New-York tribune., 1920-12-04
1000 Tenants
In Bronx Are
On Rent Strike
Demand 7 Per Gent Reduc-
tion, Repairs, Sanitation,
Heat and Recognition
of League by Owners
Walk Out May Spread
Morris and Bedford Park
and Downtown Branches
Will Take Action Soon

A rent strike, which has been started
i'll the East Fordham district Of the
Bronx as A result of the efforts Of the
Bronx Tenants League, will spread D
other sections Of the city, according
members of the organizations
The Bronx strikers are demanding
reduction in rent, repairs to build
ings, better sanitary conditions, a full
supply of heat and hot water where
such are in contracts and recognition
of the Bronx Tenants League.
1t was asserted yesterday at head
quarters of the league, 757 East 1s7th
Street, that similar strike would be
called by the Norris Park and Bedford
Park branches of the organizat on and
by d branch with headquarters near
Blcecker and Macdougal streets, down.
town
The president of the Bronx Tenants
League is P. Genovese Atillo Decicco,
lawyer, at 81 Liberty Street, aid last
night he had been engaged as counsel
= j.
Most Of those at the hall in the 4~onx
yesterday were Italians. and the down
town district in which 1t is predicted d
rent strike viii be put into effect next
Monday is heavily Italian
1000 Bronx Members
The league members say, however.
that ali nationalities are with them in
the strike, and that already 1908 Bronx
members have refused to pay t. cir rent,
which was due December l. Ton thou
sand placards bearing the wo.as PRO
test" and ''Strike' have been aen' ont
it is asserted. Many of thes. ap-
peared in the windows OF apartment
houses in the East Fordham district
yesterday. Tonight meeting VIII be
held at the Bronx district Headquarters,
to be addressed by Carlos Tresca, q
physician, on the need of better san-
tary conditions in the houses Of the
district.
A membership of $1,000 is claimed
fc. the combined branches of the ten
ants organization. In the Bronx the
strike has been ecipitated, it is said.
by the fact that many OF the residents
IN the district where The placards have
appeared arc workers in the garment
trade, and have had reductions in
wages or arc on part time. Many are
out Of work altogether
The decrease asked would amount
TO a general reduction Of Z per cent
IN the rent, it is estimated. Also it is
demanded that there shall be no dis
crlmlnatloa among tenants in a build
ing by charging varying rents for
apartments containing the same mum
ber Of rooms.
1t was said at the headquarters of
the Tenants League that policemen
had been called by landlords in two
cases in an cndcayor to make tenants
take down signs. The officers, It is
said, told the landlords they would
have to take their cases to court
The strike. il persisted il. no doubt
Will add heavily TO the already large
number OF landlord tenant cases in
the courts.
Stewart Browne, president Of the
Real Estate Owners Association. last
night saiA the tenants had no legal
standing in such demand Tor de-
crease in rent.
Thomas H. Cavanaugh, an officer of
the Taxpayers Alliance, said that q
meeting Of the East fremont Associa-
ton would be held at Borough Hall in
the Bronx next Wednesday night, and
the rent strike case probably would
be considered.