Permits the city of Yonkers to establish a surcharge for vacant and abandoned property

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Andrea Stewart-Cousins says this is needed

Municipalities across the State of New York, including the City of Yonk- ers, are facing increased public safety risks created by vacant and abandoned properties. When left abandoned and dilapidated, these proper- ties often attract vandalism and illegal occupancy, eventually becoming strains on municipal resources, including police, fire, sanitation, and code enforcement services. The City of Yonkers currently has 167 properties registered with the Department of Housing and Building as vacant and abandoned. In January 2026, a four-alarm fire started in a vacant home on School Street in Yonkers, quickly spreading to neighboring buildings and decimating an entire block. Across the nation, municipalities like Baltimore, Maryland have already implemented higher real property tax rates on vacant properties. Addi- tionally, other municipalities in New York State, including the City of Buffalo, are seeking authorization to hold vacant and abandoned property owners responsible for the increased risks caused by their dereliction. This bill would grant the City of Yonkers the authority to impose a surcharge on vacant and abandoned properties. This surcharge of up to two times the net real property tax will reflect the disproportionate impact that these properties have on the City's resources.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.