Supervisor of Brookhaven, Dan Panico, announced a major legal victory against a corporate landlord whose properties in Mastic Beach were the source of serious quality of life concerns.
Following a thorough investigation, the Town issued 196 summonses, resulting in 131 guilty pleas and $103,500 in fines. Many of these properties were actively occupied but lacked required rental permits, with numerous violations including illegal construction, unsafe overcrowding, and serious property neglect.
As part of the settlement, the owner known as SARV has agreed to open a part-time office in Mastic Beach to respond directly to complaints and work with the Town. They also donated six vacant parcels as part of the agreement to mitigate fines, which will now be preserved as open space. They plan on actively managing their properties and making all of them code compliant with valid rental registrations and inspections.
Panico said, “We are sending a clear message and will demand code compliance for the people we represent, who deserve to live in clean, safe neighborhoods.” The announcement was made with Brookhaven Town Clerk Kevin J. LaValle, Councilwoman Karen Dunne Kesnig and Councilman Neil Foley.
Frank Fugarino, president of the Pattersquash Creek Civic Association, said, “We support the efforts of Superviso Panico and urge the Legislature to pass these regulations. Absentee landlords have been abusing the towns and the famalies. Imagine the famalies that are essentially forced to live in these conditions. If they speak up, what will happen to them?”
Panico also went to the Suffolk County Legislature to speak in support of a proposed bill that would mandate the Suffolk County Department of Social Services (DSS) to follow local town building and housing codes - including the necessity of a valid rental registration from the Town of Brookhaven.
“I want to be able to drive down the street and not know which homes are privately owned and which ones are operated by rental agencies. Every one deserves the same level of safety and security in their home,” Fugarino added.
Right now DSS is allowed to avail themselves of New York State (NYS) Temporary Housing codes that allow them to bypass local town codes.
“Taxpayers should not fund what is at times unsafe and overcrowded housing that negatively affects those who reside there and the surrounding neighborhoods. Moreover, areas with historically lower housing values have long been plagued by an over abundance of such housing that serves to diminish the quality of life in those areas,” Panico said.
The bill, sponsored by Legislator Jim Mazzarella, Legislator Nick Caracappa, and Legislator Dominick Thorne will ensure that homes are inspected and compliant with Brookhaven Town codes for occupancy and the New York State Building and Fire Prevention code.
“It’s time to raise the bar on DSS housing, protect our firefighters, protect our communities, and do what should be common sense. Just because NYS allows DSS to utilize the state’s temporary housing codes doesn’t mean they should - and taxpayers shouldn’t fund non-code compliant housing,” said Panico.
The bill will be rediscussed in August at the Suffolk County Legislature.