Syracuse law department outlines stepped-up code enforcement, store enforcement and records staffing changes

The Syracuse City Law Department told the City Council at a meeting (date not specified) that it has increased code-enforcement actions, filed lawsuits against several property owners and is reallocating staffing to manage a surge of public-records requests.

The update from the Law Department matters because it affects tenant safety, neighborhood conditions and the city's ability to respond to illegal retail activity while its legal and administrative resources are stretched.

Law Department attorney (name not specified) told councilors the office has pushed inspection warrant activity into "the hundreds" to ensure rental properties meet fire and egress standards, and has pursued emergency demolition orders where properties posed immediate hazards. "We have spent an enormous amount of energy focusing on code enforcement," the attorney said. The attorney identified several property-focused lawsuits by owner name or property: an action in Supreme Court against a property owner identified as Kletsky, an action against the new owners of the Skyline, and a recent action against Nob Hill. The attorney said a separate lender-initiated receiver process is underway in the case referred to as Valentine.

The office said it is also…