Protesters have stormed the Brooklyn offices of landlord attorneys to protest evictions as the New York moratorium is set to end tonight and up to 14,000 households are at risk of becoming homeless.
Dozens of New Yorkers marched through the streets of Brooklyn Wednesday morning before entering two landlord attorney firms buildings and Brooklyn Borough Hall calling for a ban on evictions and cancellation of rent in the Big Apple.
The demonstration comes just hours before New York’s residential eviction moratorium expires, leaving thousands of tenants vulnerable to homelessness.
Fears are mounting over how many residents will manage to keep a roof over their heads as dismal research released at the end of July revealed almost half of New York renters were unable to pay rent.
Concerns have been exacerbated further by the reality that jobless Americans will also lose out on the $600-per-week enhanced unemployment benefits from the federal government if a new coronavirus stimulus bill is not agreed on in Capitol Hill.
New Yorkers were especially hard hit by the pandemic as the state – once the virus epicenter – endured a longer and stricter lockdown than most others and thousands lost their jobs overnight when businesses shuttered back in March.
Protesters storm inside Stern & Stern landlord attorneys building as they call for a ban on evictions and cancellation of rent in the Big Apple
Demonstrators inside Brooklyn Borough Hall as they take part in a ‘Shut down evictions and cancel rent’ protest Wednesday
Crowds march up the stairs of Brooklyn Borough Hall Wednesday where New York State Senator Brian Kavanagh is based
New Yorkers carry a huge ‘Cancel rent’ banner as they march through the streets of New York Wednesday
The crowds stormed the Brooklyn offices of landlord attorneys including Slochowsky & Slochowsky (above)
Swathes of masked protesters gathered with placards reading ‘shut down evictions’ and ‘cancel rent’ in downtown Brooklyn Wednesday.
Several signs called out New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo urging them to extend protections to tenants in the city.
The demonstration started outside Brooklyn Eviction Court before marching through the streets and storming past security and police to enter two landlord attorney firms buildings as well as Brooklyn Borough Hall, where New York State Senator Brian Kavanagh is based.
Inside the Stern & Stern and Slochowsky & Slochowsky real estate law firm offices, dozens of protesters were seen holding banners aloft, before they moved onto Brooklyn Borough Hall where they marched up the stairs.
The group is protesting evictions and calling for rent to be canceled as the New York eviction moratorium is set to end tonight
Several signs called out New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo urging them to extend protections to tenants in the city
Protesters inside Slochowsky & Slochowsky real estate law firm offices. Up to 14,000 households are at risk of becoming homeless after the moratorium ends tonight
Dozens of New Yorkers marched through the streets of Brooklyn Wednesday morning before entering two landlord attorney firms buildings (including Slochowsky & Slochowsky above) and Brooklyn Borough Hall
One protester wears a coronavirus face mask reading ‘Cancel rent’ amid calls for a ban on evictions and cancellation of rent in the Big Apple
The demonstration comes just hours before New York’s residential eviction moratorium expires, leaving thousands of tenants vulnerable to homelessness
Thousands of tenants across the Big Apple risk being turfed out into the streets as the residential eviction moratorium expires Wednesday night.
Cuomo first issued a statewide executive order banning landlords from evicting tenants amid the coronavirus pandemic from March through to June.
On June 30, Cuomo extended the moratorium until August.
He also introduced the Tenant Safe Harbor Act providing protection for renters who have suffered financial hardship due to the pandemic.
The residential eviction moratorium will expire Wednesday night and there has been no sign of another extension.
Fears are mounting over how many residents will manage to keep a roof over their heads as dismal research released at the end of July revealed that almost half of New York renters were unable to pay rent
Demonstrators hold up a Crown Heights Tenants Union banner inside the offices of Slochowsky & Slochowsky
Concerns for tenants have been exacerbated further by the reality that jobless Americans will also lose out on the $600-per-week enhanced unemployment benefits from the federal government if a new coronavirus stimulus bill is not agreed on in Capitol Hill
New Yorkers were especially hard hit by the pandemic as the state – once the virus epicenter – endured a longer and stricter lockdown than most others and thousands lost their jobs overnight when businesses shuttered back in March
Masked protesters gathered with placards reading ‘shut down evictions’ and ‘cancel rent’ in downtown Brooklyn Wednesday
One woman holds up a sign reading ‘People over poverty’ as calls mount for rent to be canceled in New York
The demonstration started outside Brooklyn Eviction Court before marching through the streets and storming past security and police to enter two landlord attorney firms buildings as well as Brooklyn Borough Hall
One protester holds aloft a sign with two eyes and the names of De Blasio and Cuomo along them, reading ‘We see you doing nothing’
This means that eviction orders brought against tenants before the pandemic, which were then put on hold due to the moratorium, can be carried out.
More than 14,000 households are facing cases and are at risk of homelessness, according to the Legal Aid Society.
The dire picture could be far worse, the legal services provider has warned, with another 200,000 New York City rentals also no longer protected by the order.
This includes tenants who face eviction for non-payment related reasons and who had eviction cases brought against them before March.
Protesters enter Brooklyn Borough Hall, where New York State Senator Brian Kavanagh is based during Wednesday’s protest
One protester leaves a note reading ‘We’ll be back’ in the offices of real estate law firm Stern & Stern
Thousands of tenants across the Big Apple risk being turfed out into the streets as the residential eviction moratorium expires Wednesday night
Cuomo first issued a statewide executive order banning landlords from evicting tenants amid the coronavirus pandemic from March through to June
On June 30, Cuomo extended the moratorium until August and also introduced the Tenant Safe Harbor Act providing protection for renters who have suffered financial hardship due to the pandemic
But the residential eviction moratorium will expire Wednesday night and there has been no sign of another extension – meaning eviction orders brought against tenants before the pandemic, which were then put on hold due to the moratorium, can be carried out
Protesters make their way past security guards in the landlord attorneys firms buildings in downtown Brooklyn
More than 14,000 households are facing eviction cases from before the pandemic and are at risk of homelessness, according to the Legal Aid Society
Renters unable to pay rent due to financial hardships sparked by the pandemic and missing payments between March 7 and the full reopening of their county are still protected from eviction under the Tenant Safe Harbor Act.
However landlords can still take tenants to court to recover missed rent payments during that period.
Stark research global advisory firm Stout Risius Ross last month found that 40 percent of American renters were unable to pay their rent.
This figure rose even higher in the Big Apple, where 46 percent could not afford to pay rent.
The dire picture could be far worse, the legal services provider has warned, with another 200,000 New York City rentals also no longer protected by the order
People leave Brooklyn Borough Hall after storming inside to demand extra protections for tenants
Tenants who face eviction for non-payment related reasons and who had eviction cases brought against them before March are now at risk of being made homeless
Renters unable to pay rent due to financial hardships sparked by the pandemic and missing payments between March 7 and the full reopening of their county are still protected from eviction under the Tenant Safe Harbor Act
Security guards grapple to stop the crowds swarming the building of Stern & Stern
Stark research global advisory firm Stout Risius Ross last month found that 40 percent of American renters were unable to pay their rent
The figure rose even higher in the Big Apple, where 46 percent could not afford to pay rent
People wearing masks to protect against the coronavirus shout through loudspeakers and hold banners aloft
Protesters make their way through Brooklyn Borough Hall where a security guard tries to keep them at bay
Demonstrators link arms during the rally in New York during the day on Wednesday
New Yorkers are demanding protection for tenants after the city – once the virus epicenter – was ravaged by the pandemic and thousands lost jobs