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Bill Combats
Absentee Landlords
Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli announced Assembly passage of legislation that
would make limited liability companies more accountable to municipalities
(A8948). Magnarelli’s legislation aids the City of Syracuse’s effort to combat
absentee property owners on code violations, enforce ordinances and collect
taxes and judgments levied against properties.
“There are numerous economic
benefits from the limited liability law
that must be preserved, but the law
must be amended to address the serious
concerns regarding properties owned
by limited liability companies with
absent owners,” Magnarelli said.
“These owners are responsible to the
City, community and their tenants to
address any violations and judgments.”
“These Owners Are Responsible to the City, Community and
Their Tenants.”
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Many rental properties owned by
limited liability companies are in
violation of building and safety codes,
in disrepair and create serious quality
of life problems in Syracuse and
Central New York. Some of these
property owners have neglected to pay
property taxes or other utility bills. In
some cases, the City of Syracuse has
been unable to locate the owners of
these properties to enforce code
violations or to collect on judgments.
This legislation opens the door to the
names of the individuals behind the
limited liability companies, aiding the
City in tracking them down.
Up until this legislation, the individuals affiliated with the limited liability
companies were hidden behind their companies, ensuring complete anonymity.
Prosecuting violating companies was challenging, at best. Magnarelli said that
some limited liability companies with properties in Syracuse work tirelessly to
maintain their properties. This bill only targets the absentee landlords with
derelict properties.
“This problem is not unique to Central New York,” Magnarelli said. “This bill
will help other New York cities combat similar issues, and ultimately, restore
the quality of life for tenants and the surrounding communities.”
CONFERENCE OF ITALIAN-AMERICAN LEGISLATORS
The New York Italian-American Conference of State Legislators 18th Annual weekend concluded
on June 2 in Albany. As the 2007 – 2008 Conference President, Magnarelli and other
Conference Executive Committee members honored B. Thomas Golisano and Peter Cardella
with ‘Italian-American of Distinction’ Awards. In addition, the Conference awards college
scholarships to New York State students for academic excellence and athletic prowess.
“The Annual Conference weekend is where we take time to reflect on what it means to be
an Italian-American in the 21st century, celebrate our unique cultural identity and preserve
our shared heritage,” Magnarelli said.
The Conference kicked off on Sunday, June 1 with presentations, plenary session and the
awards ceremony, and ending the next day with the famous Festa Italiana.
Pictured on June 1, 2008. From left to right: Senator Serphin Maltese; Honoree B. Thomas
Golisano; Honoree Peter Cardella; and Assemblyman William B. Magnarelli.
EMPIRE ZONE REFORM
The Empire Zone program was originally designed to be
an economic tool that would provide greater tax benefits
and help spur job creation in struggling regions across the
state. However, the program has not met its intended
goals. Magnarelli, with other Assembly members,
recently passed legislation to reform the Empire Zone
Program. Under these new reforms, the State will have
greater power to root out businesses that enrolled in the
program, receive the benefits, and yet do not produce the
promised results. Also, the legislation would prohibit
non-qualifying businesses from entering the program.
TUITION SAVINGS PLAN
With the rising cost of a college education, finding
creative solutions to alleviate tuition costs has become a
daunting task for many CNYers. Magnarelli supported a
new law that improves the New York State College
Choice Tuition Savings Program. The so-called “529
accounts” allow for tax-deductible contributions made by
NYS residents with tax-free withdrawals for qualified
higher education purposes. The new law allows anyone to
deposit money directly into the account, not only the
owner of the account.
GREEN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY
Magnarelli supported changes to the law regarding net
metering, opening the door for increased investment in
renewable ‘green’ energy technology. The bill passed by
the Assembly allows businesses, as well as presently
allowed homeowners, to sell excess electricity back to the
power company, while removing the cap on the amount
of energy available for net metering.
THRUWAY AUTHORITY BOARD
The Assembly passed legislation that would immediately
end the terms of the New York State Thruway Authority
Board of Directors, allow Governor Paterson to appoint
new directors, and provide for another transition
whenever a new governor takes office.
ELDER ASSAULT LAW
Governor Paterson signed into law a measure that makes
assaulting a person 65 or older a class D felony, if the
perpetrator is more than 10 years younger than the victim.
This measure will help curb predatory attacks by those
who target the elderly.
SUBPRIME LENDING CRISIS
A package of bills designed to address New York’s
subprime lending crisis and assist homeowners struggling
to pay their mortgages passed in the Assembly. This
legislation will hold lenders accountable and assist New
Yorkers who are in danger of losing their homes. The
comprehensive plan will establish requirements on all
home loans, provide information to all residential
mortgage applicants and assist homeowners who are
currently in default or foreclosure.
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