The article mentions petty lease violations, but if a tenant is committing "petty" lease violations, then there are lease violations. Neighbors in my building regularly left trash in the hallway. It was gross and fits the bill for a petty violation. The landlord had no proof and so couldn't (wouldn't) enforce.
That said, lease violations go both ways with the added requirements of NYC housing laws. If a landlord is violating either, however petty, they are violating. If hot water is 119 and not the required 120, its a violation. It's binary.
To be clear, I'm not in favor of biometrics for this use case. A key fob, pin code, or dial by name system doesn't seem broken, so why "fix it" and add the risk that sensitive biometrics info is leaked because of hacking/theft/accidental loss.
I'm seeking to understand what the root of the concern for being forced out is over a change in method used to enter the building?