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Monthly Archives: June 2016

Governor Cuomo Announces Consumer Hotline to Accept Reports of “Zombie Properties” Across the State

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that New Yorkers can report vacant and abandoned properties in their communities through a hotline at the New York State Department of Financial Services. As part of groundbreaking legislation signed by Governor Cuomo last week to prevent foreclosures and curb the threat posed to communities by “zombie properties” across the state, DFS will maintain an electronic registry of vacant and abandoned properties.

New York State Homes and Community Renewal Announces $100,000 Award To Help Cardio-Fitness Exercise...

New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) today announced that Jacobs Ladder, the maker of a cardio-fitness exercise machine featured at gyms around the country, will be able to expand to meet increasing demand and add jobs while providing job training in the Town of Wheatfield, with the assistance of a $100,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Small Business Program award.

New York Appellate Court Rules MERS Mortgage Is Valid

MERSCORP Holdings, Inc. today announced the Appellate Division of the Fourth Judicial Department in New York unanimously overturned the trial court’s order and found that a mortgage for which MERS was the original mortgagee was valid, and granted J.P. Morgan Chase Bank’s (the “Bank”) motion for summary judgment in its’ foreclosure action.

New Homeowners: Register with NYS by July 1 to Receive a STAR Credit Check...

The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance is alerting new homeowners—and those who recently purchased their homes—to a change in the School Tax Relief (STAR) program. These homeowners—including all who purchased their primary residence after August 1, 2015—must register for STAR with New York State instead of applying with their assessor. Property owners who bought their home before May 1, 2014, will continue to receive the STAR exemption and don’t need to take any action

EMPIRE JUSTICE CENTER STATEMENT ON GOVERNOR CUOMO’S SIGNING OF GROUND BREAKING LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE...

In a victory for communities across New York State that are still struggling to recover from the foreclosure crisis, both houses of the Legislature passed two pieces of legislation that, combined, will have a tangible impact on upstate and Long Island communities still struggling to recover from neighborhood blight caused by the recession and the foreclosure crisis. Today, Governor Cuomo signed these two important pieces of legislation into law

A.G. Schneiderman Announces Settlements With Two Real Estate Companies For Unlawful Housing Discrimination

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced today that his office reached settlement agreements with two real estate brokerage firms for engaging in discrimination against prospective New York City tenants using rental assistance vouchers. An investigation into Lori & Associates LI Realty Inc. (Lori & Associates) and Rapid Realty Bedford Stuyvesant (RBS) found that both companies discriminated against potential New York City applicants with Living In Communities (“LINC”) III rental assistance vouchers.

2016 LEGISLATIVE SESSION: GREAT STRIDES AND ONE HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT

Upon the completion of the 2016 Legislative Session, Empire Justice Center was excited to see significant strides in addressing wage theft, and two huge victories that will impact the ongoing effects of the forclosure crisis on homeowners and communities.  At the same time, the organization also expressed incredible disappointment that, for the third year in a row, essential protections for crime and domestic violence victims were not enacted by the New York State Senate.

Many Homeless Shelters in Poor Condition

Many of the state’s homeless shelters outside New York City are in substandard condition with numerous health and safety issues that need to be addressed immediately, according to a report on homelessness released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. DiNapoli called on state and local officials to improve coordination and respond quickly to improve homeless shelter conditions.

GOVERNOR CUOMO SIGNS SWEEPING LEGISLATION TO COMBAT THE BLIGHT OF VACANT AND ABANDONED PROPERTIES

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today signed legislation to prevent foreclosures and curb the threat posed to communities by “zombie properties.” The bill was passed as part of the 2016 Legislative Session and is a boon for the economic health and public safety of communities and homeowners who would otherwise be at risk of losing their residences. The legislation combats the blight of vacant and abandoned properties by expediting the rehabilitation, repair and improvement of these properties, and enabling the State to assist homeowners facing mortgage foreclosure. The Governor signed the legislation into law, touring the state and visiting affected communities, at events in Syracuse, Manhattan and Long Island

A.G. Schneiderman Offers Tips To Help NY Homeowners “Go Solar”

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced new consumer tips released by his office aimed at helping New York homeowners become more savvy about home solar electric-generating systems. The consumer tips – entitled “Going Solar: Tips and Considerations for Homeowners” – provides information for New York homeowners on the different types of solar contracts available – such as solar purchases, solar leases, and power purchase agreements (PPA’s), and information for how to evaluate solar companies and their proposals. The tips also provide an overview of important parts of solar contracts and the steps required before solar can be installed on a home.

New York State May home sales up nearly 10 percent; growth trend reaches 16...

With a nearly 10-percent increase in home sales compared to May 2015, the New York State housing market posted its 16th consecutive month of growth compared to the same month in the prior year, according to the housing market report released today by the New York State Association of REALTORS. The statewide median sales price grew by 3.2 percent compared to a year ago.

