Last night and this morning theWB11 "Help Me Howard" show aired a story that gives all religious Jews a bad name. The story was about 2 fellows (an artist and a construction worker) who were looking to lease an apartment/workplace in NYC. The landlord allegedly rented the apartment out to someone else and kept the deposit as well! They wrote in to "Help Me Howard" since they had no idea how to go about getting their money back. Howard and his crew went to find out who this landlord was. The alleged landlord was Aaron Berger (I believe this is the name as I recall) from Monsey, NY. They seemed to harp on the fact that he was also a Rabbi. Initially he refused to come out and discuss the situation with Howard who wanted to show him the papers that would prove he was in the wrong. As it turns out he probably should of stayed in his house since what happened next was a lot worse. It seems after ringing his bell and asking to speak with him outside and being refused he called him on the phone. Trying yet again the landlord (Rabbi if he even is one) comes out to talk. Aaron was dressed in full Hassidic garb (meaning up hat, long pais, reckel, white sox and all). He refuses to look at the papers and tells him to take him to court and was unwilling to discuss the matter further and went back inside. Howard ended this segment by showing how he got a lawyer to take the case pro-bono. I don't know the side of the landlord and I'm not rushing to judge him (although it certainly doesn't look good) but why come out if you don't intend to discuss it and tell your side? Just stay in your house and don't come out! It's so obvious he's religious he just gives all Hassidim and religious Jews (and Jews in general) a very bad name. I hope for his sake there is a good reason he's not refunding that money. What a terrible chillul hashem! This is not the first time unfortunately that Jewish landlords have been exposed on national television.
5 comments:
I saw this last night, and was so upset I couldn't fall asleep for hours. I actually e-mailed Howard this morning to see if he would email some documents and pics so that I could post a full report on this story on my blog.
Howard e-mailed me back and said due to station policy he couldn't do that.
The fact the he (howard) said at the end of the segment that this guy asked him "what it would take" for him not to air the segment (i.e. a bribe) proved to me that this guy was in fact guilty.
This was one of the biggest chillul Hashem's I've seen in a very long time. How many MILLIONS of people watched that segment??
I hope he knows the damage he has caused, and by coming out and denying (what was obviously true, they had papers proving he was the owner)
So horrible, I was so upset about it. I was going to blog about this today, but chose not to. I'm going to on Monday. If you google his name and monsey his info will come up, maybe someone should ask him if he realizes what chillil Hahsem he made, of if he cares.
This guy is certainly not dealing with a full deck if he's wrong. Doesn't he realize that no one would give up if he lost that amount of money. Not sure what he's hoping for.
Hello. I am a small business owner and life-long Brooklyn resident. I am in a court battle right now with Aaron Berger. I rent commercial space from him. For the past year and a half I've been asking him to install a rear fire-door at my place. It is a 66 foot long property with no rear exit. It is an illegal structure, but all I am asking is a simple safety measure. The gate to the property -- which is noted in my lease -- has not been working for nearly a year. He employs workers who are forced to labor in conditions you would expect in the 1800's or some third world nation. He provides no services AT ALL. The property is filled with garbage and he and his company will only talk about rent demands. I had a face-to-face meeting with this man yesterday and couldn't believe the smug, "I'm better than you and you can't touch me attitude". I told him security is so bad that homeless people live on the property, there have been numerous break-ins and fires. He said he doesn't care. This was in front of two witnesses. And all this is just the tip of the iceberg. He is a dispicable individual who only cares about money, above all. Above human beings and the human spirit, which he should be all about.
Thanks for listening. Shalom.
Aaron J. Berger, residing at 9 Jeffrey Place, Monsey, NY,10952, knowingly and willingly using the aliases Aaron Berger, Aron Berger, Aaron Burger and who represents himself as president of Realty Management Co., also known as Realty Management Corp., and who also represents himself as president of B & A Warehousing Corp, also known as B & A Wharehousing Corp., all companies of which are believed NOT to be registered with the New York State Secretary of State’s Office as businesses registered to do business in the state of New York, and who is also president of Metroeb Realty Corp, known to be registered with the New York State Secretary of State’s Office as a businesses registered to do business in the state of New York with an address of 9 Jeffrey Place, Monsey, NY, 10952, but which is registered with the NYC Lobbyist Company of Fishbein, Badillo as Metroed Realty Corp with the president of Mr. Aaron Burger and where it is known and recorded that the aforementioned B & A Warehousing Corp. is the lease-holder to the property in question, and where the tenant of 61 9th St., Brooklyn, NY, 1st Floor, GattoMedia Inc entered into a written lease agreement with Realty Management Co., signed by president, Aaron Berger, where GattoMedia Inc writes checks for rent each month to Realty Management Co., where GattoMedia Inc. has been sued by Realty Management Co. and B & A Warehousing on two separate occasions, and that he, the same Aaron J. Berger, has engaged in a pattern of illegal, corrupt, deceptive and possible criminal business activities and practices as the actual owner of the property in question, guilty of negligence, disregard of health, safety and well-being of tenant, tenant’s staff and tenant’s clients, retaliation, wilful misconduct, actions which have resulted in, but are not necessary limited to, loss of business for GattoMedia Inc and virtual eviction of tenant, GattoMedia Inc, from 61 9th St, 1st Floor by such specific actions, but not limited to, withholding gas service, refusing entry of utilities on tenant’s behalf, providing no management and maintenance of property, allowing dangerous conditions to exist, not communicating with tenant, and hiding from tenant.
