Landlord Must Keep Alley Clean

DOS issued a violation notice to landlord for having a dirty sidewalk area. Landlord claimed the area where the garbage was found was an alley next to his building that his tenants didn't use. Landlord claimed the mess was made by people in the neighboring building and that he had no responsibility for that area. The ALJ ruled against landlord and fined him $50. Landlord appealed and lost. The law states that landlord must keep alleys abutting his premises clean. Landlord and neighboring landlord therefore shared that responsibility. And, as landlord stated, he made no efforts to clean the alley.

City of New York v. Solomon: ECB App. No. 20235 (1/18/95) [2-page document]