Proposed Local Law Would Preclude Criminal Background Checks on Cooperative Purchasers and Prospective Tenants
A proposal pending before the New York City Council would prohibit cooperative boards from running criminal background checks on prospective purchasers of units or prospective tenants. The bill would make it an “unlawful discriminatory practice” under the City Human Rights Law for a landlord (including a cooperative) or a broker to make a criminal-history inquiry concerning an applicant, or take adverse action against an applicant for having been arrested or convicted of one or more criminal offenses. Board members and others with opinions on whether the proposed legislation should be passed may wish to share them with their Council Member at this time.