Opinion
403053/2009.
May 11, 2010.
DECISION ORDER
In this Article 78 proceeding, petitioner pro se Desiree English (English) challenges the decision of Respondent New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) to terminate her tenancy of apartment 4D at 240 Madison Street, in Manhattan (the Apartment).
In February of 2007, twenty one year old Christopher English (Christopher), one of English's sons, pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fourth degree, a class C felony. Christopher was a member of the household for the Apartment. On October 16, 2007, an administrative hearing was held, and the hearing officer sustained charges against English based on Christopher's possession, possession with intent to sell, and sale of narcotics. The officer determined that English's tenancy was subject to Christopher's permanent exclusion from the Apartment. English did not challenge this determination, and any challenges made to it would be time barred (see, Folks v. NYCHA, 27 AD3d 270, 271 [1st Dept, 2006]).
On May 7, 2009, the police executed a search warrant on the apartment seeking Christopher on suspicion of the sale of narcotics (Verified Answer, Ex. K). Christopher was in the apartment and was arrested. Despite finding drugs and paraphernalia in the house, the charges were eventually dropped. Nonetheless, NYCHA scheduled a meeting with English regarding the status of her tenancy on May 8, 2009, whereat English admitted that Christopher was in the apartment, but that he was not residing there, and claimed that no one was selling drugs out of the apartment. A hearing followed on September 3, 2009 based in part on the violation of Christopher's permanent exclusion. The hearing officer sustained the charge for violation of permanent exclusion and determined that termination of tenancy was warranted (Notice of Review and Decision, attached to Verified Answer, Ex. W, p. 4), and on November 10, 2009, the Housing Authority's Board adopted the decision (Verified Answer, Ex. X).
English argues that the decision should be overturned because Christopher was not living at the Apartment, rather he was there because she was feeling ill that day. She further argues that because the 2009 criminal charges against Christopher were dropped, her tenancy should not be terminated. NYCHA counters that there was substantial evidence to support the Board's determination, notwithstanding the subsequent dismissal of the criminal charges.
Judicial review of an administrative determination is limited to a consideration of whether such determination is supported by substantial evidence (see, Matter of Pell v Board of Educ., 34 NY2d 222, 230-232). Substantial evidence need not rise to the level of a preponderance of the evidence, but rather, is "such relevant proof as a reasonable mind may accept as adequate to support a conclusion or ultimate fact" ( 300 Gramatan Ave. Assocs. v State Div. of Human Rights, 45 NY2d 176, 180).
The NYCHA may properly terminate the tenancy of a tenant who violates a condition of permanent exclusion ( Romero v. Martinez, 280 AD2d 58, 64 [1st dept, 2001]). While this is a harsh penalty, it has been held to be reasonable (id.; Serrano v. Popolizio, 183 AD2d 430 [1st Dept, 1992]). In Romero, the court explained "[i]f a family member presents a threat to the tenant's neighbors when he resides there, he is no less of a threat when he comes to visit. While the tenant cannot be answerable for the conduct of her emancipated child . . . she may be held responsible for her own decision to permit [the emancipated child] to enter and stay in the apartment" ( Romero, supra, 280 AD2d at 63). NYCHA supplies sufficient evidence-the arrest warrant, the arrest itself, testimony of police officers, English's own admission-that Christopher was in the Apartment in violation of the permanent exclusion. Accordingly, the termination of English's tenancy, despite being harsh, was rationally based; and it hereby is
ORDERED and ADJUDGED that the petition is denied, and the proceeding is dismissed.