Eviction Imminent

My name is Ayo Osinibi and I am facing eviction from my rent-stabilized home of 24 years in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. I am 60 years old, and I fell behind in my rent at the end of last year due to a cardiac health issue. I have until November 21 to pay the landlord $3000, followed by $2000 in additional back rent, after when he has the right to call the US Marshall to enforce the court’s judgment.

 

I have lived in my building since 1994 and I am currently the second-longest residing tenant. Rents in the neighborhood have risen significantly in recent years, and rents for other units in my building have increased in step. Earlier this year I pursued a small claims dispute of $3500 over missing inventory stored in a common space, but the judge ruled in favor of the landlord.

 

Currently I work as a driver for Uber and Lyft, but these jobs are not bringing in enough money to pay the bills. I owned a record store in Manhattan for eight years (1994-2002) in addition to my record label, MulattaPop , and worked as a DJ of global electronica /Afrobeat till 2009. More recently I established a gallery and workshop for artists and craft workers in my hometown of Lagos, Nigeria. After several years of traveling back and forth, I’m back in New York and learning the ropes in a totally different city than when I was a thriving entrepreneur. In this time of transition, keeping my home of more than two decades means the world to me.

 

Anything you can contribute, no matter how small, would help greatly and be very much appreciated. If you can’t contribute money, please consider sharing this fundraiser. Thank you very much for your time.

 

If you'd like to view works by artists I represent (or would rather make a purchase than donate), please visit the Multi-Kulti Art Shop  or Multi-Kulti Arts . My record label is still active online , with releases available for order (Album mp3 links sent on demand), and I am also available for DJ bookings.