📰   Press & Media

In the News

Press coverage, feature articles, and media appearances spanning international business, community advocacy, and tenant rights in New York City.

🏛️ City News
Columbia Daily Spectator
By Celia Bernhardt
Staff Writer
Photography: Grace Li
January 23, 2023
✦ Expert Source & Tenant Leader

City Sues Landlords of Seven West Harlem Apartment Buildings for 'Dangerous Conditions'

New York City filed suits against West Harlem landlords Alma Realty Corp. and Empire Management America Corp., charging toxic mold, vermin infestations, broken elevators, gas leaks, lead paint, and cracked façades across 21 buildings with 2,100 violations. David Hanzal provided sharp analysis of the systemic forces behind the neglect.

"It's cheaper for them to just pay the fine than actually go do the work."

— David Hanzal, Columbia Daily Spectator, January 2023

Hanzal explained why rent-regulated tenants are especially vulnerable: "There's no incentive because no matter what [landlords] put into [the repairs], they can't charge you any more."

"If I'm going to rent a market-rate apartment, and I'm not getting that service, I'm gonna move out. When you're rent stabilized, you're kind of stuck there, you don't have enough money where you can really afford to live in the city."

— David Hanzal

Seven of the 21 implicated buildings are in West Harlem, concentrated near Columbia's campus. Hanzal put the lawsuit in broader context: "Alma is a slumlord. But I don't think that these are the most gross violations. If you look at Alma's portfolio, they have hundreds and hundreds of buildings. If you're saying they're doing something, you gotta look at the root of this."

Alma RealtyHPD ViolationsWest HarlemRent StabilizationHousing Lawsuit
Full Article ↗ Read Original ↗

🏆 Award Recognition

P.A.L.A.N.T.E. Leader of the Year Award

David receives the highest honor at the P.A.L.A.N.T.E. Annual Benefit Gala, presented by former NYS Assembly member Keith L. T. Wright.

📺 NY1 News Coverage

Exclusive NY1 Rally Coverage — Manhattanville Tenant Association

NY1 News covers the Manhattanville Tenant Association's rally at 3147–3149 Broadway, as tenants and elected officials confront BCB Property Management live on camera.

📸 Community Action

On the Front Lines

From housing court to press conferences and tenant rallies — David W. Hanzal has spent decades standing alongside Harlem residents fighting for their homes and rights.

Justice for Tenants rally

Justice for Tenants rally, West Harlem

Press conference at 3147–3149 Broadway

Press conference at 3147–3149 Broadway — NY1 & elected officials

NYC Housing Court

NYC Housing Court — tenants & legal team

Accepting award

Accepting award — "In gratitude for dedication to empowering the West Harlem community"

NYC City Council Citation

NYC City Council Citation — David Hanzal honored alongside fellow community leaders

Accepting the P.A.L.A.N.T.E. Leader of the Year Award

Accepting the P.A.L.A.N.T.E. Leader of the Year Award

P.A.L.A.N.T.E. Annual Gala

P.A.L.A.N.T.E. Annual Gala — awardees & elected officials

Citation of Merit — Borough of the Bronx

Citation of Merit — Borough of the Bronx, presented by Ruben Diaz Jr.

Community & Social
Manhattanville
Facebook Page
Manhattanville Tenant Association
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Press & Feature Articles
🏛️ Feature
Columbia Daily Spectator — The Eye
By Juliana Kim
Edited by Maya Perry
Photography: Yasmine Akki & Kirill Buskirk
February 21, 2018
✦ Feature Subject

Inside Predatory Landlords: One Tenant's Fight Against Displacement in Manhattanville

A five-month deep-dive following David Hanzal as he battled private equity firm BCB Property Management in NYC housing court — organizing tenants across six Broadway buildings facing illegal displacement tactics, hazardous conditions, and coordinated harassment.

"You can see, I've made it my home. It's not just an apartment with white walls, it's my home. I'm not trying to get free rent, I'm not trying to dupe anyone out."

— David Hanzal, Columbia Daily Spectator

BCB bought six West Harlem buildings for $81 million in 2014 and began pressuring rent-stabilized tenants out — construction 6–7 days a week, 70+ HPD violations, collapsed ceilings. Three years later they listed the properties for $125 million.

David organized 30 tenants, formed the Manhattanville Tenant Association, and pursued legal action through P.A.L.A.N.T.E. and attorney John Gorman — winning resolution of all maintenance violations.

He was honored with the P.A.L.A.N.T.E. Leader of the Year Award, presented by former NYS Assembly member Keith L. T. Wright.

Tenant RightsHousing CourtHarlemPredatory LandlordsRent Stabilization
Full Article ↗ Columbia Spectator ↗
💼 Business
American Express Business Class
By Shira Levine
Contributing Writer, Business Insider
September 6, 2011
✦ Expert Source & Featured Subject

How To Conduct Business In The Middle East

Featured as the primary expert in this American Express Business Class guide on Middle East business culture. As President of Technologies International LLC, David shared insights from decades of experience across Saudi Arabia, UAE, and the MENA region.

"It is seen as very disrespectful to just dive into business. You don't interrupt someone unless it's something that may cause a financial problem, or affect the way they provide for their family."

