Tenants from Washington Heights, along with elected officials and community groups, gathered outside civil court on Monday to demand action against their landlord, Daniel Ohebshalom. The tenants accuse Ohebshalom of failing to make court-ordered repairs to their buildings at 705 and 709 West 170th streets.

"We’re calling on the courts to do the right thing and not release Daniel Ohebshalom, but instead criminally charge him for his neglect and abuse throughout the years," said City Council Member Carmen De la Rosa.

Tenants said despite serving a 60-day jail sentence back in March, Ohebshalom has not addressed over 125 hazardous violations in the buildings.

"What he’s going through now does not begin to cover what we’ve been going through for the past 20 years, particularly those years during the pandemic when they removed the super from the building and left us to take care of it ourselves," said tenant Gilbert Butcher.

News 12 NY previously toured the buildings showing what tenants say are unsanitary conditions and incomplete repairs, which continue to pose significant health and safety risks to residents.

The tenants and their advocates are pushing for the Department of Housing Preservation and Development to take control of the buildings and transfer ownership to a nonprofit developer.

"We want these buildings out of his hands. We want to turn these buildings into affordable co-ops without having to worry that a slumlord is going to make our lives miserable," Butcher added.