Wong asks about repeat offenders and hardship standards
Wong asks what stops a repeat offender with multiple default judgments from using the program the same way as someone with one honest mistake, and suggests a hardship standard to separate struggling homeowners from chronic violators. Lee says the program does not differentiate and is applied equally to all eligible violations.
Here's my question.
Sorry.
Yeah.
How could you...
I'm aware of repeated offenders with several default judgments.
They're in every district.
They're certainly in my district, and I know who they are.
So my question is, what is stopping a repeated offender with several default judgments from walking through this program that you're proposing in the exact same way as someone with one honest mistake?
I mean, I don't see...
Anything in this bill that would distinguish them?
No, we are not differentiating.
We want to ensure that all respondents have an opportunity to cure their existing violations.
We want better outcomes for individuals and the city.
And so we are not specifically
you know, separating or congregating or, you know, doing anything other than implementing a program if a violation is outlawed.
eligible and to cure the actual violation in hand, then they will be eligible for the amnesty program.
Yeah.
Okay.
I want to follow up.
Can I have a follow up?
Yeah, your time is still going.
Okay, thank you.
You have more time.
Go ahead.
See, this is what I find disturbing because you're giving people a second chance.
All right, fine.
But there shouldn't be some kind of a hardship standard.
So we're not putting struggling homeowners in the same category as a landlord who's racking up violations for years and just decided not to pay.
So can you talk about that?
I mean, we, again, are producing a program in which if the violation is docketed with Department of Finance, then they have an opportunity to cure those violations.
And then receive a portion of their fines reduced.
Right now we are not separating out between bad actors who you might see as bad actors or ones that are getting their judgments for the first time.
We are just implementing a program that's equal across the board so that if you cure your violations, which is the
outcome that we're hoping to see here, then you'll be able to reduce your fines.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.