GattoMedia Inc further alleges:
1. There are NO services provided whatever by the landlord.
2. Landlord avoids any communication with tenant.
3. The landlord does not maintain or manage the property in any real way.
4. 1,2 and 3 have led to, but are not necessarily confined to: unhealthful trash accumulation, rodent infestation, hazardous driving by trucks as large as 18-wheelers, floods, leaks, danger from electrical wires, illegal chemical storage, illegal and hazardous dumping of waste into Gowanus Canal, dangerous lack of fencing at water’s edge, fire, burglary.
5. Landlord does nothing to facilitate the proper removal of trash, leading to anonymous garbage pileups in the yard, and on the roadways.
6. Tenants have no incentive to follow rules because there is absolutely no real management on the property.
7. Landlord regularly refuses access to utilities on behalf of tenant, including Con Ed and Keyspan
8. Landlord refuses to allow electrician access to property to investigate who is paying for what electric service.
9. Some tenants are paying NO electricity.
10. GattoMedia contends that the landlord nor any workers really know how the electricity is being routed; the gas is being run, how the garbage is being disposed or any other activity that goes on at the property.
11. GattoMedia Inc has spent approx $20,000 to improve property and make it somewhat habitable, including wall repair, insulation installation, cement work, leaks, plumbing, and electricity.
12. The fire door that was installed at the premises was done shabbily, by one man, a handyman. It is unfinished with large holes to the property, causing floods and rodent infestation.
13. The following people who have represented themselves as employees of Realty Management Co., and as speaking on behalf of Aaron Berger, refuse to provide their last names: Sam, Jay, Yakov, David, Diane
14. Realty Management has refused to affix its corporate seal at the appropriate space called-for in the lease, while GattoMedia Inc. is ready to provide its corporate seal.
15. Realty Management Co. refuses to provide its Federal Tax ID no.
16. There are many illegal residential apartments on the property. Some residential tenants have told me that they were told by the landlord to sign a commercial lease and they would have no problem using the space as residential.
CHRONOLOGY
1. December 2005 – GattoMedia Inc. (lessee) answers Craigslist Ad for 61 9th Street (premises).
2. January 2006 -- Lessee signs lease with Realty Management Co. (lessor).
3. January 2006 -- April 2007 – Lessor provides gas service, knowingly and willingly to premises and informs lessee that despite the lease, he does not have to pay for gas service.
4. January 2006 – March 2007 (15 Months) -- GattoMedia pays rent, as per lease, in a timely fashion.
5. April 2006 – Lessee informs lessor that gate has not been working since moving into premises, that there have been numerous car break-ins, that numerous crack vials could be seen strewn on the property, that graffiti was being scrawled daily, and that people were entering the property day and night, at will, because the gate was not working. Lessee also informs lessor that, despite inspection of the property before signing the lease, it had now come to lessee’s attention that the premises was essentially a firetrap due to the lack of a rear door and lessee respectfully requested that the lessor install said door.
6. April 2006 – Lessor refuses to address lessee’s concerns and refuses to even discuss the issues.
7. April 2006 – March 2007 – Lessee reiterates concerns, but with no response from lessor. Numerous phone calls to Realty Management Co. phone number go unanswered (rings off the hook). It is a Brooklyn phone number. The only address provided by Realty Management Co. is a Post Office Box No. in Monsey, NY.
8. August 2006 – GattoMedia Inc. suffers $10,000 in losses during burglary at premises due to lack of security gate. Report filed with NYPD 76th Pct. and investigated by NYPD detectives. GattoMedia Inc. advises Realty Management Co. and Aaron Berger, personally, who refuses to take any responsibility for lack of security.
