano a los Como unos de los resultados de los Foros inquilinos por los duenos 6 encargados en el Regionales, HUD mando varias cartas a los idioma los inquilinos hablan: Este folleto debe ser encargados y duenos de edificios de apartamentos dado cuando el contrato es firmado 6 en la acerca de los derechos que tienen los inquilinos a entrevista de recertification. Usted esta recibiendo organizar. Una carta mandada en Noviembre de elsuyo? 1996 de Chris Greer dice: “HUD tienen la expectation que los duenos y agentes encargados deben crear buenas relaciones entre residentes buenos y encargados la participation y cooperation es importante en crear un ambiente apropriado para vivir y puede contribuir a una operation exitosa de estas propriedades...” La carta continua diciendo que: * Duenos tienen que proveer un espacio accesible para reuniones en el edificio para que asociaciones de residentes legitimas para tener reuniones. * Duenos y encargados no pueden mandar representantes de los encargados del edificio a reuniones de los inquilinos cuando no se les a pedido Pensamiento de ia Temporada de Election que atiendan. * El desplazo hostigamiento 6 el Una pregunta que inquilinos frecuentemente castigamiento de residentes que organizan 6 que preguntan: Porque edificios.de apartamentos exigen sus derechos no es permitido. grandes, que obtienen asistencia del gobiemo * Tratar de influenciar a lideres de inquilinos estatal y/o federal, permiten a algunos ofreciendo es favores a individuos como empleo, candidatos, pero no a todos distribuir 6 colgar preferencia para trasladar, reduction de renta, material de sus elecciones? reparos especiales 6 otros beneficios no disponibles Oficiales estatales le han dicho a HTC a todos no es permitido. que el proceso debe ser justo para todos los * Hostigamiento sexual no es permitido. candidatos y oficiales federales han dicho que no debe ver material de campaha colgado. Pero Leyes estatales en New Jersey tambien dicen durante elecciones en el pasado, algunos que no puede usted ser desplazado por organizar una candidatos han obtenido acceso y otros no. asociacion de inquilinos 6 por trabajar para mejorar Porque? las condiciones en su edificio. Page 10 Tenant Action News Spring 1998