Crown Heights family fights back against attempted eviction from home

The Robinson family claims they are victims of deed theft, and say they just want to get their deed back so they can stay in the home that has been with the family for generations.

News 12 Staff

Feb 16, 2022, 3:37 AM

Updated 968 days ago

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Advocates held a rally on Tuesday night to help a Crown Heights family keep their home following an attempted eviction.
The Robinson family claims they are victims of deed theft, and say they just want to get their deed back so they can stay in the home that has been with the family for generations.
A tenant rights group gathered at 964 Park Place to help protect the Robinson family, who said they've owned the home since 1951.
The Robinsons said that following a number of deed transfers, they've become tenants in their own home, and their now-landlord has been trying to evict them since 2015. And now sources said New York Attorney General Letitia James is getting involved in court on Tuesday.
Three generations of the Robinson family live in the home. They say Netz Capital Management has been attempting to evict them for nearly seven years now.
News 12 reached out to Netz Capital Management, to which a representative responded and said their company is not involved with this property.
City records show that the building is privately owned by Menachem Gurevitch.
A representative for Gurevitch says the family owes over $500,000, and that the property owner has made the Robinson family generous offers like clearing their debt and offered them a temporary place to stay, and even to pay their rent for six to 12 months at a new apartment.
On Monday night, tenant rights groups like the Crown Heights Tenants Union rallied in front of the home demanding the family get their deed back-- one they said should have been theirs all along.
Those who gathered Tuesday night called the attempts by the landlord to forcefully evict the Robinson family an attack on Black and brown families.
Sherease Robinson and her mother held hands tearfully from their living room as they pleaded for help from elected officials to get their deed back.
"Give us back our deed! This is fraud. Nuts management and fraud to our family," Sherease Robinson said.
James, who is said to have intervened on behalf of the Robinson family in court on Tuesday, is expected to do so again at Wednesday's 11:30 a.m. hearing.