More than three years after City Councilmember Rosie Mendez originally introduced the Asthma-Free Housing Act, significant parts of the legislation were incorporated in a proposed amendment to the New York City Safe Housing Act, which was passed by the City Council earlier this month on Wed., Jan. 5.
The new law designates asthma triggers — including mold conditions and vermin infestation — and makes the remediation requirements more stringent.
“With this legislation, we acknowledge that mold and rodent infestation — housing violations that make a major contribution to the asthma epidemic in New York City — are just as serious as other major code infractions,” Mendez said. “I am very pleased that we have expanded the Safe Housing Act to include these asthma triggers, so we can better understand their health impact on families that live in substandard housing.”
The legislation expands the 2007 act that identifies some of the city’s most distressed residential buildings and establishes direct measures to bring the buildings up to code.
Mendez represents the Second Council District, which includes the East Village.
