Workers, tenants slam building owner

The owner of a large Hempstead Village apartment complex and the union representing some of its employees are at loggerheads over a new contract.

The issue spilled into view last week, when complex employees, tenants and about 50 supporters rallied outside Hempstead Town Hall, charging that Karan Singh is attempting to freeze wages and cut benefits to workers, and is shortchanging tenants on services despite substantial tax breaks from the town.

Kyle Bragg, a vice president with the Service Employees International Union 32BJ that represents Singh's six building maintenance workers, said Singh has not made the hires required by the tax break agreement.

Bragg said Singh "should be made to pay back the tax break because he hasn't lived up to his word."

Singh referred questions to his attorney, who said Singh is negotiating in good faith with the union.

The lawyer, Michael Tiliakos, of Manhattan, said he could not comment on the tenant issues because he is not involved in that matter.

"These are difficult economic times," Tiliakos said. "We have made proposals to the union . . . We are still waiting for the union to make counter proposals to us."

Singh, owner of the 337-unit Hempstead Manor at 590-600 Fulton Ave. in the village, said Friday that all tenant complaints have been addressed "to the best of my knowledge."

The Hempstead Town Industrial Development Agency granted the tax break. Fred Parola, the IDA's chief executive, said Singh had upgraded the apartment complex, which had been an "absolute disgrace," with gangs in the hallways, poor security and facilities in disrepair. "This really helped the tenants improve their lives, and we have not gotten one complaint from any of them," Parola said.

Parola, a former Nassau County comptroller, said the IDA determined that the complex was overtaxed, and school, town, village and county taxes were reduced. Parola said he could not immediately confirm the overall amount or term of the tax break. But officials in Hempstead Village said taxes on the property had declined from $322,234 to $263,226.

Village Mayor Wayne Hall, who fought Singh's tax break, said the village had since received several complaints from tenants about "heat problems, bedbugs and other insects and ceilings falling down."