New York, NY – March 25, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Information-Sharing System to Enhance Local Governments’ Ability to Maintain Abandoned Properties and Charge-Back Legal Owners; City of Long Beach is first Municipality to Partner with County on Database
Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano and New York State Assemblyman Todd Kaminsky today joined local government officials and community members to announce a new database and information-sharing system to identify, track and cleanup hundreds of abandoned properties blighting Nassau County neighborhoods.
County Executive Mangano stated, “Abandoned properties have become breeding grounds for mold and crime, and are a welcome mat for squatters. This new database will help maintain abandoned properties.”
“I have heard time and time again from community members that abandoned homes plague their neighborhoods,” said Assemblyman Kaminsky. “I have made it a priority to address this widespread problem through technology and government partnerships. I am pleased to find that County Executive Mangano is equally committed to this effort, and willing to back it with the resources of his office. Together, local governments can track these zombie properties and begin cleaning them up and restoring neighborhoods.”
The combined effect of the financial crisis and Hurricane Sandy left many Nassau County families unable to pay their mortgages, eventually abandoning their properties for a bank or mortgage lender to seize. In many cases, houses fell into a state of disrepair as they awaited foreclosure, in what is known as a “zombie foreclosure.”
The Mangano-Kaminsky Abandoned Homes Database and Cleanup Plan includes the cataloguing of abandoned properties, the property owner’s last known address, the mortgage or lending service, and the date the property was added to the database. Residents can report suspected abandoned homes by emailing AbandonedProperties (at) nassaucountyny (dot) gov or visiting www.nassaucountyny.gov/assessment.
Local governments already have mechanisms in place to deal with abandoned properties. However, the process is too time-consuming and ineffective without a comprehensive source of information on those properties. This information-sharing database will enhance local governments’ ability to maintain abandoned properties in their communities.
Assemblyman Kaminsky coordinated efforts with the City of Long Beach, which will be the first to share information with the new database. After logging its identified abandoned homes, Long Beach will then use the database to begin performing routine maintenances on those properties, and later charge the legal owners for the work.
“We are pleased to be working with County Executive Mangano and Assemblyman Kaminsky on this essential database,” said Long Beach City Council President Len Torres. “This program will help our building and police departments in enforcing quality of life regulations and protecting our community.”
County Legislator Denise Ford added, “For too long, residents have had to endure the negative impact of blighted properties. This is an important initiative that will help improve our quality of life.”
