Albany, NY - July 1 30, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today traveled to Westchester County to sign New York's first property tax cap. The tax cap, a hallmark of Governor Cuomo's campaign and a priority of his administration's first year, will finally deliver relief to millions of homeowners and business owners across the state who for too long have been burdened by out-of-control property taxes

New York, NY - June 30, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Housing Committee Chair Vito Lopez today announced passage of legislation to extend the rent laws and expand rent protections for tenants for the first time since 1993.

New York, NY - June 30, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver announced today the passage of the Affordable Housing Act (A.8518) that would provide relief for working families across the state by capping growth in local property tax levies at two percent. The legislation also includes significant mandate relief for local government and school districts.

June 30, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The New York State Senate today passed historic property tax relief legislation that enacts a cap on the growth of local property taxes. The bill (S.5856), sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Dean G. Skelos, will cap school and local government taxes to less than two percent or the Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is lower. Mandate relief is also included, with $127 million in savings to local governments, in addition to the creation of a Mandate Relief Council to identify and repeal unsound, unduly burdensome laws and regulations

New York, NY - June 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- "Affordable housing is an all too scarce commodity, especially in New York City and the surrounding areas. Our state's rent protection laws are essential and any long term expiration would create a crisis. Last night the State Senate -- both Democrats and Republicans -- failed to continue the laws beyond their expiration.

May 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver today unveiled legislation to provide real relief for hard working men and women across New York State by capping local property taxes at two percent while at the same time including important safeguards to ensure communities are able to provide critical services for their citizens. The legislation prohibits local governments and school districts from exceeding the two percent threshold on the total tax levy and requires a 60 percent vote to override the levy. "Our message to property owners who have struggled under the burden of soaring taxes is simple," said Speaker Silver (D-Manhattan).

Pearl River, NY - May 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- As an increasingly heated debate on property tax relief continues to focus solely on a tax cap, Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee (D-Suffern) today announced she has introduced legislation (A7673) that creates an income-based tax “circuit breaker” as a viable alternative that actually lowers homeowners’ tax bills while protecting quality education.

Albany, NY - May 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today continued his "People First Campaign" at Hofstra University, where he outlined his legislative priorities and told Long Islanders that their voices must be heard in order to get Albany to act on these key reforms.

New York, NY - May 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Governor Cuomo begins a statewide tour in support of his legislation to enact a hard property tax cap in New York. The Governor is right - - soaring property taxes are driving middle-class families out of their homes and forcing businesses to flee the state.

New York, NY - April 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Senate Republicans today renewed their call for the Assembly to act on the Governor’s property tax cap legislation in light of new data showing New Yorkers pay the highest property taxes in the United States.

New York, NY - April 121, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Senate Majority Leader Dean G. Skelos, Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb and representatives of business organizations today urged the Assembly Majority to act on a meaningful property tax cap bill. The Senate overwhelmingly passed Governor Cuomo’s property tax cap legislation with bipartisan support earlier this year.

New York, NY - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Fried Frank's renowned real estate practice has been shortlisted for The Chambers USA Awards for Excellence 2011. Chambers USA Awards for Excellence honor law firms and lawyers for their pre-eminence in key practice areas and the caliber of their achievements over the previous 12 months.

New York, NY - March 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano today submitted a revised financial plan for Fiscal Year 2011 that protect homeowners and employers from a 21.5% property tax increase. The plan includes reductions through layoffs, the elimination of vacant positions, furloughs and by freezing wages and longevity pay

March 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Due to the change in accounting rules applied by the Nassau Interim Finance Authority (NIFA), Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano today announced major budget cuts for 2011 that protect homeowners and employers from a 21.5% property tax increase. The County Executive detailed over $121.2 million in budget cuts that include $60.5 million in employee-related spending reductions, $40 million in across the board budget cuts and $20 million in lower tax refund liability than projected by NIFA

