Bronx tenants rally after two weeks without cooking gas, alleging years of neglect

Tenants stand outside their building on Findley Avenue to protest its landlord, David Tennenbaum.
Tenants stand outside their building on Findley Avenue to protest its landlord, David Tennenbaum.
Courtesy of CASA

Frustrated tenants at two rent-stabilized buildings in Claremont rallied on Tuesday to protest their landlord, demanding action after enduring two weeks without cooking gas.

The gas cutoff marked a breaking point for tenants, who accuse building owner David Tennenbaum of years of dangerous neglect and mismanagement.

Tenant Sandro de la Cruz, who lives in one of the two affected buildings on Findlay Avenue, said that the situation with the gas has forced him to find other ways to feed his family.

“We pay rent every month and my family has always kept costs down by cooking,” said de la Cruz. “Now we have to continue paying rent and also buy food in restaurants. It’s unfair, and with the holidays right around the corner I’m starting to worry.”

Tennenbaum was ranked as number two on the 2023 NYC Worst Landlords list by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. The two Findlay Avenue buildings have a combined 41 open HPD violations and are flagged – along with 20 other buildings in Tennenbaum’s portfolio – on the worst landlords watchlist. All but three of those buildings are located in the Bronx.

But it’s not just the lack of cooking gas that tenants are fed-up with. They cite some of the most hazardous open HPD violations, such as mold violations, roach infestations and lead based paint exposures.

Abdolie Bah, a tenant, said that Denali Management, the company owned by Tennenbaum and responsible for building upkeep, has been unresponsive.

“The super never comes to make repairs, and you can’t get in touch with anyone at the management office,” said Bah. “There are probably more rats in this building than people, always running through the walls at night. The gas is a problem now, but we’ve had plenty of other problems in the past.”

Tenants in another one of Tennenbaum’s buildings on East 169th Street filed a lawsuit in February against Denali Management. They allege many of the same problems, such as harmful exposure to lead paint, vermin and roaches, plus an elevator that’s always broken.

Residents at both sites have support from New Settlement’s membership-driven tenant organizing project, Community Action for Safe Apartments (CASA).

A community leader with CASA, Randy Dillard spoke at Tuesday’s rally.

“Nobody should have to live like this, with tiny electric stoves and no communication from the landlord,” Dillard said. “We’re here to fight with you, and to make sure you’re able to stay in your homes safe and sound.”

Denali Management and Tennenbaum could not be reached for comment.