Smullen: Nadia Vitels and Other Victims of ‘Squatters’ Deserve Justice

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Assemblyman Colin Schmitt, a member of the Assembly Minority Conference, has voiced his concerns regarding the rise of squatting-related incidents in New York. In light of the tragic death of Nadia Vitels, allegedly at the hands of squatters in her deceased mother’s apartment, Schmitt emphasized the need for justice.

“Nadia Vitels was brutally beaten to death, allegedly by two squatters who had moved into her deceased mother’s New York City apartment—Nadia’s death will not be in vain,” stated Schmitt.

Schmitt highlighted the urgency of addressing the issue, stating, “Squatting-related incidents in our state are on the rise and out of control, and they are setting a precedent that poses a direct threat to public safety. If New York homeowners do not reserve the right to quickly remove a complete stranger from their residence, more tragedies like the one Nadia faced will come to pass in the near future. This will not be tolerated by the Assembly Minority Conference.”

Expressing his support for legislative action, Schmitt endorsed a proposed bill aimed at redefining the term ‘tenant’ to exclude squatters. He emphasized the importance of prioritizing the rights of New York residents and families over those of squatters, deeming it a necessary step to address the current legal shortcomings.

“I fully support the bill introduced by my colleagues to redefine the term ‘tenant’ so it excludes squatters. This change is absolutely necessary and is a common-sense approach to a glaring problem in our state’s legal system. We cannot continue to put squatters’ rights above the rights of New York residents and families—it…