CM Abreu Q&A: Garcia on lien sale list transparency and equity impacts

And now I'd like to pass it to Majority Leader Brujo.

Thank you, Commissioner, for coming to testify and answering Councilmember questions.

Properties in the lien sale process in New York City are disproportionately located in a handful of neighborhoods.

Those that are generally occupied by black and brown homeowners, many of whom are facing gentrification pressures and predatory actors.

The current lien sale process requires a publication of all properties potentially eligible to be sold in the lien sale process.

This includes the owner's

only publicly accessible list that identifies properties with past due water bills, thereby making these properties an easy target for predatory actors.

Considering the immense concerns raised around publishing these kinds of lists when the city published the PETA terror list this year, do you think publishing the lien sale list is appropriate?

Especially considering that the lien sale list goes further than the PETA tear list in publicizing previously non-public information.

Thank you, Councilmember, for the question.

I have heard the concerns about that, and that is certainly one thing that I look forward to talking to the other land bank members about.

Again, how do we improve this process?

And maybe that could be one of the questions that we consider.

At what point do you think it is appropriate for the city, via the land bank, or directly to foreclose on a homeowner for non-payment of taxes or water bills?

Again, I think we'll be working together to figure out what the procedures are and what the protocol would be into the future.

And so it's difficult to kind of prejudge what that outcome would be.

One of the concerns relating to the lien sale enforcement process in New York City and the associated disproportionate community impact is that it strips assets and wealth from communities, which then see no tangible improvements in return.

What can DEP do to ensure that these funds generated from this enforcement process are actually flowing?

into the communities negatively impacted by enforcement.

Yeah, thank you.

So again, I usually, my experience is in working on equity, racial equity, environmental justice, and so I just lead with that kind of,

those kinds of questions as a core value, and how do we ensure that there aren't unintended consequences with any new processes, policy, legal action that we take,

because usually, unfortunately, the history in the United States shows that it does disproportionately impact communities of color and many times low-income communities.

And so that'll be definitely front and center of how I show up, how I participate,

and make sure that, you know, as I said before, this seems like a great opportunity to think of this process, to be more equitable, accountable, and transparent.

And so I appreciate the question and the opportunity to join in that effort.

Thank you, Commissioner.

I'd also like to acknowledge Councilman Brewer who has joined us today, but seeing no other members, I'm sorry, apologies, Councilman Brewer has a question.