### Tenants Face Dire Conditions in Expensive Brooklyn Apartments, Form Union

The residents of a heavily damaged apartment building on Starr Street in Brooklyn are taking action against their landlord, alleging severe neglect despite exorbitant rent prices. The tenants, who claim to be paying nearly $4,000 a month, report living amidst rat droppings, moldy ceilings, and leaking roofs in the increasingly fashionable Bushwick neighborhood.

Hunter Boone, a 34-year-old tenant, initiated the Starr St. Union last month after numerous calls to 311 about the deteriorating conditions in his $3,500-a-month, two-bedroom apartment. Boone stated that both he and his dog contracted a parasitic infection due to exposure to rat feces. They experienced prolonged digestive issues in May, making it difficult to keep food down, according to Boone's medical records.

During a walkthrough with The Post, Boone revealed distressing conditions such as rat droppings on his kitchen countertops, water damage in the backyard, and exposed holes in his bathroom floor. He highlighted the building's safety hazards, including malfunctioning doors and emergency violations, for which he even printed out "fire hazard" signs.

The tenant union has organized legal action against Jacob Sacks, the owner of Cayuga Capital Management Ventures, which operates 21 buildings in the area. JustFix data shows that Sacks’ properties have an average of two open city violations per unit, surpassing the New York City average of 0.8. The Starr Street property alone has 49 open violations.

Sacks has defended his management of the property, attributing the litany of complaints to a small group of "four current tenants" who, he claims, intentionally block repair efforts to inflate the issues. He contends that Boone is an activist tenant exacerbating the situation.

Boone, who subleased his apartment in April 2023, swiftly found that the reality did not align with the online listings portraying freshly painted rooms and modern appliances. Immediately, he was disturbed by the sound of rats in the ceiling on his first night.

Despite reporting the infestation to 311, Boone alleges that Sacks attempted to push him out, even though Boone had legal documentation confirming his residency. Sacks later offered Boone a new six-month lease at an increased rate of $3,500, which Boone reluctantly paid until encountering additional issues such as lack of heat and a dangerously deteriorating backyard fence.

Sacks is suing Boone for $12,300 in unpaid rent and seeks court approval for eviction if Boone cannot pay. Boone aims to use the lawsuit to expose Sacks’ alleged neglect and secure rent stabilization for the building's units. The tenant union now includes participation from all eight units in the building.

The tenants have been compelled to submit their complaints to the city's Housing Preservation and Development department due to the absence of an onsite superintendent. One union member recounted a pipe burst that displaced his family for six days, resulting in mold spores developing on the ceiling and ongoing vermin issues.

Amid the tenants' struggles, security footage showed an individual removing posters for the Starr Street Union, an action Boone suspects was carried out by someone associated with building management. Sacks, however, denied involvement.

An HPD representative praised the tenants for their collective efforts to hold their landlord accountable and noted that although some repairs have begun, further inspections would follow if issues remain unresolved.

Despite the dire conditions, Boone plans to stay in the apartment until his case is resolved. "Many people in New York don’t think they can fight issues like this due to the time involved," Boone said. "I am now exercising my tenant rights and I intend to fight this." Boone's housing court date is set for October 30th.