Posted on 02/03/2003 8:52:06 AM PST by SheLion
Uncle Sam wants them, but a swanky Manhattan apartment group has no room for the country's military personnel and reserves.
Prospective tenants at 13 luxury apartment buildings owned by New York City megadeveloper Donald Zucker must sign a waiver stating they aren't in the military before they can get a lease - a violation of city law.
"[The waiver] has to be filled out in order for the lease to be approved," a manager at Manhattan Skyline, which runs the buildings, told The Post.
The first sentence of Zucker's "nonmilitary affidavit," obtained by The Post, reads: "The tenant has advised the Owner that the Tenant is not in the military service of the United States or New York State and that no occupant . . . is dependent upon anyone in the military service."
New York City human rights commissioner Patricia Gatling and Congressman Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) blasted the document as "outrageous" and vowed to take action.
Confronted about the policy outside his office at 101 W. 55th Street, Zucker declined comment.
Joseph Giamboi, a lawyer for the Zucker Organization, confirmed prospective tenants must sign the waiver - in effect for nearly a decade - at the lease signing. But he insisted it isn't "part of the application process" and isn't a discriminatory "screener."
"It was never our intent to use it to keep military out," he said.
According to city administrative code 8-107(5)(n), landlords can't reject a prospective tenant based on occupation as long as that occupation is "lawful." There is no matching federal law.
Gatling said her office will "immediately" investigate the use of any such documents by any city landlord.
"Discriminating against any military personnel when it comes to housing is not only morally repugnant and unethical, but illegal," said Gatling. "There is no greater ‘lawful' occupation than service to our country."
And Rangel, a decorated Korean War vet, said: "This is an outrageous practice at any time, but especially now, when we're sending our military overseas to defend us."
Rangel said he's considering proposing federal legislation that would make it a crime to discriminate against members of the military on housing.
Giamboi said his client was "horrified" the waiver could be seen as discriminatory, noting, "nobody has ever confronted us on it."
He claimed Zucker buildings "have some military" as tenants - but didn't know how many or how they got leases.
A Zucker manager, noting that military personnel can break leases if called to duty, told The Post the document was designed to "protect the management company."
The federal Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act of 1940 allows military personnel to break leases if they're called to duty; it also prohibits landlords from taking civil action against servicemen on active duty.
Civil rights legal eagle Norman Siegel branded the waiver "insensitive," adding, "it probably violates the purpose and spirit of the Soldiers and Sailors Act."
"If it wasn't designed to keep military out, what was its purpose?" he asked.
Giamboi said the waiver was instituted to protect tenants after an "embarrassing" court case years ago in which Manhattan Skyline moved to evict a tenant, only to find the man was a soldier on active duty.
After being confronted by The Post, the Zucker group claimed it will stop using the waiver.
"We will tear it from our [lease] documents," Giamboi said.
Okay, so they violated city law. What is the MAXIMUM penalty? Give it to 'em.
Aren't there possibly some state and federal civil rights laws that apply here? Look up the laws, find the MAXIMUM penalties that pertain, and NAIL 'em with it.
If you make enough examples, this will pipe down, quick.
That's how the civil rights struggle--a noble and righteous one in the beginning--finally prevailed.
NAIL 'EM!!!!!
I'm just tired of the military being treated like chit. I don't think old Don has to worry much about his "swanky" apartments being rented by the military anyway. With the military pay, what GI could afford his "luxury units?" He's a moron.
Just the first thing that came to mind.
Newport News, virgina.
I guess there must be a few officers at Ft. Hamilton and with the local recruiting effort too..
Also I think there is a Coast Guard presence there...
But the first thing I thought when I saw that was "Holy crap! People are getting assigned to Manhattan?" Sounds better than Ft. Polk!
Bull. Landlords have successfully excluded LAWYERS from leasing their property out of fear of litigation.
NY real estate documentation is the most odious material this side of Hades.
Probably worse, if that's possible! He should be run out of town. :(
Yes, I know. But who in the military, short of being a Colonel and up, could afford Mr. Moron Donald's Swanky Pads anyway?
Consider yourself confronted... DUH!
That's different. It's more a form of pest control than housing discrimination.
Tommy
I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o'beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's ``Thank you, Mister Atkins,'' when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's ``Thank you, Mr. Atkins,'' when the band begins to play.
I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.
Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy how's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.
We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints:
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind,"
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir," when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir," when there's trouble in the wind.
You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country," when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
But Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool - you bet that Tommy sees!
"Who ya gonna believe: Me or your lyin eyes?"
Exactly. That's why I posted this on Free Republic. Let some more know about the scum that owns the Swanky New York Manhatten Apartments. I hope old Donald gets an EAR full over this!
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