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Police tape protects a vacated apartment building, center, on Sept. 3, 2021, in Queens. Officials said three people were killed in a basement apartment when it was flooded las week as rain from the remnants of Hurricane Ida slammed the city. AP Photo/Mark Lennihan.

A look at efforts to make illegal NYC basement apartments safe

By Spectrum News Staff New York City

PUBLISHED 3:52 PM ET Sep. 10, 2021 PUBLISHED September 10, 2021 @3:52 PM

NEW YORK — Most of the 13 New Yorkers who died as a result of last week’s deadly flooding were trapped in their illegal basement apartments as water levels quickly rose, renewing the conversation over how to make these homes safe and legal for those living there.

Jessica Katz, the executive director of the group Citizens Housing and Planning Council, joined NY1 political anchor Errol Louis on “Inside City Hall” on Thursday evening to discuss.

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Watch the full interview above.

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A look at efforts to make illegal NYC basement apartments safe

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