NYC School Director and Husband Evicted for Writing Off Rent

A Manhattan judge has ordered the eviction of a prominent admissions director at the prestigious Dalton School and her husband, a photographer, from their rent-stabilized apartment in Tribeca. The couple had been paying approximately $2,000 monthly for a spacious 3,000-square-foot unit, significantly below the market rate of up to $14,000. The landlord, Robert Moskowitz, raised concerns in 2016 when he noticed rent payments were made under the name of Michael Goldman Photography, Inc., indicating the apartment was being used as a business address. Investigations revealed that Goldman had been writing off rent and utilities on his company’s tax returns, leading to the court's ruling that he could not claim the Tribeca apartment as his primary residence. New York City's rent stabilization laws stipulate that such apartments must be the tenant's primary residence for over half the year. The couple, married since 1986 and parents to two grown children, also owns a home in Stone Ridge, New York, further complicating their claim to the rent-stabilized unit. Moskowitz expressed outrage over the couple's actions, stating it should offend taxpayers that they sought to profit from a rent-stabilized apartment while not adhering to the law. The court's decision reinforces the intent of rent stabilization laws, which aim to provide affordable housing for legitimate tenants rather than allowing affluent individuals to exploit the system. The couple has not publicly commented on the ruling.