"Accountability for the worst landlords in our city is the only route to changing their practices and the unlivable conditions at their buildings. Daniel Ohebshalom has spent years at the top of our Worst Landlord Watchlist, and in recent months he has lost millions of dollars in settlements, lost control of one of his buildings, and now, faces arrest. When tenant power is combined with the resources of the city, we can bring penalties that are more than the cost of doing business.
"Ohebshalom is an example, not an outlier. Hopefully today’s escalation is a sign of a renewed commitment by the city to holding bad actors accountable – and a signal to the worst landlords around our city that severe negligence will lead to severe consequences. We can’t stop at one building or owner – we need to change the systems that have permitted putting profit over people for too long."