Brooklyn lawmakers are urging the City Council to allocate $5 million in next year's budget to combat deed theft, particularly affecting Black and Brown homeowners in rapidly gentrifying neighborhoods. The New York State Attorney General's office reports nearly 3,500 deed theft complaints since 2014. Despite the severity of the issue, fewer than 30 scammers have been successfully prosecuted. Many victims, often seniors, struggle financially to navigate the complicated legal landscape, making the proposed funding essential for legal aid and educational outreach against such scams.
Brooklyn will not tolerate scammers coming to our borough to prey on vulnerable Black and Brown homeowners and we will fight back with resources to assist victims.
Deed theft is an expensive issue to combat; a typical case might require over 300 attorney hours and extend seven years for resolution.
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