At Bronx Court, Elevator Woes Slow Justice – New York Times

At Bronx Court, Elevator Woes Slow Justice
By LESLIE KAUFMAN

There are many longstanding, seemingly intractable shortcomings in the city’s family court system that might delay a parent in getting a child back from foster care: unprepared lawyers, overcrowded dockets and long waiting lists for drug treatment and mental health services.

But Bronx Family Court has added a new obstacle: broken elevators.

For about a year, the elevators at the courthouse have been a disaster, people who work there say. Breakdowns have long been routine. This year, repair work has only added to the problem.

At Bronx Court, Elevator Woes Slow Justice – New York Times.

City Council kills pro-landlord bill

City Council kills pro-landlord bill

BY BILL EGBERT
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Wednesday, December 12th 2007, 4:00 AM

A bill that would have let landlords sue complaining tenants for harassment has been evicted from the City Council.

Stung by a fierce backlash, Bronx Council delegation chief Maria Baez (D-West Bronx) withdrew her support for Bill 638, which she had proposed as an alternative to a more tenant-friendly bill from Council Speaker Christine Quinn.

City Council kills pro-landlord bill.

Council Seeks Regulation of Debt Collectors

Council Seeks Regulation of Debt Collectors

BY Special to the Sun
December 12, 2007
URL: http://www.nysun.com/article/67935

The City Council is seeking new regulations on debt collection agencies following a report by the Urban Justice Center suggesting that 42% of city debt cases were brought to court by unlicensed debt collectors. Under legislation introduced yesterday by council members Dan Garodnick and Leroy Comrie, all debt collectors who operate in the city would have to register with the Department of Consumer Affairs.

“Unlicensed debt collectors are clogging the courts and preying on consumers,” Mr. Garodnick said yesterday in a statement.

According to Mr. Garodnick, consumers faced with lawsuits from unregistered collectors often have difficulty discovering the source of their debt and can’t reach collection agencies with their questions. Registered collectors, however, can be contacted through the DCA, and their collection methods must be approved by the city.

December 12, 2007 Edition >

Council Seeks Regulation of Debt Collectors.