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I was very glad to join Mayor de Blasio, Public Advocate James, Council Members Mark Levine and Rafael Salamanca and Commissioner Banks from the Human Resources Administration of NYC today as we announced new action against slumlords in our community and across the city.

The city announced it would no longer subsidize rent payments for lower income tenants for 12 landlords who have perpetually made the "worst landlords list" and have over 2,000 violations in their buildings. Tenants will face no threat of eviction while their rent is withheld.

We in Northern Manhattan are all too familiar with the tactic slumlords use to push tenants out of their apartments by neglecting repairs and allowing them to fall into severe disrepair. I myself have experienced this on multiple occasions. Today's announcement is a big step in the right direction and a signal to slumlords across the city that we will no longer stand for your hunger games.

We will continue to stand up for tenants through this and other measures such as enhanced funding for free legal services, the tenant protection unit and proactive enforcement from HPD. If you or someone you know is facing undue harassment from your landlords, please contact my office and we will do all we can to assist you, from contacting HPD or putting you in touch with legal service providers.

This is unacceptable in Washington Heights, Inwood and Marble Hill and it is unacceptable in New York City period.