New York City Councilmember Chi Ossé on Combating Deed Theft Evictions

The Crisis of Deed Theft Evictions

• 🏠 Deed theft is a scam where investors steal home ownership on paper, often targeting recently deceased homeowners' heirs.
• 🎯 These predatory buyers convince heirs to sell their shares, sometimes through fraud, leading to the eviction of existing residents.
• 💔 The schemes disproportionately affect communities of color, particularly Black New Yorkers, stripping them of intergenerational wealth.
• 📈 Deed theft has become increasingly prevalent in New York City due to gentrification in historically Black neighborhoods like Bedford-Stuyvesant.

Legislative Efforts and Proposed Solutions

• 🏛️ Councilmember Chi Ossé is urging Governor Hochul to enforce a temporary eviction moratorium on properties with potential deed theft.
• 📜 While a 2023 bill aimed to close legal loopholes, Ossé argues the governor needs to take further action.
• ⚖️ Proposed solutions include greater oversight within the court system, more training for judges on new laws, and increased funding for right to counsel programs specifically for deed theft cases.
• 🔍 There's a call for stronger transparency and oversight into shell LLCs used by deed thieves, and an expansion of the statute of limitations for deed theft cases.

Data and Impact on Homeowners

• 📊 In the past five years, over 1300 complaints were received from Brooklyn and over 1500 from Queens regarding deed theft.
• ⚠️ Many homeowners, especially seniors or those with health issues, may be victims without knowing the name of the crime.
• 🚫 A proposed citywide "cease and desist" zone aims to prevent solicitors from bothering homeowners directly.
• 💔 Victims like Ivonne shared harrowing experiences of forged signatures, fraudulent foreclosure actions, and being evicted from their own homes, with judges allegedly complicit.

Broader Political Context

• 🤝 Councilmember Ossé recently joined the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).
• 🗳️ He explains his decision not to primary Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, reportedly due to the influence of Mayor Adams and the DSA's stance.
• ❄️ Ossé also commented on Mayor Adams' response to the cold spell, noting the administration's responsiveness in his district regarding warming buses and centers.