What are my options?

The landlord's address should be on your lease. You need to talk with him.

Can I get a portion of my rent discounted or credited For a safety issue?

Landlord may agree to discount, but he is not legally required to do so. What is available to you is a 5-day written notice to repair. If they do...

Will I lose my equipment if I loan it to a friends business and the landlord locks him out for not paying his rent

Probably not without a fight and attorney's fees.

No. Equitable claims must go to Superior Court.

What is a declaratory action?

You're asking the judge (not a jury) to declare the parties' right under, say, a contract.

How can I legally break a lease?

If the problems go to basic habitability (e.g., roof leak rather than stove), you can do a 5-day written notice to fix, and if they do not do so...

Will an eviction still proceed if a partial payment was given to the landlord but hasnt been cashed yet?

This is one of the many issues the landlord-tenant act does not address. Put the out of state case before the judge. He is not required to...

Which court (State or Federal) has jurisdiction over a Petition to Compel Arbitration?

Based on what you have told us, you should be able to bring it in state court. However, check your contract to see what it says about jurisdiction.

Does diversity between the plaintiff and defendant to a civil action involving damages in excess of $75K

Depending on the claim and the circumstances, you may be able to get it into state court.

Can an attorney dictate to a tax preparer who they can have as clients.

You have no guarantee that your tax work will not become part of a future dispute. I think you are in a dangerous situation.