Legal organizations fight to extend post-Sandy eviction moratorium

Judge Fern Fisher and Mark Segall, chair of MFY Legal Services
Judge Fern Fisher and Mark Segall, chair of MFY Legal Services

A group of 19 legal organizations is now urging a city judge to extend a moratorium on post-Hurricane Sandy residential evictions that was lifted yesterday, the New York Observer reported. The group is led by MFY Legal Services, which yesterday wrote to Deputy Chief Administrative Judge Fern Fisher asking for an extension until Jan. 1, 2013.

“We were dismayed to learn that, less than a month after Hurricane Sandy hit, the moratorium on residential evictions is being lifted,” the letter reads. “With the city’s infrastructure still reeling, we respectfully request that you reconsider lifting the moratorium.”

The moratorium remains in effect in Lower Manhattan, Far Rockaway and Red Hook — hard-hit areas.

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Judge Fisher and her chief of staff did not respond to the Observer’s request for comment.

City Council Member Dan Gardonick said he supports the efforts made by the legal groups.

“Let’s give people just a little more time to get on their feet,” he told the Observer in a statement. “To resume evictions when we know families will have nowhere to go is callous and irresponsible.” [NYO]Zachary Kussin