Mayor looking to ban Syracuse slumlord who ‘is a danger to public health’
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — Mayor Walsh and the City of Syracuse are moving forward in an attempt to ban a known slumlord from owning or renting properties.
Mendy Kletzky of Brooklyn has been cited for years of neglect and defiance of city and court directives, explained the mayor’s office.
City lawyers filed a complaint on Monday, March 10, 2025, asking for a State Supreme Court judge to immediately and permanently enjoin Kletzky from owning, leasing, renting, managing, or having any fiduciary interest in residential or mixed-use properties in the City of Syracuse, according to the city.
On top of that, the city wants to see that Kletzky is ordered to correct code violations within 30 days of a ruling. They are seeking a ruling that would prohibit him from collecting rent at his properties, prevent him from selling properties without city review and approval, and charge him anywhere from $100 to $500 for each open and unresolved code violation.
“Mendy Kletzky is a danger to public health and safety and must be barred from owning and renting properties in Syracuse,” said Mayor Walsh. “Despite years of fines and penalties, and repeatedly disregarding court orders, he’s failed to comply with required laws to maintain his properties in a habitable manner. While pocketing rents, he’s forced people to live in dangerous and substandard conditions while at the same time subjecting city taxpayers to incalculable costs for back taxes, overdue water bills, police and fire responses, as well as wasting other resources. We will not tolerate this kind of abuse from Kletzky or any landlord to the detriment of tenants and our City.”
The City of Syracuse’s complaint explained that Kletzky set up multiple limited liability companies to protect himself from personal liability for 17 out of 18 properties that were named in the action.
According to the city, Kletzky admitted in a prior criminal action that he had a connection to the shell companies.
According to the complaint, “The City deems Defendant Kletzky’s consistent malfeasance to be a signal that should not be allowed to continue owning properties within City boundaries and that an order enjoining him (or any entity in which he has been or is a member of otherwise held or holds any ownership or controlling interest) from ownership or operation of real property within City limits is appropriate for the protection of public health, safety and welfare.”
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