Exclusive | Landlord raises stink over $1K fine for foul odor resembling animal waste in NYC building: Its a fart complaint!
A landlord is raising a stink over the city fining him for a foul odor in his Bronx building — which he claims is just a “fart complaint.” John Crotty, co-owner of the East 147th Street Housing Development Fund Corp., got socked with a $1,000 summons from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for the stink, which an inspector identified as resembling “animal waste.”“A nuisance condition exists in that a foul odor resembling animal waste was detected at the bottom of [the] stairwell located at [the] lower-level front exterior of the premises,” reads the Sept.23 violation, issued by health inspector Eric Han at the 21-unit apartment building at 539 East 147th Street.Minimum penalty: $1,000, a copy of the violation says.But Crotty is crying foul — telling The Post the only thing that stinks, is the summons.“This is totally outrageous,” Crotty said, denying there being animal waste in his building.
“It’s a fart complaint,” he added, joking that maybe the health inspector got “crop-dusted.” Crotty and the building superintendent, Rashad Pryatt, said there’s instances of getting hit with a $50 ticket from the city Department of Sanitation for a violation regarding a defective trash container or issues with garbage pick-up.They then rectify the problem to curb odors and prevent rat infestations. But a $1,000 fine from the health department over a mysterious foul smell is unprecedented — and noxious, they said.Crotty will fight the summons before the city Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings on Oct.
28, he said.Pryatt, the building super, also denied there was animal poop on the premises.“No, there was no animal waste.These people are crazy,” he said.He provided The Post with a picture of the building and sidewalk when he cleaned up the garbage on Sept.
23, the date of alleged poop odors.The building complex is in a dense and heavily trafficked area, with Public School 277 located next door.“It’s not me.It�...