Back in May, Boston City Councilor Josh Zakim called for a hearing to investigate the decrepit housing conditions offered to Bostonians and Boston-area collegiate students by landlord Anwar Faisal. One of the city’s largest renters to higher-ed students, Faisal expressed his intent on attending the hearing scheduled for Wednesday, June 24, and to testify on his own behalf. On Monday, Councilor Zakim’s office informed us that Faisal has since reneged on his offer and will not be in attendance.
According to Councilor Zakim’s office, Faisal, owner Alpha Management Corporation, responded in a letter marked May 27 (see: below) that he wished to reserve the dates of either June 24 or July 8 to appear before the committee.
A subsequent June 19 letter from Faisal’s lawyer, which BostInno obtained from the councilor’s office (also below), conveys the contrary. It reads, in part:
I do not believe Mr. Faisal could provide any relevant information not already presented by those who appeared before you, or which is not otherwise available on the public record. Thus, there is no reason for him to attend on June 24…Mr. Faisal can be of no further assistance to your inquiry.
“We are disappointed that despite our efforts to accommodate his busy schedule, Mr. Faisal has again chosen not to attend the Housing Committee’s hearing,” said Councilor Zakim in a statement. “We were eager to hear directly from him regarding Alpha’s relationship with Northeastern. My office is considering all options, including using the City Council’s subpoena power, to compel Mr. Faisal’s attendance at a later hearing.”
Councilor Zakim’s crusade against Faisal and Alpha Management came hot on the heels of two investigative reports into the appalling housing conditions offered by Faisal; one courtesy of Boston magazine and the other from the Boston Globe. Both series describe seedy and condemnable conditions in which some students are often forced to live.
Northeastern University also signed a master lease agreement with Alpha, and much of NU’s student housing falls within Councilor Zakim’s district.
Given that Faisal is considered by many, including the councilor, to be a slumlord and that he leases living space to a substantial amount of students, it’s only natural that questions have been raised as to why NU would sign such an agreement, and why Faisal isn’t being held accountable for his actions.
Despite voicing concerns in the first letter to being referred to as a slumlord, and to “preying on students,” Faisal agreed to make an appearance.
Northeastern personnel and members of Boston’s Inspectional Services Department were also invited to attend the hearing and deliver testimony. They are still expected to attend.
In 2013, a Boston University student was killed in a three-alarm fire in a two-family home in Allston. Exposed to a similar living environment as many of Faisal’s renters are today, 19 people reportedly called the unit home – some of which resided illegally in the basement and the attic.
June 19 letter from Faisal’s Lawyer
Image via Shutterstock
