- Pin it
- SubscribeUnsubscribe
- Embed
Craig Smith hasn't added a story.
FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT IN THE EAST VILLAGE
SmithStone Family (The Villager, Dec 2015)
This family's battle will impact affordable Housing in all of New York City
The Toledano Tenants' Coalition is reaching out to you on behalf of the SmithStone family. Craig Smith and Elise Stone have lived at 233 East 5th St in NYC for the past 13 years in a rent stabilized apartment. Here they have raised their family, Kerem, Tesfahun and Hakima SmithStone, and in 2015 Elise’s mom Sandy joined them. All six in a 2-bedroom apartment with a single bathroom in the heart of the East Village of NYC. Along with raising their children, they run an award-winning nonprofit East Village theatre company now in its 13th season, Phoenix Theatre Ensemble.
WHO THEY ARE FIGHTING TO SAVE THEIR HOME
"I'm worth a fxxxload of money, Bro"
-Raphael Toledano (The Real Deal, June 2016)
In 2015 Rafael Toledano bought their building, part of a large East Village portfolio purchase. In a very brief time the 26 year-old Toledano has the dubious distinction of being named to the worst landlords list by the tenant advocacy group, Stabilizing New York. (accessed 7/10/16 @ http://newspot.me/n/035Qh5gK?s=undefined ).
And he's in the news a lot:
“ Tenants in New York Press the Record Button in a Dispute With the Landlord ” - New York Times, 10/18/2015
“ Toledano to pay $1M-plus in settlement of EV tenant harassment suit” The Real Deal– May 16, 2016
“ Toledano has been accused of harassing tenants as well, and appeared in New York City Housing Court Tuesday for civil and criminal contempt after failing to pay a settlement…” –http://www.thelodownny.com/leslog/2016/06/tenants-make-themselves-heard-as-croman-case-is-pushed-back.htmlThe Lo-Down, June 21, 2016
Toledano has hired Donald Trump's lawyer Jeffrey Goldman to fight this case.
WHY IS THIS CASE SO IMPORTANT TO SO MANY PEOPLE?
This case is a battle over how and when a landlord can transform a previously-affordable rent stabilized apartment into a market/luxury rental.
- Toledano and his attorneys argue that because the rent in the SmithStone’s apartment exceeded the “threshold” rent for de-regulation in 2003, the apartment is no longer protected by rent stabilization, and the family can be evicted despite having lived in the apartment for 13 years.
- The prior landlord treated the tenancy as rent-regulated but as soon as Toledano bought the building, he started an eviction case against the SmithStone family.
- In 2015, a case called Altman v. 285 West Fourth St, LLC confirmed that the SmithStone tenancy should be rent stabilized.
- The law is currently on the tenants’ side, and in April of 2016, the SmithStone family won the right to stay in their home.
- But Toledano's attorneys immediately appealed and they are back in court. 12 months of litigation -- and no end in sight.
The real estate lobby is watching the SmithStone case closely. This case has been in court for approximaately 12 months at considerable expense to this family. However, if the Smithstones prevail THOUSANDS OF MARKET RATE APARTMENTS IN NYC SHOULD RETURN TO RENT STABILIZATION .
What can I do?
1) Donate today to support the success of this lawsuit and click the Contribute button above.
2) NYC tenants: Find out if your apartment was illegally dergulated.
3) Write to elected representatives and let them know that rents are out of control and rent regulation needs to be implemented on regulated and market rate housing across the board.
The East Village is this family’s home – their theatre is here, their church is here, their schools are here, their friends and neighbors and their culture is here. Do not let Toledano tear them from their home.
Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis, Senior Minister,
Middle Collegiate Church
“Craig and Elise and their family are long-term members of Middle Collegiate Church. We have observed with sadness the systematic removal of families from affordable housing in our neighborhoods. We ask that you join us in this important effort to support this family and keep them in their home and in their community.” –Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis, Senior Minister, Middle Collegiate Church, NYC
"Mr. Smith’s battle is nothing short of heroic" . S. Rudolph, Esq. Urban Justice Ctr
“Craig Smith’s legal battle to defend his home extends far beyond his family, potentially influencing thousands of NYC renters and undercutting the business model of predatory landlords who buy up rent stabilized housing with the specific intention of destroying communities to make way for luxury development. Mr. Smith’s battle is nothing short of heroic; few tenants have the funds let alone the stomach for years of litigation. I applaud Mr. Smith’s heart but a battle such as this takes an entire village.” –Stephanie Rudolph, Esq., Urban Justice Center
THIS FAMILY NEEDS YOUR HELP NOW
The Toledano Tenants' Coalition is asking you to support this family with a donation of any size – besides an important contribution to this family’s case it can have a long-term impact on thousands of NYC tenants.
Thank you,
The Toledano Tenants' Coalition representing 24 apartment buildings in the East Village
Delete media item?
Delete this item from the media gallery? It will also be deleted from any related story update.
Set as ?
The campaign video will appear in social media and email.
The campaign cover picture will appear in social media and email.
The will appear at the top of your campaign page and in social media and email.
Reset ?
It will be removed from the top of your campaign and won't be used as default in social media and email. The will remain in the media gallery.
Embed
Share a link
Delete update
Delete this story update?
Any pictures or videos will remain in the campaign's media gallery.
Report campaign
Report submitted
Thank you. We take reports like yours very seriously. Our goal is to keep the community safe.
Please know that we may contact you for more information, but that we won't notify you personally of our decision. If the campaign remains available within a few days, it's likely that we determined it not to be in violation of our policies.
Thank you. We've already received your previous report. If the campaign remains available within a few days, it's likely that we determined it not to be in violation of our policies.
Tell us about the problem. Please fill in both fields below.
Record a video
Upload a video
Nothing grabs attention for your cause like a personal video. Take a minute or two to record one now. Record a short video message of support. Or upload one from your device. You can preview or redo your video before you post it.
Nothing grabs attention for your cause like a personal video. Upload a short video message of support. Upload a short video message of support. Or record one right now.
- Most effective video length: about a minute.
- Maximum length: 5 min.
- You can preview or redo your video before you post it.
Heads up! The existing video will be replaced.
Email your friends
Join our team
Tell people why our cause matters to you. Your personal message will encourage others to help. Easy, effective, optional.
Say it in video
Short personal videos by supporters like you are incredibly powerful. Record one right now and you'll help us raise more money. Easy, optional, effective.
Add a personal goal
Set a personal fundraising goal. You'll encourage more contributions if you do. And rest easy. There's no obligation to achieve your goal or bad consequences if you don't. Easy, optional, effective.
We have a video!
Video thumbnail
We'd love to show you our campaign video. Want to take a look?
, you're already on the team.