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Q&A
Potential mechanisms for funding lead service line replacements
2:28:17
ยท
126 sec
Council Member Restler and Commissioner Aggarwala discuss potential mechanisms for funding lead service line replacements, focusing on innovative approaches and opportunities for implementation.
- Suggestion of a lien-based system similar to the one used for tree condition improvements
- Discussion of targeting replacements during property transactions
- Consideration of income-based eligibility for support
- Uncertainty about additional federal resources for the program
Lincoln Restler
2:28:17
I don't remember the details of the hearing, but it does make me think about an approach that we developed in the de Blasio administration around tree conditions where when there was severely disruptive street trees that homeowners couldn't afford to upgrade the sidewalk around their house and they were getting penalties, that there was a mechanism for the city to cover the cost and essentially for a lien to be placed on the house, that upon sale of the property, the city would be repaid.
2:28:49
And I wonder if there's a similar approach or a mechanism that we could develop here for folks of a certain income level if they were unwilling you know, that are not eligible for support.
2:29:00
Because we do wanna get the lines replaced.
2:29:03
And an uncooperative homeowner that has the means to do so, you know, we we probably wanna figure out different ways to tackle the problem.
2:29:10
But that's a different hearing for If
Rohit Aggarwala
2:29:12
if I could, council member, you know, that's one of the reasons that I think one of the biggest missed opportunities in not passing that legislation was the fact and I haven't had a chance, I I meant to look it up for for this for today, but I didn't get.
2:29:25
How many homes have transacted?
2:29:28
How many homes in New York City have been sold?
2:29:30
Right?
2:29:31
That moment of sale is and you just said it, like you put a lien on the home, right?
2:29:36
It doesn't affect the current owner.
2:29:37
At that hearing, you'll recall council member Holden talking about, well why should the old lady who lives alone and is, you know, fine, right, why should she have to shell out?
2:29:48
But when that home transacts, a new owner is usually going to put money into upgrading the lawn or doing whatever.
2:29:56
That's precisely the moment you want to do that lead service line replacement and a new owner is already getting financing so the incremental 10 or $15,000 is not going to be impossible.
2:30:08
That is the mechanism that we should start using as soon as possible.
2:30:12
The
Lincoln Restler
2:30:15
is it too early to predict whether there will be additional federal resources available?
Rohit Aggarwala
2:30:21
I think it is too early to predict.
2:30:23
I I don't think we know
Lincoln Restler
2:30:23
yet.