New York City is set to conduct its first tax lien sale in nearly four years, impacting approximately 11,000 properties in Brooklyn. Critics argue the process disproportionately burdening minority and low-income homeowners, leading to excessive interest and fees that can result in foreclosure. Advocacy groups like the Abolish the Tax Lien Coalition and Brooklyn Level Up are working to assist at-risk property owners, helping them navigate the complexities of lien sales and advocate for changes to the system ensuring fairer treatment for vulnerable communities.
Borrowing From Peter to Pay Paul "Margaux Jones, the owner of a three-family home near Downtown Brooklyn, said an incorrect water meter reading she discovered in 2024 would likely have placed her on the lien sale list, had she not identified the issue in time. Over the course of 2024, Jones's water bill increased by $100 each quarter. Puzzled, she reached out to the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, which eventually sent someone to inspect the water meter."
"Sometimes it's not enough to just tell them, just go to this website and you can get a plan together," said Allyson Martinez, Brooklyn Level Up's executive director.
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