Sunset Park Tenants File Human Rights Complaint Against ‘Racist’ Slumlord

For Sunset Park resident Nora Huertero and her family, experiencing racial discrimination, eviction threats, and harassment while living in deplorable conditions their apartment have been a nightmare.

Huertero said her landlord Soo Fung Dong started harrassing her family in 2007 when she purchased the building located at 430 61st Street. “She raised our rent, then took away heat, and hot water,” Huertero said in Spanish. “We’ve never had issues with previous landlords.”

A housing court case against Dong settled on June 21, with a court order requiring repairs, but Dong has failed to fix dangerous mold conditions, according to the complaint. Huertero said her daughter Samantha has asthma, and her son Nathan developed pneumonia as a result of Dong’s neglect.

Huertero’s husband, Fabian, shared photos of their moldy apartment ceiling and rusty doors with the Sunset Park Voice.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors — a Sunset Park-based group that advocates for affordable housing — and attorneys with the Urban Justice Center, Council Member Carlos Menchaca, and Dan Wiley on behalf of Congresswoman Nydia Velasquez came out to 430 61st Street to support tenants suffering mistreatment from Dong on Friday, July 29.

In addition to refusing to repair apartments, tenants charge Dong with making racist and discriminatory remarks about Latino and Hispanic tenants and their families; requiring additional rent payments from Latino and Hispanic tenants receiving public assistance or Section 8 vouchers; and adding illegal fees to the leases of Latino and Hispanic tenants.

Samantha Bravo speaking to reporters in front of her home in Sunset Park. (Photo: Elizabeth Elizalde / Sunset Park Voice)

Huertero’s daughter Samantha Bravo, 11, read a letter she wrote in front of reporters as she recalled the horrible night when Dong barged in her family’s apartment earlier this year. “When there is a knock at the door at 10 o’clock at night. You open the door and see a woman handing you a letter that states you must leave your home in three weeks. What would you feel?”  Bravo said in a low tone.

Bravo said Dong started cursing at her father Fabian when he called 311 to file a report against her for not turning up the heat during winter. Dong’s screams prompted Bravo’s younger brother to cry while she insulted Huertero. Bravo said she felt “fear” and “panic.”

“Enough is enough, kids can make a difference. Kids have a voice, and we need a break! No more harassment, we are learning and getting organized for our future,” Bravo said.

Sunset Park neighbors and organizers wore yellow shirts saying “No Mas Acoso” in Spanish, which translates to English as “No more harassment,” during the hour-long presser.

“The tenants, united, will never be defeated,” residents chanted in English and Spanish. “What do we want? No more harassment. When do we want it? Now!”

“Fight, fight, fight. Housing is a right,” residents continued. “Soo Fung Dong. We are in the fight.”

Most of the long-time tenants were born in Latin America, like Huertero, who immigrated from Puebla, Mexico to the United States for a better life. He said he believes gentrification may also be a factor in the unjust treatment tenants are receiving.

“We want to show not only the Sunset Park community, but all of New York City, that unity makes a difference, and that help is out there,” Huertero said. “We are fighting to put a stop to discrimination and harassment from landlords. We deserve to live with dignity and free of intimidation.”

Councilmember Menchaca said Dong’s actions cannot be tolerated and is working with the City’s Commission on Human Rights along with tenant organizers to put an end to landlord violations in his district, which include Sunset Park and Red Hook.

“Gentrification is alive and well,” Menchaca said. “We have beautiful and amazing landlords here (Sunset Park), and this is a bad one. You will be called out every single time.”

Rini Fonseca, an attorney with the Urban Justice Center, represents the tenants at 430 61st St., said Neighbors Helping Neighbors tipped her about the injustices caused by Dong. “We couldn’t believe what we heard about the conditions and the treatment,” Fonseca said. “Today, residents are taking a stand and saying no more harassment.”

Residents know Dong as a hot-tempered landlord, but the last straw for them was when she changed the front door locks a year ago and began charging $50 per key for each family.

According to the City, it’s illegal for landlords to change the locks without an eviction notice, especially if tenants have lived in the apartment for at least 30 days or have a lease.

Marcela Mitaynes, a tenant organizer with Neighbors Helping Neighbors, said she’s been working on the case for six years and also witnessed Dong’s rage against her co-organizers. “Dong called the police to have one of our organizers arrested for meeting with tenants,” Mitaynes said. “The abuse had escalated as the tenants started to band together. But this is strengthening their unity and desire to fight for justice.”

Mitaynes said Dong feeds off of immigrants’ fears and preys on vulnerable tenants who are unable to defend themselves. “Housing should be a basic human right,” Mitaynes said. “They are not alone. We have to fight together.”

Note: We reached Soo Fung Dong for comment but has not responded in time for publication.