Yolanda Richardson, who identified herself to the board as speaking on behalf of tenants from 2910 Wallace Avenue, told Community Board 11 that many residents remain displaced nearly a year after the Jan. 10, 2025 fire and are living with relatives or in shelters.

"We have people who wanna buy our buildings and get us out of our apartments," Richardson said, adding that tenants were still waiting to learn who could be housed in available low-income units and that communication from agencies has been limited.

Rabbi Fuchs moved that the board send a letter to elected officials on behalf of the tenants, asking political leaders to intervene and help secure acceptable living conditions; Joseph Thompson seconded the motion. Board members agreed the tenants’ association could provide a template and input for the letter.

At the meeting the board recorded that they would collect the documentation the tenant group had provided and circulate a draft letter from the board office for review. The motion to send a follow-up letter passed during the meeting.

The board’s action is procedural: it directs staff to prepare and send a letter on behalf of the 2910 Wallace Avenue tenants. The motion did not adopt or allocate emergency housing funds; it asks elected officials and city agencies to respond. Community Board 11 staff and tenant organizers said Bronx Legal Aid is assisting tenants with legal matters related to the building.

Next steps: Board staff will accept suggested language from the tenant association, finalize a template, and send the letter to the district’s elected officials and relevant agencies. The tenants’ group requested continued follow-up at future board meetings.