Colin Lenton
A house in southeast Queens in 2010, an area hard-hit by the foreclosure crisis.
Most cities do not sell their tax liens to a private trust. Many have programs which help homeowners pay off their debt and repair their neglected rental properties. Other cities also allow nonprofits to buy back the lien and then work out a payment plan with the property owner.
‘Twenty-five years ago, Mario Cuomo was known for his oratory. During his years in office, Presidents Reagan and Bush made him look like a paragon of virtue. But his parting act as governor should remind us that his apparent compassion was mere sanctimony. ‘
The story of parks workers is similar to the story of workers in most sectors of our economy. So the debate over whether to make a batch of parks jobs permanent is a test for the progressive city that so many pols promote.