An audit revealed that homeowners in New York City's communities of color are unfairly fined for building violations, particularly through reliance on anonymous 311 complaints. Specifically, these complaints have disproportionately originated from Black and Hispanic neighborhoods, skewing enforcement action. Comptroller Brad Lander criticized the Department of Buildings' approach, suggesting that it does not accurately reflect actual violations, leading to inequitable fine distributions. He urged for a more equitable enforcement process, while a Department spokesperson dismissed the audit's findings as flawed, pointing out vital data gaps.
DOB cannot determine whether the communities most impacted by violations are in fact the communities with the highest number of code violations. They are simply the communities that receive the highest number of complaints.
The Department of Buildings' lack of strategic enforcement and overreliance on anonymous 311 calls directly contributed to inequitable levels of fines in New York City's communities of color.
Collection
[
|
...
]