Dear Supporters,

Today, May 6th 2025, marks one year since my grandmother passed away and I continue to honor her legacy by advocating to protect our home, just as she did when she was alive.

I’m so grateful to those of you who have shown care and solidarity as I navigate an ongoing eviction attempt which began after I submitted my initial tenant succession claim to my landlord, the 605–611 West 111th Street Realty Co., in June 2024 following my grandmother’s death. 

Council Member Shaun Abreu and Assembly Member Micah Lasher submitted a letter of support affirming my right to a rent-stabilized lease under succession law. That letter, dated March 5, was prepared in advance of my housing court date on March 28, which has now been adjourned for a third time to June.

The Morningside Heights Community Coalition also wrote a powerful letter on my behalf, advocating not only for my lease renewal but for the broader importance of preserving rent-regulated apartments in our neighborhood.

To all 1,000+ of you who have signed this petition, thank you. Your support, along with the support of community groups like Harlem Run, Defend Harlem, Broadway Community, Morningside Heights Community Coalition, Julia Gabriel People’s Garden, West 111th Street Block Association, People’s Forum, Union Theological Seminary Student Caucuses, Columbia Housing Equity Project, Goddard Riverside Law Project, Upper Manhattan Tenants Union, plus Council Member Abreu, and Assembly Member Lasher, means the world to me.

In case you missed it, The Columbia Spectator shared a piece of my story too.

This legal process has been exhausting, but I remain steadfast in asserting my rights and resisting displacement from the neighborhood I’ve called home all my life. In the midst of it all, I’ve leaned on my meditation practice as a form of resistance, grounding myself in stillness to stay strong in the face of uncertainty as I meditate daily by grandma's favorite window.

Please continue to share this petition widely. Every signature, share, and message of support helps amplify my story and puts pressure on decision-makers to uphold housing justice.

If you are a reporter, or if you know someone in media who may be interested in covering this story, I welcome opportunities to speak further. Feel free to contact me directly at KristinaMLopez@gmail.com.

With gratitude,
Kristina Maria Lopez