Liz Crowley calls for property tax freeze

Elizabeth Crowley, a candidate for Queens borough president, called for a freeze on real estate taxes. Photo via City Council

By Rachel Vick

Elizabeth Crowley, a candidate for Queens borough president, a candidate for Queens borough president has called on Mayor Bill de Blasio to freeze property taxes while the COVID-19 economic shutdown threatens the livelihoods and incomes of millions of New York City residents.

Crowley has proposed cancelling Class 1 and 2 property tax rent increases, which apply to residential, co-op, condo and commercial real estate. She also recommends an option to delay  payment for 90 days so that landlords can use the savings to ease the rent burden on tenants.

“This is akin to what the governor has secured from banks for homeowners with mortgages and what the IRS has done for income tax filers,” Crowley said.

Her plan has received support from residents and community representatives, who emphasize the weight of the taxes on owners.

“NYC property taxes that are due April 15th are the largest single expenditure for most co-ops and may put them in a perilous cash crunch position if newly unemployed residents cannot make their monthly maintenance payments during these unprecedented times,” said Bob Friedrich, president of Glen Oaks Village.