— David Hanzal, American Express Business Class

On cultural respect: "Bringing a bottle of booze is a great way to end any relationships in the Middle East."

On proper address: "I'm always addressed as Mr. Hanzal, or, Engineer David."

On building relationships: "Enjoy your conversations, enjoy getting to know them on a personal level, and just understand that it is an honor for them to let you into their life."

On negotiation: "A better price will always be asked for no matter what is being offered. Keep it reasonable, but make sure you're comfortable with some wiggle room when closing the deal."

On the holy day: "Do not bother anyone on Friday, it is their most holy day."

International BusinessMiddle EastMENAAmEx Business Class
Full Article ↗ Archived Original ↗
📰 City News
DNAinfo New York
DNAinfo Staff
West Harlem Bureau
December 30, 2015
✦ Quoted Source & Tenant Leader

Building Owned by Robert Durst's Wife Lands on City's Watch List

DNAinfo New York reports that 3149 Broadway — owned by Debrah Lee Charatan, wife of accused murderer Robert Durst — was placed under HPD's Proactive Preservation Initiative, giving the city power to take the landlord to court. David Hanzal was a central voice.

"They want us out."

— David Hanzal, DNAinfo New York, December 2015

BCB Property Management gut-renovated empty apartments to hike rents while ignoring basic repairs in occupied, stabilized units — turning the building into a construction zone and accumulating 70 open HPD violations by January 2016.

The HPD Proactive Preservation Initiative designation gave the city direct power to pursue legal remedies against BCB — a significant win for tenant advocates.

DNAinfoRobert DurstBCB PropertyHPDWest Harlem
Full Article ↗ Original (Archived) ↗
📰 City News
Manhattan Times News
By Gregg McQueen
West Harlem Bureau
February 17, 2016
✦ Featured Tenant Leader & Quoted Source

The BCB Bully? — Harlem Tenants Rail Against Landlord Tactics, Unsafe Conditions

Manhattan Times News covers the tenant uprising at 3147–3149 Broadway, where residents — led by David Hanzal — confronted BCB Property Management over gut-renovation tactics, 81 open HPD violations, and dangerous living conditions. Public Advocate Letitia James and Councilmember Mark Levine joined the fight.

"We haven't had gas in the building since September. It's ridiculous."

— David Hanzal, Manhattan Times News, February 2016

Nearly half of the building's 20 units had been under continuous renovation since BCB purchased the property in November 2014 — turning hallways into construction zones with exposed wiring, collapsing ceilings, and hazardous chemical fumes permeating occupied apartments.

"You can't even walk through the hallways. And there are workers mixing hazardous chemicals right out in the hall — the smell permeates the apartments."

— David Hanzal

City records showed 81 open HPD violations at 3149 Broadway and 17 at 3147 Broadway. Public Advocate Letitia James declared: "This predatory and unethical behavior is an affront to the basic human rights of all New Yorkers who deserve a safe home."

Councilmember Levine added: "This landlord is using construction as a weapon to harass tenants out of their homes. It's completely unacceptable."

BCB PropertyTenant HarassmentHPD ViolationsWest HarlemRent Stabilization
Full Article ↗ Read Original ↗
🏛️ The Eye
Columbia Daily Spectator — The Eye
Columbia Spectator Staff
The Eye Magazine
October 12, 2018
✦ Expert Source & Community Voice

Who Lived in Your Dorm Before It Was a Dorm?

An investigative feature examining the human cost of Columbia's Manhattanville expansion and the ongoing displacement of longtime community residents. David is featured as a central voice on the cyclical nature of predatory displacement in West Harlem.

"He walks in, he says, 'I've organized my building, I've done 311, I don't know what to do, the landlord's doing this.' He's got a long road ahead of him. You know, he's where I was in 2014."

— David Hanzal, Columbia Daily Spectator — The Eye

Years after his own fight ended, David watches new tenants walk into P.A.L.A.N.T.E. facing the same predatory landlord tactics he battled in 2014–2018 — underscoring the cyclical nature of displacement as Columbia's campus expansion continues raising surrounding property values.

Columbia UniversityManhattanvilleDisplacementWest Harlem
Full Article ↗ Read Original ↗
🏛️ City News
Columbia Daily Spectator
By Claire Hunt
Staff Writer
Photography: Judy Goldstein
October 27, 2022
✦ Expert Source & Community Voice

Rats Are Coming Out in Unprecedented Numbers in West Harlem, Driving Residents Out of Rent-Controlled Buildings

As West Harlem hit a 10-year high of 489 rat sightings in 2022, David Hanzal was the central community voice connecting the public health crisis to deliberate landlord neglect in rent-stabilized buildings.

"I've lived here for almost 20 years and I've never seen it like this, ever. It's horrendous."

— David Hanzal, Columbia Daily Spectator

"I think that those buildings — the ones that are the bargaining chips for more money, so to speak — are the lowest-hanging fruit for these landowners."

— David Hanzal

"In our housing meetings, we have people come and they're talking about major health issues, especially if you've got children in the house that are on the ground and there's rodent feces around. It's just a breeding ground for disease."

— David Hanzal

"That whole area [West Harlem] has been just quite ignored. Not only with the landlords, but you got to look at the city."

West HarlemPublic HealthRent ControlTenant Advocacy
Full Article ↗ Columbia Spectator ↗