Queens Lawmakers On The Move Dec. 1 2017

Ferreras-Copeland Bill Providing Property Tax Info Passes City Council

City Council Member Julissa Ferreras-Copeland (D-College Point, Corona, East Elmhurst, Elmhurst, Flushing, Flushing Meadows, Corona Park, Jackson Heights, LaGuardia Airport) saw her legislation that would provide critical property tax information to new homeowners throughout the city pass the City Council.

Currently, the city’s Department of Finance (DOF) must publish a property tax informational brochure for class 1 and class 2 properties describing the way those properties are valued and assessed, explaining how those values affect property tax bills, providing information about property tax exemptions, and setting forth the timeline of relevant property tax deadlines.

This local law would require that, whenever a document transferring ownership of a one-to-four family home or a residential cooperative and condominium is recorded with the City Register or Richmond County Clerk, DOF would have to mail or email a copy of the property tax informational brochure to the new homeowners.

 

“As we continue working to make sure more New Yorkers are able to accomplish their dream of homeownership, we want to ensure they understand the importance of property taxes. Thanks to this legislation, the Department of Finance will provide first-time homeowners with a tax informational brochure that will explain in plain and simple language how property taxes are calculated, how to take advantage of available exemptions and abatements, as well as homeowners’ right to appeal an assessment. I would like to thank Speaker Melissa Mark Viverito as well as the co-sponsors of this bill for their support and leadership on this issue,” said Ferreras-Copeland.

Lancman’s Bill Addressing Criminal Summonses Passes City Council

City Council Member Rory Lancman (D-Briarwood, Cunningham Park, Flushing,  Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Fresh Meadows, Hollis, Holliswood, Jamaica, Jamaica Estates, Jamaica Hills, Kew Gardens, Kew Gardens, Richmond Hill) yesterday saw his legislation requiring the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice to issue a biannual report comprehensively addressing criminal summonses issued by all City agencies pass the city council.

“There is an astonishing lack of data provided to the public on the number and frequency with which city agencies take criminal enforcement action. If the NYPD is required to report data on its arrests and summonses, then other city agencies must be required to do the same. Passage of this legislation will greatly increase transparency and ensure that city agencies are held accountable,” said Lancman.

Peralta Hails Cuomo For Allowing City Use Of State Parkland For New School

State Sen. Jose Peralta (D-Corona, East Elmhurst, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Woodside) yesterday hailed Gov. Andrew Cuomo yesterday for signing into law his bill that will allow the city to build a much-needed pre-k center to fight the severe school overcrowding his district has faced for decades.

The site is on state parkland, requiring Cuomo to approve the measure.

“It is unthinkable that in 2017, New York City children are learning in classroom trailers, and this is why the construction of a state-of-the-art pre-K school next to the Hall of Science in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park will benefit the community,” said Peralta.

“We are talking about the use of one acre of parkland, which is currently a parking lot. More than 300 new seats in a space that is used for cars will now be available for children from Corona, which s one of the most school overcrowded areas in the entire City of New York,” he added.

Avella Calls on Brinckerhoff Cemetery Owner to Finally Sell Landmarked Cemetery 

State Sen. Tony Avella (D-College Point, Whitestone, Bayside, Little Neck, Douglaston, Floral Park, Beechhurst, Malba, Auburndale) today will stand at the Fresh Meadows landmark Brinckerhoff Cemetery to call on its owner to finally accept an offer to purchase by “Friends of Brinckerhoff” for the colonial burial ground.

Years ago, the property was purchased by the owner for development purposes. However, the site has since been landmarked and, unable to go through with their original plans, left neglected by the owner.

Avella will highlight the issue at 1 p.m., today, Dec. 1 at the Brinckerhoff Cemetery, 182^nd Street and 73^rd Avenue in Fresh Meadows.