The Legal Aid Society – in conjunction with Legal Services NYC and Selendy & Gay PLLC – submitted a letter to Federal court seeking approval to file a motion to intervene on Community Housing Improvement Program, et al, City of New York – litigation recently brought to dismantle the historic statewide housing reforms enacted into law this past June and New York’s long standing rent stabilization laws that have existed since 1968, reports Crain’s New York Business.

The letter argues that Petitioners have standing and the right to intervene on behalf of tenant groups Tenants & Neighbors and Community Voices Heard as these organizations represent thousands of members who are rent stabilized tenants and who stand to lose their homes if Plaintiffs in the aforementioned lawsuit succeed. The letter also requests leave to file a motion to dismiss in the event that said intervention is granted.

“New York’s longstanding rent stabilization protections and the recently enacted reforms provide millions of New York tenants basic housing rights to defend against illegal evictions and harassment as well as unjustified rent increases,” said Judith Goldiner, Attorney-In-Charge of the Civil Law Reform Unit at The Legal Aid Society. “We look forward to defending these essential protections against this frivolous and baseless eleventh-hour lawsuit that seeks to allow landlords to evict 2.5 million New York City residents from their homes for their own financial gain. We implore the Court to grant our request.”