A Queens councilmember is taking on shady landlords with a new legislative package. 

Shekar Krishnan says some New York City landlords are abusing the city’s vacate orders in order to kick tenants to the curb. 

New Yorkers shared their stories of being displaced, sometimes with deadly consequences at an emotional press conference on the steps of City Hall on Thursday,

Brooklyn resident Emiliano Herrera shared through a translator that his family was thrown out of their home in the cold, which contributed to a sick family member’s death. 

Krishnan says landlords are looking to exploit rising rents and are purposely destroying their own occupied buildings, triggering vacate orders from the city.  He’s says these are de facto evictions, and landlords are relisting renovated apartments at higher rents.  He also says some landlords are purposely dragging their feet on repairs after accidental fires. 

The package has four main points: 

The package was introduced on Thursday and the next step will be a hearing in the Committee on Housing and Buildings. 

Krishnan hopes to have this passed as soon as possible given the affordable housing crisis,