2023-24 Oversight Testimony: Department of Buildings

Children’s Law Center Policy Attorney Makenna Osborn testified today at the Committe of the Whole performance oversight hearing for the Department of Buildings (DOB).

Her testimony builds on our prior stance that DOB’s inspections and enforcement are not translating to improved housing conditions for tenants. Specifically, our testimony will discuss 1) where DOB has made improvements in its operations as an agency, 2) why DOB needs to hire and train more professional housing code inspectors, and 3) why DOB is failing to incentivize landlords to correct violations and how DOB can increase timely abatement of serious violations.