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Office of the District Attorney P. David Soares NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTION PROGRAM Who: P. David Soares and members of the District Attorney’s Office, Cohoes Police Department When: June 20th at 7 pm Where: St. Rita’s Hall, 50 Lansing Street, Cohoes. ALBANY, NY – District Attorney P. David Soares has announced an upcoming workshop for Cohoes Residents designed to create a partnership between landlords, tenants, homeowners, and law enforcement to help eliminate the criminal element that conducts illegal activities within private dwellings through an aggressive use of the power of eviction. Launched last year, this program has been titled the “Safe Homes—Safe Streets Initiative” and contains three separate projects; Landlord Training, The Trespass Affidavit Program, and the Narcotics Eviction Program. It is the hope of the District Attorney’s Office that landlords would be the gatekeepers of the community. With the proper screening, we can ensure that new tenants will become an asset to the community instead of a nuisance. This training also explains the evictions process, including reasons for bringing an eviction action and service of process issues. This material is vital to commencing a successful eviction action and avoiding being dismissed on a technicality. The DA’s Office will also be supplying packets that include sample applications, sample denial letters, sample leases and sample zero tolerance clauses, which cover criminal activity specifically and should be included in a lease. Landlord training is a free program being offered by the District Attorney’s Office to provide landlords and tenants helpful information on screening techniques and the evictions process. Specifically, people that attend this program will learn how to use an application process that is fair and reasonable. This presentation covers civil rights of all parties involved. Additionally, helpful information is supplied regarding credit checks and criminal history checks. The Trespass Affidavit Program helps fight against individuals loitering on posted property. Property owners interested in posting their property will have to sign an affidavit and complete a form listing all registered tenants for that property. These forms must be mailed along with a check or money order for $5.29 per property to the District Attorney’s Office. Upon doing so, the District Attorney’s Office will provide signs that will notify the public that no trespassing is permitted. If law enforcement comes upon an individual who is not registered to be in the building or is not a guest of one of the registered tenants, that individual can be arrested for trespassing. The Narcotics Eviction Program targets drug dealers who have moved their activities into private apartments. Upon establishing that an illegal activity has taken place at a particular premises, the District Attorney’s Office will demand action be taken by the landlord to evict all people at that residence who knew or should have known of the illegal activity. This program works with landlords to provide technical support in the eviction process. However, in cases where the landlord fails to act in a time manner, the District Attorney’s Office, as a law enforcement agency, will step in and execute the eviction at a Drug Holdover Proceeding. Through the Safe Homes—Safe Streets Initiative, landlords can help themselves and the community by ridding the neighborhoods of know threats. To become involved with or receive further information, please call Jessica Blaine-Lewis at the District Attorney’s Office at 275-4722 or email the office at safehomessafestreets@albanycountyda.com. Back to Press Releases For further information contact: Rachel McEneny
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