The Department of Housing Preservation and Development's "alternative enforcement program," designed to get landlords to make improvements on the city's worst buildings, is not living up to its potential.
"In the campaign's first two years, the department targeted 400 buildings totaling more than 1,200 apartments. Nearly half - 45% - are still in the program because they still have a high number of serious violations or failed to repay the city for repairs.
In addition, the city has recovered from landlords only $10 million of the $23 million spent on repairs even as the cost of renovations rose from $3 million in fiscal 2008 to $11 million in fiscal 2010, according to the city's Independent Budget Office.
Elizabeth Brown, a policy analyst at the IBO, called the campaign a 'very expensive' program with 'mixed' results.
Councilwoman Letitia James (D-Brooklyn), a sponsor of the Safe Housing Law that created the effort, said the city fell short of goals by not devoting enough inspectors to make sure the buildings stay safe for tenants. 'I would love to hire additional inspectors,' James said."
Read the full story: Millions lost fixing bad buildings
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