BROOKLYN — City Councilman Mathieu Eugene, whose bid to represent central Brooklyn was threatened by allegations that he lived outside the district, has been hit with at least three lawsuits claiming he owed back rent on a Ditmas Park apartment inside his district, according to a new report.
Eugene, who distinguished himself as New York City's first Haitian-born elected official, took his seat on the council for district 40 in 2007 after resolving a controversy over whether he lived in his district home on Argyle Road or a separate home he kept in Canarsie.
But the councilman's residency woes may still be following him, according to a new investigation by local blog Ditmas Park Corner.
After analyzing six years of court records, the blog found that Eugene was hit with at least three lawsuits by landlord Pinnacle Group which accused him of failing to pay back rent, the blog found.
In each case, Eugene quickly covered the missing rent and small legal fees, the blog reported.
In addition, Eugene was charged below-market rent for the apartment, paying $1,085 a month in 2009 and 2010 and $2 less in 2007, much lower than some neighbors who reported paying $1,000 a month for a one-bedroom, the blog found.
Eugene's office did not immediately return calls for comment. Pinnacle did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
