The city of Paterson has figured out a way to crack down on negligent landlords by targeting owners of rental buildings for fire code violations and taking them to court to pay up. It’s part of what they’re calling “Operation Feet to the Fire.”

City officials say they want to improve the quality of life for renters who pay good money to live in an apartment with heat and without mice or holes in ceilings.

During a news conference at a fire department this morning, Mayor Andre Sayegh held two checks in his hands - one for $210,000 and another for $41,000 - both paid by a property owner city officials say was cited for fire code violations.

The mayor said that he's turning up the heat on negligent landlords,

“This is proof positive of a city that cares, cares about quality of life,” Sayegh said. "We’ve heard horror stories about negligent landlords that have allowed apartments to fall into disrepair. Holes in walls, a lack of egress, faulty electrical wiring."

One of those checks covered violations at the property on Martin Street, and another at a property on Harrison Street that burned in a fire.

There is a third property that was also cited for fire code violations along 12th Avenue. That’s where News 12 crews found a tenant who said she is not happy with her living situation since moving in last month.

“The fridge was dirty. There was still things on the counters, nothing was cleaned,” said the tenant who asked to remain anonymous.

Then there’s the heating situation, which is apparently done with a space heater - with an open flame connected to a gas line.

“It makes me extremely nervous because one, I have a pet and two, I have a child. How would they go about walking through the house?” she asked.

All three of the properties that the city highlighted are run by Frank Firrito. He signed those checks that Sayegh presented.

News 12 New Jersey spoke with him by phone about the situation.

“I have no animosity. I did not abate by the re-inspection time and I paid my bill. I hope I’m not considered a slum lord. I want to do the right thing,” Firrito said.

Finally, city officials say they’ll continue to take landlords to housing court and collect.

“We see about 80 to 100 defendants a week. That’s not cases that defendants so the city is aggressively defending this,” said Jason Santarcangelo, who works for the Paterson Corporation Counsel.

Since 2023, city officials say they’ve collected $600,000 in fines related to fire code safety.