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Q&A

Chair Lee on deed fraud notification and recorded document program

New York City Council · Jun 9, 2026 · starts 0:37:06 · 1 min 46 sec

Lee asks about additional protections beyond the current notice of recorded document program, referencing her bill passed last year. Commissioner Lee says the Deed Theft Prevention Office is examining recording processes and needed legislative changes to pause suspicious recordings, and offers to review her legislation.

Linda Lee

Okay, last question.

Linda Lee

I passed a bill requiring notifications when deeds or mortgages are recorded against someone's property.

Linda Lee

In your racial equity plan, you included a long-term goal of increasing participation in the notice of recorded document program to protect homeowners from deed fraud.

Linda Lee

Given the prevalence of deed theft, obviously this administration takes that seriously.

Linda Lee

concerns in communities of color and among elderly homeowners, what additional protections or outreach initiatives is the Department of Finance considering beyond the current program?

Linda Lee

And I just wanted to understand how that notice differs from the bill that I passed.

Linda Lee

If it's the same thing, if it's something different, just wanted to understand.

Richard Lee

I'm happy to look at the bill one more time just to see if there's any differences, but I would say one of the key components of the Deaf Prevention Office is to look at a lot of these linkages, right?

Richard Lee

How are properties being recorded?

Richard Lee

What happens during that process?

Richard Lee

What legislative changes need to be made in order to pause these recordings if we think that there is some sort of fraud going on?

Richard Lee

And how do we improve upon the processes internally, working with investigations in the sheriff's office, plus other divisions within the Department of Finance.

Richard Lee

I have to look at the bill that you are proposing one more time to see if there's something that we can include, but the recording of these is something that we are highly...

Linda Lee

That was last year when we passed all our bills, Mr.

Linda Lee

Chair.

Linda Lee

Package of bills that passed through department, not department, but goes to your department, passed through the finance division last year.

Richard Lee

Then I'm happy to take a look at the legislation.

Linda Lee

Okay.

Linda Lee

Majority of hangs followed by Narcisse.