Council Member Justin Sanchez abstains on tax exemption for 917 Eagle Avenue
Council Member Justin Sanchez votes aye on all but abstains from pre-considered LU 156 and Resos 705-706, which grant a tax exemption for a building with 123 recorded violations. He calls for accountability.
Permission to explain my vote.
Permission granted.
I vote aye on all.
Congratulations to former Deputy Borough President Marika Scott McFadden for a little bit of levity.
And I abstain from pre-considered LU 156 and accompanying Resos 705 and 706.
That vote today in part includes a tax exemption specifically for repairs to 917 Eagle
Avenue, a walk-up building that is only five stories but has 123 recorded violations, including 41 Class C violations.
This is just one of 14 properties in our district that in total are totaling an additional 524 recorded housing violations.
Of those 164 additional violations are Class C violations, the most serious classification of housing violations in New York City.
16 instances where lead was found, 15 roof-related incidents, 17 units without heat or hot water, 5 with mold, 4 with exposed electrical wiring.
Think about the numbers that mean for the families that are actually living there.
They aren't just violations on a spreadsheet.
There are conditions people are expected to come home to every single day.
We cannot continue to simply hand out tax exemptions without accountability and expect that the problems will disappear.
When we talk about building more affordable housing, I want to make it clear that the job of the developer, the property manager, the council member, and everyone else involved does not end once it's built and the tenant moves in.
This cluster goes beyond the boundaries of my district, and I understand that a vote against it would put my colleagues in a difficult position.
But today I will abstain from this vote because I want to make it clear that this is not the standard in the 17th Council District.
We will not give out tax breaks and handouts to people and organizations who are not doing the work that they pledged to do.
The key to your front door should unlock a safe, stable, and dignified home where you can build your future and rest your head at night knowing that the roof is not about to cave in over you.
Thank you, Councilman.
Santos Fosso.