The 234 Apartment

UPDATE JULY 17: Management of an apartment complex dealing with on-again, off-again water issues is finally providing an explanation.  Water at the Sandpiper Apartment complex was shut off from Friday morning to Sunday morning .  Sunday water was flowing again, but by Monday morning tenants told 13 Action News it was back off.  "People can't shower. People can't wash dishes," said tenant Brittany Albright .  13 Action News reached out to management Saturday and Sunday and received no response.  On Monday, a manager who would not give his name said over the weekend water was shut down for scheduled repairs. He said a pipe then burst unexpectedly Monday .  13 Action News obtained a copy of an email management sent to tenants which reads in part: "We realize this is is[sic] frustrating for everyone, and Management will compensate residents in some way."  The manager could not elaborate on how they plan to do that.  Lauren Pena with the Legal Aid Center ...

T wo weeks ago, a Manhattan Supreme Court judge handed down a decision designed to strike fear in the hearts of landlords. Justice James d’Auguste ordered that an independent receiver be appointed to manage two Midtown residential buildings where the landlords allegedly allowed illegal Airbnb rentals to occur. The case, which began when the city sued the landlords in February 2015, has become one of the battlegrounds in a larger war between city enforcement agencies and short- term rental sites like Airbnb. Airbnb, which was recently valued at $31 billion, refuses to release the exact addresses of hosts who break the law by renting their entire apartment for less than 30 days without being present. Without the addresses and names of Airbnb violators , the city mostly targets the owners of buildings that rack up the most illegal hotel complaints from 311 calls and the New York City Department of Buildings. “This entire model—and it was intentional [by the city]—is complaint-drive...