“費城華埠貴族化 影響新移民居住權“

2016-06-13 – 星島日報

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本報費城訊:全國亞太裔社區發展聯盟(National CAPACD)連同夏威夷原住民促進委員會日前發布了《我們的社區:美籍華人及太平洋島居民反遷移戰略》報告。費城華埠發展會(PCDC)的職員楊星兒在啟動儀式上代表費城華埠發言,闡述了社區貴族化的早期影響。

楊小姐看到,費城華埠一直為英語程度有限的新移民提供獨特的機會,但這片天堂正被經濟承受力問題所威脅。很多亞太裔(AAPI)社區,包括費城華埠在內,都處在高消費城市中,緊鄰城中心,要面對不斷上漲的租金及土地價值問題。盡管費城的變化是循序漸進的,但楊小姐也說到「在這個灸手可熱的市場裏,當我們開始用全新的思維方式適應這個地方,我們開始意識到貴族化對民族聚居地的真正傷害,並不會在地面正面臨遷移危機時爆發,然而,它的危害在於這個地區被潛移默化地改變,在這下充滿機遇的地方慢慢豎起了一道抵擋新居民的緊閉大門」。

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“曼哈顿华埠贵族化不断升温 房东逼迁房客情况屡发”

2016-06-08 – 中国侨网

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中国侨网6月8日电 据美国《世界日报》报道,随着美国纽约市曼哈顿华埠贵族化不断升温,房东以维修升级或拆楼新建为由逼迁房客的情况屡见不鲜。现金交租、代签租约、无视政府文件等行为都可能成为房东驱逐房客的理由,律师提醒,房客应养成支票交租、保存租约和法庭文件等重要资料的好习惯,以免陷入“假拆迁真逼迁”的尴尬境地。

美国布鲁克林的周女士一直与丈夫租住在一栋六家庭私人楼宇,90多岁的丈夫出于健康需要不久前搬到疗养院居住,留下她一人继续住在租屋中。“老伴住到疗养院后房东就提出加租,从400美元加到1200美元,整整三倍多!”周女士说,入住20多年来,租约都是由丈夫与房东签订,自己的名字并不在租约上。丈夫一搬走租金就翻三倍,这对于已经步入桑榆之年、仅靠微薄收入度日的她来说,无疑是雪上加霜。

房屋法律专家黄佩珍指出,名字不在租约上的房客可选择与房东协商,重新签订一份租约,以保护自己的正当权益。就亲属之间的租约转让情况而言,只要符合子女或配偶等直系亲属关系、被转让者与转让者在租住的房屋中共同居住至少两年、被转让者没有其他住处,那么就有权向房东提出转让并签订新租约的要求。

纽约市公益维护人詹乐霞首席诉讼法律顾问利维说:“房东惯用的逼迁手法有两种,一种是以拆楼重建为由逼走房客,另一种是通过维护和升级楼宇设施向房客提出加租要求。”

虽然纽约州有“长者免加租计划”、“残障人士免加租计划”等多项面向耆老、残障弱势群体的租金保障计划和相关法律保护,但不可否认的是,这些现行的政策和法律仍然有漏洞。要从根本上解决这些问题,还需从纽约州法着手,通过立法约束房东“假拆迁真逼迁”的恶劣行为。

房屋法律专家黄佩珍指出,以维修为例,房东对整栋大楼的设施设备或者走廊、电梯、大厅、花园等公共空间拥有自主维修权。如果维修升级之后将为大楼内所有房客带来方便和益处,则可以“改善硬件设施”为由要求租客分担费用,不过涨租金额等必须经州房屋与社区维护厅通过,并且审核人员会通过问询信件等方式向房客查实细节,因此房客切不可因看不懂英文或嫌麻烦,就对信件不闻不问。(尹英姿)

“Squeezed By Rents, Stagnant Incomes, Communities Find Solutions: Report”

May, 11, 2016 – NBC News

Incomes for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have failed to keep up with the rising cost of living, a troubling trend that has caused displacement, overcrowding, and homelessness for thousands of low-income families, according to a report to be released Wednesday.

Compiled by the National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development and the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, the report surveyed 15 AAPI and Native Hawaiian neighborhoods across eight states and the District of Columbia. It found, among other things, that tenants and small businesses were most susceptible to being displaced, while some families whose businesses and jobs have served wealthier new residents have fared better economically than low-income AAPIs.

Maxim Coffee House in Boston closed its doors in 2015 after 33 years, due to loss of lease. Sahra Vang Nguyen / NBC News

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“National CAPACD & CNHA Release Report on Displacement in AAPI Neighborhoods”

May. 11, 2016 – National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development

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The National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (National CAPACD) and the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) released Our Neighborhoods: Asian American & Pacific Islander Anti-Displacement Strategies at their report launch today. This timely report highlights twenty-four innovative strategies used by community-based organizations across the country to address the increasing displacement of residents and small businesses in their neighborhoods, using the local context as a springboard for federal policy recommendations.

View our report and press release here.