NYC Councilman Calls For Extension Of Moratorium On Evictions

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- New York City Council Member Dan Garodnick (D-4th) has called for a moratorium on evictions until Jan. 1 in the wake of Superstorm Sandy.

The New York City Civil Court imposed a citywide moratorium on residential evictions after Sandy, but the moratorium was set to expire on Monday, according to Garodnick's office.

In a news release, Garodnick said the Monday expiration will come too soon. Even in areas where basic services have been restored, anyone who lacked heat, power, hot water, cell phone service or elevator service for a week is still facing challenges, he said.

In many areas, refrigerators remain empty, child care is not always available, and people have fallen behind on work, he said.

"We were in the midst of a serious housing crisis in this City even before the Hurricane hit," Garodnick said in the release. "Our city shelters are full, even without the thousands of those displaced because of the storm. Let's give people just a little more time to get on their feet. To resume evictions when we know many families will have nowhere to go is callous and irresponsible."

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