March 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- "The first of three bills before me today is Introductory Number 26-A, sponsored by Council Members Vann, Comrie, Brewer, James, Mark-Viverito, Arroyo, Williams, Gennaro, Ferreras, Lander, Dickens, Dilan, Gentile, Jackson, Greenfield, Barron, Sanders, Rivera, Levin, Foster, Seabrook, Rose, Eugene, Koslowitz, Chin, Gonzalez, Nelson, Reyna, Rodriguez, Van Bramer, Mealy, Mendez, Wills, Crowley, Palma, Cabrera, Vacca, Ulrich, Koo and Koppell. Introductory Number 26-A extends the City's authority to sell liens on delinquent tax, water, and property related charges until 2014

Washington, D.C. - February 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the first piece of legislation she is introducing in the 112th Congress is a bill to provide property tax relief for more than 1 million New York homeowners. Senator Gillibrand’s legislation would enable all New Yorkers that pay property taxes to deduct the full amount of money they pay from their federal income taxes. Currently, only homeowners that itemize their federal taxes can deduct the cost of property taxes. Senator Gillibrand’s legislation would make property taxes fully deductable for individuals who do not itemize their federal taxes, providing additional tax relief for up to 30 million Americans, including approximately 1.1 million New Yorkers. The Homeowner Tax Fairness Act would save New York homeowners approximately $1 billion.

New York, NY - February 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, joined by a Staten Island family struggling with high property taxes and the financial difficulties of raising a child with special needs, today announced that the first piece of legislation she is introducing in the 112th Congress is a bill to provide property tax relief for 1.1 million New York homeowners, including nearly 300,000 in New York City. Senator Gillibrand’s legislation would enable all New Yorkers that pay property taxes to deduct the full amount of money they pay from their federal income taxes. Currently, only homeowners that itemize their federal taxes can deduct the cost of property taxes

New York, NY - February 8, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The New York State Senate today passed three mandate relief bills that would give local governments more authority and flexibility and help save taxpayer dollars. “As the Senate works to enact a property tax cap, it’s important that we also pass mandate relief measures to give municipalities the ability to allocate resources on community priorities, rather than to address state mandates that may not be needed,” Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos said. “The bills we passed today are simple, common sense legislation to save money.

New York, NY - February 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The New York State Senate today passed property tax relief legislation (S.2706) that would place a cap on the growth of school property taxes at two percent or the Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is less. If enacted, New York would become the 44th state to cap local property taxes. In addition, the Senate approved two measures related to providing mandate relief to school districts and local governments.

BUFFALO, NY - January 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Steven Carlson, 52, of Jamestown, New York, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara, to evading the payment of taxes and mortgage fraud. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 35 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, or both

New York, NY - January 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- "The first of two bills before me today is Introductory Number 436-A, sponsored by Council Members Mendez, James, Brewer, Chin, Dromm, Lander, Mark-Viverito, Seabrook, Vann, Williams, Jackson, Rodriguez, Nelson, Arroyo, Rose, Lappin, Gennaro, Recchia, Fidler, Barron, Gardonick, Gonzalez, Greenfield, Koppell, Reyna, and Sanders. Introductory Number 436-A makes changes to the Alternative Enforcement Program.

WASHINGTON, DC - December 22, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Charles B. Rangel joined a bipartisan majority Tuesday in passing legislation that will improve a federal housing program for those with disabilities.

November 1, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano today announced that with the passage of his 2011 No Property Tax Increase Budget, Nassau County’s finances have begun to be repaired after years of mismanagement, a poor economy and overspending. Mangano praised Presiding Officer Peter Schmitt and the Republican Legislative Majority for joining him in holding the line on property taxes while adopting reforms to close a $343 million deficit – the largest in our County’s history

Mineola, NY - September 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- As Nassau County once again achieves the dubious status of having the second highest property taxes in the United States, Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano again vowed not to implement a hefty property tax increase to close a massive deficit facing the County in 2011.

NEW YORK, NY - September 14, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Antoinette Hodgson pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with her operation of a $45 million Ponzi scheme that fraudulently solicited investments in real estate from more than 20 New York and New Jersey investors, announced Preet Bharara, U.S.