N
ew York City's notorious landlord Daniel Ohebshalom is back behind bars, serving a 60-day sentence at Rikers Island after turning himself in. The arrest warrant was issued over a month ago due to his failure to address chronic problems at his rental buildings, including leaks, infestations, and mold caused by unreliable heat and hot water, as well as peeling lead paint.

    Ohebshalom's attorney had attempted to keep him out of jail by arguing that he had hired people to fix the issues, but a housing judge disagreed. The landlord can be released early if he completes the repairs before his sentence ends. This is Ohebshalom's second arrest order this year and comes after the city brought over 10 motions against him in the past year, resulting in civil penalties of more than $4 million.

    The properties involved are related to two buildings in Washington Heights, where the city reported 700 violations. Ohebshalom has been in and out of court for years over claims that he failed to maintain his multifamily properties and ignored court orders. He's also facing criminal charges for endangering a child and harassing rent-stabilized tenants.

    If Ohebshalom doesn't complete the required repairs, he'll spend nearly a third of this year in jail. His repeated jailing marks a rare instance of accountability for landlords who neglect their properties' safety and maintenance.