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Page Sight, PHOENIXTenants Gain StrengtheasTern ra n c w a yRent Strike BringsCollective BargainingRemsen Tenant GroupOrganized tenants from a Brooklyn building have successfully concluded a six-month rent strike with the signing of a collective bargaining agreement between the Tenants Association and the landlord. The agreement is the first such contract to deal with the special problems of vacancy decontrol.The building is at 115 Eastern Parkway, opposite the Brooklyn Museum. Tenants described it as the %u201c worst building on one of the best-maintained blocks in the borough.%u201dThe rent strike began last August after landlord Irwin Weintraub tried to collect a 15 per cent rent increase on the basis of an interim Maximum Base Rent order which several rent-controlled tenants suspected was fraudulent. The tenants subsequently succeeded in having the interim order revoked by the Office of Rent Control because the landlord had falsely certified that he had corrected violations in the building. By the time of the revocation, the 14 tenants who were withholding rent to avoid paying the fraudulent increase decided to remain on strike until the landlord agreed to sign a negotiated contract. Over the months the number of strikers grew to 19; the building has 42 units.Charlene Jaffe, spokeswoman for the 115 Eastern ParkwayTenants Association and an organizer for the Brooklyn Tenants Union, explained the most important clause of the settlement: %u201c As in trade union contracts, the landlord has recognized the Tenants Association as sole bargaining agent in resolving landlord-tenant disputes. The contract sets up a grievance procedure which the landlord must follow, rather than deal with tenants one by one.%u201dUnder the terms of the settlement, all rent monies paid by the 32 tenants who have signed the agreement are to be held in an escrow account pending the completion of numerous repairs, including upgrading of the boiler and elevator. In order for escrow funds to be released to the landlord, each repair must be approved by the association%u2019s attorney, Kent Karlsson. Should the landlord fail to complete the repairs within the agreed-upon time, or fail to perform them in a workmanlike manner, attorneys for both parties are to engage contractors who will be paid from the escrow account.An important and unique claus%u00b0 provides protection for tenants living in decontrolled apartments. More than half the building%u2019s 42 units have become decontrolled since the Vacancy Decontrol Law went into effect July 1, 1971. Tenants living in such apartmentsTenants, employees and management of 70 Remsen St. finally sat down at a negotiating table to resolve their differences. Councilman Fred Richmond set up the meeting with his attorneys on February 15, in response to complaints by the 70 Remsen St. Tenants Association, who were distressed over management%u2019s continuing failure to maintain the building.%u201c The 70 Remsen Street tenants have taken the first important step toward solving their problems, that is, forming a Tenants Association that can effectively deal with an intransigent and stubborn management,%u201d the councilman said.In particular, The Remsen Street Tenants were complaining about management%u2019s discontinuance of telephone switchboard service, thefailure of the building employees to announce visitors and a general reluctance on the part of management to respond to the requests of the tenants.Following a turbulent two hour session the 70 Remsen St. tenants won significant concessions from the management and the superintendent. The building owners agreed to respond quickly to tenant requests for apartment repairs. The switchboard will now be open round the clock and newUNIVERSAL TEACHING FOR ALLSt. G e o rg e H o te l 51 d o r k St. G e o rg ia C h ap el%u201cv%u00abry Sunday at 4 PM . , ..Sciencr of U e by Dr. Fochell, D.D. 4thLecturer and ConsultantLife Can Be BeautifulSinaer Esther WilliamsA ll are WelcomeCall 7 8 3 -0 6 8 7do not have the statutory right to remain in their apartments without a lease, as to rentcontrolled tenants, nor the right to renew a lease automatically, as to rent-stabilized tenants. Furthermore, the landlord may charge any amount of rent.Under the 115 Eastern Parkway contract, all decontrolled tenants are to be given one year leases at their present rent levels, with an option to renew the lease for a second year at no more than a 10 per cent rent increase. Jaffe stated that, while most of the tenants who were on rent strike live in rentcontrolled apartments, the group decided not to settle without the assurance that their decontrolled neighbors would be protected. %u201c Most of the decontrolled tenantswere unwilling to go on strike for fear that the landlord would refuse to renew their leases,%u201d she said. %u201c The rent-controlled tenants felt very strongly that we should use our secure position as bargaining leverage to help those who are not statutory tenants.%u201dMichael McKee of the Brooklyn Tenants Union stated: %u201c This is the first time organized tenants have been able to force a landlord to sign a contract guaranteeing leases atfurniture will grace the lobby within a few weeks.The 70 Remsen Street Tenants Association, were additionally promised that come spring time the management will %u201c point%u201d the exterior wall of the building to eliminate water leaks that have plagued the tenants for a long time.specified rentals to tenants in decontrolled apartments. And as more and more apartmentsbecome decontrolled, more and more rent strikers are making kind of protection one of their key demands.%u201dMcKee added that tenants who wish help in organizing their buildings can write the Brooklyn Tenants Union, G.P.O. Box 1383, Brooklyn, New York 11202.NYCC Branches OutWith Course OfferingsTAXHINTS.ByRon Dannenberg%u2022 Student Nurses & others furthering your education:If you are receiving money forcertain educational activities,y o u m a y q u alify for anexclusion of up to $3,600 peryear.%u2022 Home Owners:Improvements made on yourhouse over the years( can be avaluable asset to you St the timeyou sell your house.%u2022 Teachers:If you are qualified, you may be able to deduct a portion ofyour rent.%u2022 There are special deductions for almost every job. See us and find out what vours are.TAX WORLDi 51 7th Avenue%u00bb B r o o k ly n N , V,11215(212) 857-4300TAX WO151 7th Avenue Near Garfield Place Brooklyn, N. Y. 11215 (212) 857-4300 |FREE Bottle of YAGO SA N G R IA for ourSatisfied Customers who refer others to usiW e are open all seven days,M on. - Fri. 9 :0 0 A M . - 9:00 PM.Sat., Sun. 9:00 A M . - 6:00 PM.Just Call Us At857-4300OR COME IN TO CONSULTW IT H O U R EXPERTSNOAPPOINTMENTNECESSARYOPEN ALL YEAR151 7th AVENUE%u00b0f0 DISCOUNTi 5 ^UNTIL MARCH 30 WITH THIS COUPONThe New York City Community College Division of Continuing Education and Extension Services has branched out with an array of courses relating to problems and questions of members of the community.The first project focuses on the older adult and will be held at the St. George Hotel in cooperation with the Heights and Hill Community Council and is backed by a contract with the New York State Office for the Aging under the Older Americans Act of 1965.A nine-session series, beginning on March 12, %u201c A Philosophic View of the Older Adult,%u201d will be held on Mondays, between 7:39-9 p.m. at the hotel%u2019s Parlor A on the second floor. The sociological and pragmatic viewpoint on %u201c The Older Woman in American Society%u201d will be given on Fridays from March 9, 2+30-4 p.m. at the same location.PILLOWFURNITURETwo 15-hour, 10-week %u201c law for the layman%u201d courses on family court and housing have been arranged for the first time by the college%u2019s continuing ed. department. The series on family law, led by Judge Phillip Roache of Family Court, began at the college, 300 Jay St., on Mon., March 5, and will continue until May 8, with hours from 6:20-8 p.m.The housing law sessions presented by James Harris, supervising attorney for the New York City Housing and Development Administration, are offered on Tuesday from 6:20 -8 p.m. The course content includes discussion on rent control with emphasis on tenants rights. Tenant organization, rent strikes, real estate economics, code enforcements and housing agencies will also be covered. Fees for the housing and family law series are $20. each.WATERBEDSLowest Pricesin N.Y.tague stf237-1365