File #: Int 0872-2024    Version: * Name: Creating an interagency task force on squatting.
Type: Introduction Status: Committee
Committee: Committee on Housing and Buildings
On agenda: 5/16/2024
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to creating an interagency task force on squatting
Sponsors: Kamillah Hanks, Joann Ariola , Susan Zhuang, Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Chris Banks, Julie Menin, Sandra Ung, Yusef Salaam, Linda Lee, Nantasha M. Williams, Farah N. Louis, David M. Carr, Kristy Marmorato
Council Member Sponsors: 13
Summary: This bill would create an interagency taskforce to address issues regarding squatting in the city, including the removal of persons squatting on properties, helping them find legitimate housing, identifying properties where people are or might be squatting, communicating with the owners of abandoned properties to ensure that such properties do not remain abandoned, and notifying the owners of abandoned properties of their obligation to maintain such properties, and enforcing that obligation.
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 872, 2. Int. No. 872, 3. May 16, 2024 - Stated Meeting Agenda, 4. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 5-16-24

Int. No. 872

 

By Council Members Hanks, Ariola, Zhuang, Brooks-Powers, Banks, Menin, Ung, Salaam, Lee, Williams, Louis, Carr and Marmorato

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to creating an interagency task force on squatting

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Chapter 1 of title 3 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new subchapter 10 to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER 10

INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE ON SQUATTING

§ 3-195 Definitions. For the purposes of this subchapter, the following terms have the following meanings:

Squat. The term “squat” means to enter a building or property and reside there without title, right, or permission of the owner, the owner’s agent, or a person entitled to possession of such building or property.

§ 3-196 Task force. a. The mayor shall convene an interagency task force to address complaints regarding squatting. Such task force shall be composed of officers or employees of the police department, fire department, department of housing preservation and development, department of homeless services, department of sanitation, and any other relevant agency.

b. The responsibilities of such task force shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

1. Removal of persons who are squatting on properties throughout the city;

2. Helping persons who are squatting find lawful housing accommodations;

3. Identifying properties where persons are or might be squatting and communicating with the owners of such properties;

4. Identifying and communicating with the owners of abandoned properties in the city to ensure that such properties do not remain abandoned; and

5. Notifying the owners of abandoned properties of their obligation to maintain such properties, and enforcing such obligation as provided by law.

c. The task force shall be deployed by the mayor at the request of the council member or community district who represent the site where the property with squatters is located.

§ 2. This law takes effect 90 days after it becomes law.

EH

LS #15233

4/18/2024 1:00 PM