Astoria Residents Face Eviction By Religious Nonprofit Landlord
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- It feels like a Christmastime crucifixion for some Astoria tenants.
Their landlord has given them notice, telling them to leave their dormitory style apartments by the end of the month or face eviction.
Linda Smith has lived there for three years. She's grateful for the accommodations that are modest, but affordable.
"I don't even know if surprise is the right word," she tells 1010 WINS's Andrew Falzon. "Shock, some of us are still numb."
Linda and her fellow residents say New York State Senator Mike Gianaris is one of a group of elected officials leading the charge to keep the residents in place.
"The cruelty of doing this in the holidays is the weather's getting cold," said Gianaris. "For purposes of establishing a homeless shelter, turning 39 people homeless in the process is apparently lost in the building."
The landlord is a religious nonprofit called New York School for Urban Ministry, who want to turn the building into a homeless shelter.
1010 WINS has learned the city was in talks to convert the facility, but has since backed off when they heard residents would be out in the cold.
Gianaris says he and his fellow lawmakers have gotten assurances from the city, and are hoping that the owner of the building follows suit.
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