Long Beach Housing Task Force issues summonses

Long Beach’s new Housing Task Force has served about 40 homes with violations in the first five months of the program, city officials said.

The task force, made up of two police officers and a building inspector, has issued summonses to Long Beach City Court for offenses such as multifamily houses without permits, illegal rooming houses and garages converted into rooms.

The violations will likely result in several thousand dollars in fines in total when the cases reach conclusion, city officials said. The effort is part of a crackdown on residences without permits in the city, they said.

“It overburdens our infrastructure, creates parking problems, and increases taxes in our school district,” Councilman Scott Mandel said in a statement. “So our police department and building department are now working together to crack down on illegal housing.”

The task force can be contacted at 516-431-1000, ext. 239, and is seeking tips, city officials said.

The force also accepts emails via illegalrentals@longbeachny.org. Communications will be confidential, city officials said.

Above: Long Beach City Hall