Monday, April 23, 2007
'CRUEL' SCHOOL - TENANTS RIP YESHIVA'S EVICTION PLAN
A Brooklyn yeshiva is under fire for planning to boot two dozen families - including many elderly and disabled Russian immigrants - from a rent-subsidized apartment building in Brighton Beach.
"I'm very old, very sick. How am I going to find another apartment?" said Batskina Vjenia, 89, a disabled tenant who relies on a paid caretaker.
Like fellow residents at 35-45 West End Ave., Vjenia is at the mercy of the Mesivta and Yeshiva Gedolah of Manhattan Beach, which operates a high school and dormitory for 40 Orthodox Jewish boys out of the apartment building next door.
The school, at 59 West End Ave., purchased the adjacent site for $4 million in January, inheriting tenants who pay fixed rents ranging between $700 and $1,000 a month.
Eight of the residents, including Vjenia, pay far less out of pocket - about $100 - because they are poor and get reimbursed by the Section 8 program.
The school is relying on a loophole in state housing laws that allows nonprofit groups to kick out tenants in rent-stabilized apartments if it's being done for charitable or educational purposes.
The yeshiva wants the building for additional classroom space and a study hall, according to eviction notices it has started serving some tenants with.
"We're not doing anything illegal. We need space, and we're trying to do this nice so no one is on the street," said the yeshiva's dean, Rabbi Joshua Zelikovitz.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/04232007/news/regionalnews/cruel_school_regionalnews_rich_calder.htm
A Brooklyn yeshiva is under fire for planning to boot two dozen families - including many elderly and disabled Russian immigrants - from a rent-subsidized apartment building in Brighton Beach.
"I'm very old, very sick. How am I going to find another apartment?" said Batskina Vjenia, 89, a disabled tenant who relies on a paid caretaker.
Like fellow residents at 35-45 West End Ave., Vjenia is at the mercy of the Mesivta and Yeshiva Gedolah of Manhattan Beach, which operates a high school and dormitory for 40 Orthodox Jewish boys out of the apartment building next door.
The school, at 59 West End Ave., purchased the adjacent site for $4 million in January, inheriting tenants who pay fixed rents ranging between $700 and $1,000 a month.
Eight of the residents, including Vjenia, pay far less out of pocket - about $100 - because they are poor and get reimbursed by the Section 8 program.
The school is relying on a loophole in state housing laws that allows nonprofit groups to kick out tenants in rent-stabilized apartments if it's being done for charitable or educational purposes.
The yeshiva wants the building for additional classroom space and a study hall, according to eviction notices it has started serving some tenants with.
"We're not doing anything illegal. We need space, and we're trying to do this nice so no one is on the street," said the yeshiva's dean, Rabbi Joshua Zelikovitz.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/04232007/news/regionalnews/cruel_school_regionalnews_rich_calder.htm
Comments:
So, because they're elderly and/or disabled, they should have guaranteed housing for life? Really?
Some folks' sense of entitlement is just ... bizarre.
Some folks' sense of entitlement is just ... bizarre.
Actually, life is not always fair.
These people are entitled because the law, except for this loophole, allows tenants to keep renewing subject to the rent laws of New York. The low rent probably made it less lucrative for the owner and let him sell it to a Yeshivah that can throw the tenants out. The fact that some paid less than $100 is meaningless, the Gov't paid the rest.
I know the Zelikovitz family and they are good people, I am sure that without the negative publicity they really would have tried and will still try to be fair and mentclich to each of the tenants. They had this in their previous building and worked the Yeshivah around the remaining tenants and even had Bochrim visit and do Chesed hours while hoping the tenants would eventually move.
These people are entitled because the law, except for this loophole, allows tenants to keep renewing subject to the rent laws of New York. The low rent probably made it less lucrative for the owner and let him sell it to a Yeshivah that can throw the tenants out. The fact that some paid less than $100 is meaningless, the Gov't paid the rest.
I know the Zelikovitz family and they are good people, I am sure that without the negative publicity they really would have tried and will still try to be fair and mentclich to each of the tenants. They had this in their previous building and worked the Yeshivah around the remaining tenants and even had Bochrim visit and do Chesed hours while hoping the tenants would eventually move.
Comment Credit ---This article posted by 
: April 23, 2007 8:23 PM
: April 23, 2007 8:23 PM
I would not wish to be in their shoes in the Yeshiva shel Maaloh.
The tsaar that the Yeshiva is putting old and helpless people through will never be r"l forgiven.
The fact that Our people are using a loophole to abuse elderly poor people is reprehensible.
The tsaar that the Yeshiva is putting old and helpless people through will never be r"l forgiven.
The fact that Our people are using a loophole to abuse elderly poor people is reprehensible.
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : April 24, 2007 12:58 AM
: April 24, 2007 12:58 AM
Vishnitz in Boro park on 14 avenue and another yeshiva are doing the same,and all with "our" Poloticians support
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : April 24, 2007 3:55 AM
: April 24, 2007 3:55 AM
To anon 12:58 AM and others,
Yeshiva shem Maaloh will judge these people by their actions and not by what people think they might be doing. If they act mentchlich they have nothing that they are doing wrong.
To anon 8:34 AM
Any mentsh can feel for someone renting on a limited budget, who assumed they were guaranteed a rentcontrol or limited rate of raise and full rights of renewal and then losing their rights because some Yeshiva took over.
Yeshiva shem Maaloh will judge these people by their actions and not by what people think they might be doing. If they act mentchlich they have nothing that they are doing wrong.
To anon 8:34 AM
Any mentsh can feel for someone renting on a limited budget, who assumed they were guaranteed a rentcontrol or limited rate of raise and full rights of renewal and then losing their rights because some Yeshiva took over.
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : April 24, 2007 1:03 PM
: April 24, 2007 1:03 PM
there should only come unto any member of the zelikovitz family (related to the belle harbor one)as much pain and suffering this is payback for throwing out students from their yeshiva due to learning difficulties and not behavior issues only to make room for full tuition paying students sahme on them and to the people of the building fight them with all you have as they r scVmbags
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : April 24, 2007 2:41 PM
: April 24, 2007 2:41 PM
I dont understand.
If the government is currently subsidising thier rent then why cant the government relocate them due to this loophople which the government created. Its not the yeshivas fault if the government wants to abandon them.
If the government is currently subsidising thier rent then why cant the government relocate them due to this loophople which the government created. Its not the yeshivas fault if the government wants to abandon them.
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : April 24, 2007 4:37 PM
: April 24, 2007 4:37 PM
There are always 2 sides to each story, just like there are 2 sides to a blatt of gemora and a dollar bill.
We are not commanded to learn Torah, the commandment is Osek, to make torah values a part of our lives not just an academic pursuit.
Its seems that Rabbi Z is more at home pursing dollars bills that Torah. What is a real shame is the message he is sending to his yeshiva students about priorities in life.
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We are not commanded to learn Torah, the commandment is Osek, to make torah values a part of our lives not just an academic pursuit.
Its seems that Rabbi Z is more at home pursing dollars bills that Torah. What is a real shame is the message he is sending to his yeshiva students about priorities in life.
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : November 08, 2007 3:33 PM
: November 08, 2007 3:33 PM
