We are two tenant associations who joined together to defend ourselves against a corporate real estate investment hydra that seeks to expel us from our homes in order to maximize their profits.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Old Dog Old Tricks


It seems that Magnum Mgmt is up to its old tricks again regarding our rent checks. They are not cashing them, and accusing tenants of not paying their rent. Calls to the Mgmt office revealed that Mgmt is using the excuse of Hurricane Sandy to blame for this mishap. This would be quite understandable if Magnum was not adding a late fee to the next rental invoice. The legality of the late fee is questionable. Tenants in 118 and 120 did a mini survey of the current tenants, old and new, living at our addresses and came up with a consensus, which revealed that only the rent stabilized tenants were being messed with. Hmm, no surprise here. Can I say harassment?


Back to Hurricane Sandy. During the six days without power here in the EV we had the added stress of not having a functioning door. Magnum had installed an electronic door in the name of "progress and improvements". This door was supposed to open for us if the power failed. It does not open when the power fails. We cannot use the old key either because Magnum has plugged the key hole with a metal slug. The tenants had to take it upon themselves to tape the lock. This was visible to anyone in the street. Now you may think I am being a bit unfair concerning this issue in light of such a devastating storm. You would be correct to think so, but our electric lock system has spontaneously failed twice before, weather not to blame. Its clear that this electrical locking system is more about surveillance than security.




Sunday, September 9, 2012

Another Stop Work Order

This one was attached to the door of Apt K at 120 East 4th Street. It was moved by an unknown force in the night to the glass on the front door of the building. The reason for this Stop Work Order remains a mystery, but it seems there was illegal construction over the weekends. The DOB was uncharacteristically swift in taking action to shut down this work. When our buildings were first taken over by Magnum Realty, illegal construction and demolition work on weekends was the norm. A small sub group of our TA got together a coffee klatch and met on the street in front of our buildings for several Saturdays and Sundays at 7:30 AM, coffee in hand, to fend off the illegal work and workers. They had a few brew ha hahs. The Police were here at least twice to assist in the thwarting of illegal work and workers on the weekends, and send them packing. There were unpleasant phone calls from Josh Evans/ Greene/ Slepian, shouting that he owned the building (False claim) and that he could do as he pleased on the weekends. After quite a few weekends of coffee klatch defense, the illegal weekend work ceased, and moved to the Starbucks on 1st Ave and 3rd St.