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NEW YORK - Congressman Charles Rangel praised the efforts of Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau to investigate the questionable tactics by the Pinnacle Group real estate company.
Residents of the Congressman's district in Northern Manhattan are just some of the thousands of New Yorkers that have accused the company of using harassment and intimidation to force tenants out of their apartments, while also illegally increasing rents for uncompleted or fictitious repairs.
"Over the past few months, residents in my district and other parts of the city have provided enough evidence to raise serious concerns about how Pinnacle is running their buildings," said Rangel. "However, thanks to Attorney General Spitzer and D.A. Morgenthau, the public can be assured that something is being done to protect their rights."
According to published media reports, Morgenthau's office has subpoenaed Pinnacle records to verify the validity of documents filed with the state that detail repairs used to justify rent increases. Attorney General Spitzer's office is working with the State's Division of Housing and Community Renewal to look into alleged patterns of abuse in the way the company has dealt with residents.
Congressman Rangel asked Spitzer and Morgenthau to get involved after tenants presented a laundry list of complaints against the company at a joint meeting held by Community Boards 9, 10, 11 and 12.
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