Mangano: “Stand Down” To Clothe & Feed Homeless Veterans On July 12th

Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano announces that a Veterans Stand Down will be held on Tuesday, July 12, 2016 at American Legion, 160 Marvin Avenue in Hempstead. The Stand Down, from 10am – 2pm, is hosted by the Nassau County Veterans Service Agency (VSA) with assistance from volunteers representing all service organizations

WITH MOSQUITO-BORNE DISEASES INCREASING, SCHUMER SAYS CSX HAS FAILED TO RESPOND TO HOMEOWNERS’ PLEAS...

Senator Says Residents Have Tried for Years to Get CSX to Help Fix Pooling Water In & Around CSX Tracks; Now Pooling is A Mosquito-Breeding Haven

Long Island Man Pleads Guilty To Defrauding Homeowners In Multi-Million Dollar Loan Modification Scheme

Earlier today, David Gotterup pleaded guilty at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, New York, to conspiracy to commit wire fraud by defrauding distressed homeowners in a loan modification scheme. When sentenced, Gotterup faces up to 30 years in prison, as well as restitution, criminal forfeiture, and a fine.

Assembly Announces Passage of Legislation to Combat Neighborhood Blight and “Zombie” Homes in New...

Speaker Carl Heastie, Judiciary Committee Chair Helene Weinstein, Banks Committee Chair Annette Robinson and Assemblymember Michelle Schimel today announced the passage of legislation that is part of a three-way agreement to combat the rising problem of abandoned residential properties by creating new obligations for mortgage owners and lenders to maintain property which has been rendered vacant and abandoned

ICE To Acquire Majority Equity Interest in MERS

MERSCORP Holdings, Inc. and Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE: ICE), today announced that ICE will acquire a majority equity position in MERSCORP Holdings, Inc., owner of Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. (collectively “MERS”). In addition, ICE and MERS have entered into a software development agreement to modernize and enhance the MERS® System.

Owner of Three-Quarter Houses and his Employee Indicted for Fraud and Illegal Eviction for...

Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson today announced that the owner of a company that operated three-quarter houses in Brooklyn and his employee have been arraigned on an indictment that charges them with unlawfully evicting tenants in a systemic scheme to defraud. The defendant allegedly used various tactics to evict the residents without a court order, including putting their belongings on the street, removing their mattresses, preventing them from cooking by breaking stoves and locking the doors to the residences to prevent entry

NYPA COMPLETES ELECTRIC GRID PROJECT TO IMPROVE RELIABILITY AND BRING MORE RENEWABLE ENERGY DOWNSTATE

The New York Power Authority and New York State Electric & Gas today announced the completion of a $120 million transmission project that will enable more electricity from renewable sources to flow from upstate to meet energy demand in more-populated downstate regions without having to build new power lines.

SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE $3.4 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING TO HELP REMOVE LEAD HAZARDS FROM...

Onondaga County will use funds to address lead hazards in 195 housing units to help protect health & safety of area families & children. Schumer and Gillibrand earlier this year urged HUD Secretary to provided funding to help remove lead from Central New York homes. Senators secured three out of fifteen projects HUD will be funding nationwide

Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council Announces Ground Breaking for Redevelopment of Sibley Building...

The Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council (FLREDC) today announced that WinnDevelopment and GDD Properties have broken ground on the redevelopment of nearly 500,000 square feet of the historic Sibley Square in Rochester. A FLREDC priority project, the phased, $200 million project broke ground on the major $100 million phase of the development that includes the construction of 96 creatively designed luxury apartment homes on the 9th through 12th floors, retail on Main Street, office space in the mid-rise, mixed income and active senior living apartments, and a complete rehabilitation of the entire facade and windows of the building.  Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul joined state, city and local leaders to celebrate the ground breaking.

NYS Offers Tax Break for Many Odd Jobs and Household Projects

The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance today reminded New Yorkers that they aren’t required to pay sales tax for odd jobs and projects done on their property when the work is done by someone who’s not operating in a regular trade or business

Governor Cuomo Announces Launch of New Solar Parks Initiative

Governor Cuomo today announced the launch of a new solar initiative between the New York Power Authority and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. The agencies signed an agreement to assess and potentially develop solar array installations at state parks on Long Island and the Hudson Valley.

Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership Celebrates 10 Years of Partnerships at Annual Meeting on June 7th

Partnership Elects New Board Members, Presents Awards to New York City Dept. of Small Business Services, Honors Security Efforts, Unveils Video Focusing on Neighborhood Transformation

NEW YORK POWER AUTHORITY ANNOUNCES COMPLETED $20 MILLION RENOVATION AT AEROSPACE FIRM IN SUFFOLK...

The New York Power Authority today announced the completion of a $20 million renovation project by Magellan Aerospace, New York, a Long Island-based aircraft parts manufacturer. Magellan is receiving low-cost electricity from the Governor’s ReCharge NY program supporting 125 jobs and $27 million in capital investments

GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCES $100 MILLION AVAILABLE TO COMBAT “ZOMBIE PROPERTIES,” EXPAND HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND...

$22 Million for the New Neighborhood Revitalization Program to Help Low- and Middle-Income New Yorkers Buy and Renovate Vacant, Distressed Properties. $27 Million in Grants to Assist Existing Eligible Homeowners with Renovations. NRP Launches During National Homeownership Month to Help Communities in the Capital Region, Finger Lakes, Hudson Valley, Long Island and New York City