REMARKS
Council Member Hudson introduces bill to combat deed theft
0:05:22
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Council Member Crystal Hudson introduces a bill requiring the Department of Finance to notify local council members when deed or mortgage-related documents are recorded for properties held by the same party for at least 30 years. The bill aims to address the significant issue of deed theft, particularly affecting long-time Black and brown homeowners in gentrifying areas.
- Over 3,500 homeowners have filed deed theft complaints with the sheriff's office in the past decade.
- The bill will allow council members to verify legitimate transfers and connect constituents with proper authorities if fraud is suspected.
- Hudson emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach to protect elderly homeowners from deed theft.
Crystal Hudson
0:05:22
Thank you so much, chair Brannan, and good morning.
0:05:26
This bill will require the Department of Finance to notify the local council member whenever a deed related or mortgage related document is recorded that affects a property interest held by the same party for at least 30 years.
0:05:37
Deed theft remains a significant issue, particularly in districts like mine, which are experiencing rapid gentrification and are home to many long time black and brown homeowners.
0:05:46
I've heard too many stories of older adults who have had their home titles stolen without their knowledge or consent.
0:05:52
Over the past decade, more than 35 100 homeowners have filed deed theft complaints with the sheriff's office.
0:05:58
Despite important progress in Albany to make deed theft a crime and to expand the attorney general's authority to prosecute these cases, there's still much work to be done to eliminate this problem once and for all.
0:06:08
Over the past few months, I've worked with the legislative division to explore ways the council could intervene in the deed registration process to flag potentially fraudulent transactions before they're finalized.
0:06:18
Unfortunately, we've learned that this body is largely preempted from interfering in the deed registration process.
0:06:24
However, that doesn't mean we shouldn't act.
0:06:26
This bill will ensure that we are all notified whenever a long time property has changed hands and gives us the chance to reach out to the constituent to ensure their deed was transferred legitimately and to connect them with the sheriff's office and attorney general if it was not.
0:06:39
We must take an all encompassing approach to protect the homes that our elders have owned for decades from theft.
0:06:45
Thank you.