The N.Y.S.  Attorney General is Eric T. Schneiderman. The State Attorneys General has a  Civil Rights Bureau. People have asked us, what have we worked on since the court case on Hollis Ave?  I didn’t feel the need to publish our struggle but, since you have inquired I will oblige.

On December 10, 2014 Community Board 12 filed for a  moratorium on the further building or expansion of homeless or other problem facilities. This was based on the fact, CB12 has 40% of all such facilities in Queens, while CB11 has ZERO. We also used the Mayors own words spoken while interviewed. (Queens Press March 11, 2016, conducted by T. Dowd) When asked if he would support a bill that would limit the amount of supportive housing in a single community, the Mayor said no. The Mayor is quoted ” I think that is a policy matter not a legislative matter”

March 29, 2016 we filed a discrimination complaint ( correspondence number 2016-1281021) with the New York State Attorney Generals Office against Mayor DeBlasio, and his administration on behalf of South East Queens. We compiled facts pertaining specifically to Community Board 12, CB12 at the time had 32% of all the shelters in queens by comparison to CB11 (Auburndale, Little Neck, Bayside, Douglaston, Douglas Manor, Hollis Hills, Oakland Gardens) which has ZERO.

April 06, 2016 we received conformation of the complaint. On May 26,2016 we received an unsigned letter of rejection. On May 31, 2016 We (People For The Neighborhood, Community 1st., and The Saint Albans Civic) visited the Attorney Generals office. We were met by Office Manager Melisa Smith, she stated the rejection letter was a standard response and assured us someone would contact us in regards to our complaint. On June 02, 2016, we received a phone call from Attorney Jessica Attie who discussed our complaint and stated she would contact us in the future in regards. After waiting three weeks with no response we visited the Attorney Generals Office for a second time and was met by security with no contact from the AGO’s office. On June 21, 2016, we received a call from Shiann Headen (Paralegal from Attorney Generals Office) who stated she would be in contact with us in regards to our complaint. On July 25, 2016, I called the AGO, spoke with Shiann Headen who stated she had made several attempts to contact me with no response. (THIS WAS A BLANTANT LIE) we ended the conversation in disagreement. On September 03, 2016, We received a phone from AGO, attorney Jessica Attie stating she is not pursuing our complaint. We believe this is in direct violation of the Attorney Generals duties.

On September 20, 2016, we filed a complaint with AGO, Public Integrity Bureau referencing the above matter and, have not heard a response to this very day.

On November 10, 2016 we filed a complaint with U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division.

On January 27, 2017  the D.O.J responded, (I’m paraphrasing) The D.O.J. has no authority to take action on allegations concerning the denial of other rights related to housing that are not covered by the Fair Housing Act.

We are private citizens acting on behalf of our community, can you imagine if our electeds worked together to protect the community they serve.