Tenants in buildings owned by David Tennenbaum, ranked No. 6 on the list of worst landlords in New York City, rallied Friday outside management’s office to protest ongoing neglect and unsafe conditions. With 1,078 open Housing Preservation & Development violations, residents say they feel ignored and demand urgent repairs and accountability.
Tenants Speak Out
Frustrated tenants living in David Tennenbaum’s buildings say they have been consistently neglected and ignored by property management. On Friday, they united in a rally outside the landlord’s office to publicly voice their concerns. Their protest was driven by years of unresolved maintenance issues and worsening safety problems. Residents demanded immediate action and reforms to improve their living conditions, making it clear they are no longer willing to endure neglect silently.
Worst Landlord Ranking in New York
David Tennenbaum currently ranks No. 6 on the official list of New York City’s Top Worst Landlords. His buildings collectively have 1,078 open violations from the Housing Preservation & Development department, reflecting ongoing code violations and tenant complaints. This high number highlights the widespread neglect and mismanagement within his properties. Despite these violations, tenants report a lack of meaningful response or remediation from the landlord or management companies.
Unsafe Living Conditions
Judith Balaguer, a tenant of one of Tennenbaum’s buildings on East 138th Street for 45 years, described dangerous and unsanitary conditions affecting residents daily. She said, “Drug selling in the building, to all the people hanging out in the building, getting high at night in the hallways, fighting.” Before the rally, Balaguer led News 12 crews through the building, showing broken mailboxes, stairwells littered with garbage, and drug paraphernalia scattered in common areas, a clear danger to tenants’ safety and well-being.
Apartment Problems
Inside her own apartment, Balaguer revealed further neglect, including vermin droppings found beneath her kitchen cabinet. She also spoke about the failure of management to provide functioning appliances, forcing her to buy a refrigerator herself. “This is my refrigerator. I was three years asking for it and I said, ‘No, I can’t go another Thanksgiving without making food for my family, no,’” she explained, illustrating the extent of the neglect inside tenant units that compounds their hardship.
Demands at Rally
During the rally, tenants chanted loudly to demand repairs, prompting a management worker to come outside and engage with residents. Balaguer addressed him directly, saying, “Fix the hole under my sink and put a new countertop.” The worker replied, “Make a list of the repairs, I’m asking for it.” Though he declined to share his name or speak on camera, he met privately with tenants to hear their grievances. However, tenants remain skeptical as previous promises from management have failed to yield results.
Broken Promises
Balaguer expressed deep frustration over unkept promises from management, saying she has raised concerns multiple times with the worker who came out, but “nothing changed.” She also pointed to a promised online complaint system linked to rent payments that has yet to materialize. “They promised to have a little website up, the same place where we pay our rent. We could give our complaints or whatever. I haven’t seen it,” she said, underscoring the ongoing breakdown in communication and accountability.
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Upcoming Tenant Meeting
In response to continued neglect and broken promises, tenants are organizing a meeting scheduled for June 17. The goal is to hold management accountable and demand concrete follow-through on repairs and improvements. This meeting is intended to unify tenants and coordinate efforts to pressure the landlord and property managers to address violations and improve living conditions once and for all. Residents are determined to escalate their fight for safe, habitable homes.
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