Council Members Corey Johnson, Donovan Richards, and Jumaane Williams (from left to right) in front of City Hall. Image Credit: mfy.org

UPDATE: On February 1, 2017, the City Council voted 47-0 to approve four bills that would help protect tenants of three-quarter houses in New York City. During the vote, Council Member Donovan Richards called three-quarter houses a wide spread problem that would not be cured by the bills and that the City would need to track progress on the issue to determine future responses. Council Member Ritchie Torres called predatory operators of three-quarter houses the “scum of the earth,” and expressed pride to be involved in the “game changer” legislative package.

Resolution 1035-2016, on which testimony was heard at the same committee hearing, remained in the Committee on General Welfare. The resolution would call on the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance to promulgate a rule that would increase public assistance rental allowance levels. (read more…)

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman speaking at New York Law School, March 18, 2014. Image credit: CityLaw

A rehabilitation provider and three-quarter house operators were indicted for three-year Medicaid fraud scheme in Brooklyn, and their other properties frozen. On January 13, 2017, New York State Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced the indictment and arraignment of attorney Anthony Cornachio, as well as the NRI Group, LLC and Canarsie A.W.A.R.E., Inc., both Medicaid-enrolled drug treatment programs companies controlled by Cornachio. Also indicted were three-quarter housing operators Yury Baumblit and Rimma Baumblit, of Brooklyn and their company Back on Track Group, Inc. (read more…)