Tax Lien Rally with Khari Edwards
Khari Edwards 2025
Tax Lien Rally with Khari Edwards
Khari Edwards Assists Brooklyn Homeowners who are at Risk of Lien Sale, Calls on BP Reynoso to Take Action to Protect Brooklynites As Well
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEAASE
BROOKLYN, NY (MARCH 31, 2025) – Khari Edwards, candidate for Brooklyn Borough President, led a coalition of civic leaders and Brooklyn homeowners at a rally in front of the home of his late mother Elenora Bernard demanding that Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams cancel the 2025 tax lien sale in New York City. Edwards also called on City and State officials to work together to implement stronger protections for at-risk homeowners before allowing any future tax lien sales to proceed. Bernard, whose life was tragically taken in 2022, would have been one of the thousands of longtime New York City homeowners on the lien sale list had she lived.
“For most New Yorkers, the tax lien sale is a little-known process. But for far too many homeowners, many of whom should never have been on the list in the first place, it carries devastating consequences,” said Edwards. “The tax lien sale needs to be completely overhauled to protect New Yorkers who may be on the financial brink, and until it is, the city and state must put amoratorium on any future sales.”
ast week, the New York City Department of Finance released the 90-day lien sale list, which includes properties with outstanding sewer and property tax debt. The debt on these properties is at risk of being sold to out-of-state private debt collectors for pennies on the dollar. More than 3,400 Brooklyn one- and two-family homes are currently included on the list. Once the debt is sold, these collectors often use predatory tactics to collect on the debt that can ultimately lead to foreclosure.
This will be the first lien sale since 2021. In 2020, Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio cancelled the lien sale in response to the COVID pandemic.
“One-in-eight homeowners is at risk of foreclosure,” said Afia Sengupta, Esq. “The tax lien sale is exacerbating this issue and threatening generational equity for thousands of Brooklyn families. I think it is important that the Governor and Mayor hear Khari’s call and follow this precedent by cancelling the upcoming lien sale.”
The Khari Edwards for Brooklyn Borough President campaign has begun canvassing homes on the lien sale list, informing residents about the upcoming sale and providing essential guidance on how to respond to protect their homes. So far, the campaign has made contact with dozens homeowners who are receiving guidance on how to protect their homes.
“There are resources available to help homeowners who should not be wrapped up in this process, but that information is not being communicated to the public,” said Edwards. “We have time before the lien sale, so I’m going to be knocking on doors and helping folks avoid the lien sale. I’m urging BP Reynoso to join me in raising the volume on this issue and contacting his constituents who might be at-risk as well.”
By law, property owners eligible for the Senior Citizen Homeowners Exemption, Veterans Homeowners Exemption, or Disabled Homeowners Exemption should not be included on the lien sale list. However, these exemptions do not apply automatically, so qualified homeowners must apply in advance to ensure their exemption is recognized before the lien sale. Additionally, certain homeowners whose total household income does not exceed $107,300 and who do not own additional properties also qualify for removal from the lien sale list.
“Many homeowners are unaware that this is happening or that they owe any debt to the city. Seniors, veterans, and disabled homeowners often don’t realize they are supposed to be protected from this entirely,” said Edwards. “This lack of awareness is a result of the government’s failure to communicate with the public and help homeowners avoid potential displacement and financial ruin.”
The Khari Edwards for Brooklyn Borough President campaign outlined a policy framework to reform the city's lien sale program. The plan includes automatically enrolling properties that qualify for existing exemptions and expanding eligibility to more seniors, disabled homeowners, all veteran homeowners, families with children, and those who are unemployed or underemployed.
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For more information, please visit https://www.khariedwards2025.com/
