City officials want to know if the law is doing the job they intended to prevent gross overcrowding in rental dwellings.
By: Linda Seida
LAMBERTVILLE The City Council soon will re-examine the new landlord ordinance to determine if it is doing the job officials intended when they approved it eight months ago.
The ordinance was designed to prevent gross overcrowding in rental dwellings. Officials said it was meant to preserve the health and safety of residents. Critics say it unfairly targets immigrants.
Mayor David Del Vecchio said the discussion would take place during the regular City Council meeting in January.
The council approved the ordinance in March. It went into effect in April. Since then, officials received about 10 calls reporting possible violations. City Clerk Lori Buckelew said inspectors were sent to check out each complaint, but the inspections determined the majority of them to be unfounded.
Three of the cases went to court. In June, the city prosecuted the owner of a Swan Street residence for allowing three people to reside in the basement. He was fined $250.
In August, a landlord on Coryell Street was charged with allowing eight people, including a child, to live in an apartment intended for half that number. He was fined $250.
In September, the owner of a three-bedroom house on Douglas Street was charged with allowing 30 people to live there. He was fined $750.
"Some people have tried to make it look bad," Mayor David Del Vecchio said, referring to criticism labeling the ordinance racist. "We’ve never brought any issue like that into it. It’s about trying to make sure people have safe and secure housing. I think this was something we needed to do."
In all three cases prosecuted by the city, the tenants were Hispanic.
Police Director Bruce Cocuzza said Monday the new law is not about targeting Hispanics. On the contrary, he said, It’s about protecting them from "horrific living conditions" and fire hazards.
The ordinance is not about targeting a race, but it is about "targeting anyone who’s victimized by greedy landlords," Mr. Cocuzza said.
Some of the living conditions found by police have been "grossly inadequate" as well as fire hazards, he said.
To critics, he would ask if people should be allowed to live that way.
"Is that what they suggest" he said. "Just let it go on until something tragic happens?"
John Barczyk, the city’s zoning official, said, "We’ve made substantial progress."
He called the ordinance a tool citizens now are aware can be used to prevent violations.
The city does not perform inspections unless a complaint is received from the community.
"The good news is, if you were in a town with houses spread out, that would be an issue," Mayor Del Vecchio said. "But in Lambertville, with neighborhoods densely populated, at least by this area’s standards, people know if landlords are taking advantage. The public has been good about alerting us. Sometimes we’ve found there have been occupancy violations, and we’ve taken action. Sometimes we’ve found it’s not as reported."
Another aspect of the new ordinance, landlords’ self-certification, also is working well, according to the mayor.
He said, "Things could always be better, but my sense is it’s working well. I’ve not heard complaints that it’s not working."
Landlords are required to certify the maximum number of tenants by submitting a landlord registration statement. Every room that’s used for sleeping must have at least 70 square feet of floor space. Every room used for sleeping by more than one person must have at least 50 square feet per person.
Every room of habitable space must have at least one window capable of opening or another opening that leads to the street, yard or other open space. Each dwelling unit must have a kitchen and full bathroom.

