NYC property tax system may violate federal and state housing laws, top court rules

Plus, Mayor Adams is facing a sexual assault lawsuit. [FORWARD TO A FRIEND]( [VIEW IN BROWSER]( [DONATE]( [WNYC Politics Brief] [Top state court rules NYC property tax system may violate federal and state housing laws]( New York’s highest court issued a new ruling on Tuesday that could upend the way New York City collects billions of dollars in property taxes each year. The state Court of Appeals sided with a coalition of homeowners and real estate industry groups — known as Tax Equity Now New York — who sued the city, claiming the property tax system sets far higher rates on rental buildings and small homes in lower-income neighborhoods than on condos and homes in wealthier areas. In a 4-to-3 decision, the court said TENNY should be allowed to argue the current system violates the federal Fair Housing Act and real property tax law after lower courts dismissed their claims. [Read more about the ruling.]( Mayor Eric Adams has been formally accused of demanding oral sex from a colleague in the NYPD’s transit bureau in 1993 and forcing her to touch his penis when she refused to comply, according to a civil complaint filed in state Supreme Court in Manhattan on Monday. But Adams is again denying the allegations, with his city attorney calling them “outrageous.” [Read more about the lawsuit.]( --------------------------------------------------------------- 🗳️ --------------------------------------------------------------- More politics stories to know this week What else is happening in City Hall On Friday, NYC and the Legal Aid Society reached a settlement agreement which establishes new right-to-shelter rules for migrant adults. But several homeless advocates are criticizing the changes. [Read more.]( Mayor Adams’ office says the administration’s proposed budget cuts to the CUNY wouldn’t severely affect its academic programing. But officials within the university system say otherwise. [Read more.]( NYC Council Speaker Adrienne Adams unveiled several proposals to make the city more affordable in her State of the City address, including building housing at libraries and the Aqueduct Racetrack. [Read more.]( New York City’s migrant crisis could be solved — at least in part — by solving the global climate crisis, according to former Vice President Al Gore. [Read more.]( What’s going on in Albany Transparency advocates are pushing two new bills in Albany that would make government records in New York more accessible to the public. [Read more.]( What's new in New Jersey A federal judge questioned the claim that New Jersey’s county clerks don’t have time to reprint ballots before this year’s June primary elections as he [decides a key case]( for the state’s elections. [Read more](. The New Jersey State Attorney General has said he won't defend that case, which is against a controversial ballot system known as the county line, because he said he believes the system is unconstitutional. [Read more.]( New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said he’s open to legislative changes to the state’s public records laws — if they don’t ultimately undermine transparency. [Read more.]( --------------------------------------------------------------- 🗳️ --------------------------------------------------------------- [the logo for the Brian Lehrer daily politics podcast]( [Wildly Different Reactions to Schumer’s Gaza Speech]( What domestic or foreign consequences will come of a speech given by the highest ranking Jewish American lawmaker in US history, criticizing Israel's Prime Minister? [LISTEN]( Support WNYC + Gothamist Make a donation to support local, independent journalism. Your contributions are our largest source of funding and pays for essential political coverage and more. [DONATE]( [Facebook]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Instagram]( [New York Public Radio] [WNYC]( | [WQXR]( | [NJPR]( | [GOTHAMIST]( [WNYC STUDIOS]( | [THE GREENE SPACE]( Copyright © New York Public Radio. All rights reserved. 160 Varick Street, New York, NY 10013 [TERMS OF USE]( You can update your [PREFERENCES]( or [UNSUBSCRIBE]( from this list.