9. September 2006 -- Lessee installs industrial gas heater (approx $2,000), replacing old unit and turns old unit over to lessor. Lessor examines, approves and thanks lessee for excellent installation of new heater.
10. April 2007 – Lessee begins withholding rent to force addressing of gate and fire door issues.
11. April 2007- July 2007 – Lessee receives, from lessor, SIX separate, written demands for payment of rent.
12. May 2007 – GattoMedia Inc. hires exterminator to deal with growing rodent infestation problem.
13. July 2 , 2007 -- Lessee is served with FIVE DAY NOTICE FOR RENT
14. July 18, 2007 – Lessor sues lessee under company names B&A Warehousing Corp and Realty Management Co. This is the first time lessee sees or hears the company name B&A Warehousing Corp.
15. September, 2007 – MEETING #1 - NEGOTATION AT COURT: Present are Tony Gatto, Aaron Berger, Jacob Gelfand, attorney for the lessor and Martin Silberman, attorney for the lessee. Tony Gatto reiterates that the gate does not work. Berger argues that although the rider to the lease spells out operation of and key access for the gate, it does not spell out that he actually has any responsibility to even provide a gate. When Gatto reiterated his grave concern that the premises are a firetrap, a 66 foot long unit with no rear door, Berger said he didn’t care. Gatto asked if he shared the concern that someone may be hurt or even killed in a fire. Berger shrugged his shoulders and again said he didn’t care.
16. October 10, 2007 -- Lessee and B & A Warehousing reach stipulation agreement 07K182751
17. October 11, 2007 – Lessee realizes gas service has been cut-off.
18. October 2007 – MEETING #2 – AT PREMISES – Present are Tony Gatto, Aaron Berger and Jay (Realty Mgmt). Aaron Berger says lessee was not supposed to be getting gas service the previous winter. Berger claims he doesn’t have to continue providing gas service. Lessee makes clear that he will pay for continuation of gas service, but warns that cutting it off would be illegal, immoral and possibly criminal. Lessee enumerates numerous times that the gas service needs to flow and that not providing continued gas service would be taken as a provocative act. That is the last communication lessee had with Aaron Berger who then went into hiding and became unreachable.
19. October 2007 – Lessee does not pay rent as it was granted a one month waiver as part of stipulation agreement.
20. November 2007 – Lessee begins to withhold rent to force addressing of gas issue.
21. November 2007 - March 2008 -- Lessee receives, from lessor, SIX separate, written demands for payment of rent.
22. February 2008 -- Realty Management worker dangerously installs electrical extension cords around the fire sprinkler pipes in the premises, as a precaution against the pipe’s freezing. Realty Management took this action with full knowledge that the tenant was still with no heat.
23. February 2008 -- Lessee obtains home address and phone number for Aaron J Berger. Phone call to home confirms with woman who answers phone that is the home of Aaron Berger, owner of 61 Ninth St. Upon hearing complaints from caller, woman says “you have the wrong number” and hangs up.
24. February 20 , 2008 -- Lessee is served with FIVE DAY NOTICE FOR RENT
25. February 20, 2008 – Lessor sues lessee under company names B&A Warehousing Corp and Realty Management Co.
February 28, 2008 (on or about) – COMMUNICATION BETWEEN TONY GATTO AND JACOB GELFAND, ATTORNEY FOR LESSOR. PHONE CONVERSATION – In the one any only phone conversation held between Gatto and Gelfand, Gatto respectfully requested that the pending lawsuit be withdrawn. Gatto listed the reasons why he thought the lawsuit should be withdrawn, namely the discontinuation of gas service. Gelfand sent an email to Aaron Berger, which he later forwarded to Gatto along with Berger’s response, in which the attorney implored Berger, his client, that GattoMedia Inc “needs the gas restored”. Berger’s response was terse, “We do not provide tenants with heat, as stated in the lease, paragraph #41 and #44”.
26. The email exchange is below:
From: Realty Management [mailto:realtymanagment@thejnet.com]
Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2008 3:03 PM
To: 'jACOB GELFAND'
Subject: RE: Tony Gatto Gattomedia
We do not provide tenants with heat, as stated in the lease, paragraph #41 and #44.
-----Original Message-----
From: jACOB GELFAND [mailto:gelfand_law@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2008 2:34 PM
To: Harav Aaron Berger
Subject: Tony Gatto Gattomedia
Needs the gas service restored.
What happened with this
J Gelfand
I am jew and i am broker who give Aaron Berger good tenant(which pay rent few year),but he did not pay me my commissions.What can i do about.?
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