blink, blink

Yesterday Gotham Organization took a step back (with a sigh and tears in its eyes) and decided that it's not going to ram its shoddy, illegitimate removal of the utility allowances down the throats of Gotham West affordable tenants at the moment. Instead Gotham will wait a while and maybe try again at a later date if they can find an easier path. Meanwhile, they'll be dealing with a flood of complaints directed through the DHCR, the New York State Attorney General's office, multiple elected officials, and local organizations.

Gotham continues its bald-faced lying about the utility allowance. They are arguing as though they think the low income tenants have a collective I.Q. of –2. We are entitled to a true HUD utility allowance by virtue of our leases and the HFA agreement that Gotham made with the regulatory authority. HFA has already confirmed that in writing and it has been provided to Gotham. But hundreds of thousands of dollars are on the line, so Gotham will try every crooked trick and lie that they can come up with to get our money.

It is extremely important for the low income tenants to continue to file their DHCR complaints. We should not allow the DHCR to overlook the differences in the rights of the low income tenants and the rights of the moderate/middle income tenants who have fewer protections and a more difficult challenge to keep their utility allowances. We're prepared to go the distance — wherever that takes us. Of course, we're here to help you assemble your complaints and can provide documents that might be helpful to each case.

It is also extremely important to keep track of the amounts that Gotham reimburses for the utility allowances (per its email yesterday). As we all know, nearly everything that the Gotham West staff does is wrong. And we also know that they don't care that it's wrong and are not the least bit interested in correcting their errors. They are the very definition of a sloth staff. So, keep on top of it. Keep all copies of emails, followups, and keep a detailed accounting of any effort you must make in order to get your utility allowance refunds. 

Onward.