“The first bill before me is Introductory Number 607-A, sponsored by Council Members Martinez, Provenzano, Perkins, Clarke, Foster, Jennings, Quinn, Vann, Reyna, Reed, Stewart, Comrie, Katz, Arroyo, Rivera, Fidler, Jackson, Brewer, Liu, Oddo, and Speaker Miller.  This bill extends J-51 tax exemption benefits for the abatement of lead paint hazards under certain circumstances.

“Local Law 1 of 2004 required building owners to address lead paint hazards through repair or full abatement.  The law further provided J-51 tax exemption benefits to landlords when performing such lead abatement work in apartments occupied by a child under the age of seven, or by a lead poisoned child of any age, unless the work was being performed in response to a notice of violation.

“Introductory 607-A extends the provision of J-51 benefits to lead abatement work performed in any apartment, regardless of whether the unit is vacant or occupied by a child, as well as to abatement work performed in the common areas of multiple dwellings.  Further, the bill provides a mechanism for incentivizing abatement work in those parts of the City with the highest rates of children with elevated blood lead levels as a way to focus the City’s resources on those areas most at risk for lead poisoning. 

“I would like to thank the City Council and Department of Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Shaun Donovan for their leadership on this issue.”