Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958 or Deirdra L. Picou (212) 788-2971
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today administered the oath of office to James DeCuzzi who was named President of the New York City Tax Commission. Mr. DeCuzzi has been acting President since his appointment in January 1997.
"Jim's distinguished career in the law and the real estate industry is truly impressive," said Mayor Giuliani. "I am pleased that he will bring to the Commission superior management skills and wide-ranging expertise that will allow him to effectively administer its operations. Jim is a proven leader whose solid administrative experience will help guide the Commission."
The Commission rules on applications to review and correct real property tax assessments made by the Department of Finance, including determinations on applications for exemption. It is composed of the President and six Commissioners appointed by the Mayor, with City Council advice and consent.
Prior to this appointment, Mr. DeCuzzi was appointed by the Mayor in March 1996 to a six-year term as a Commissioner of the New York City Tax Commission. From January 1995 through March 1996, Mr. DeCuzzi served as an Administrative Law Judge with the New York City Housing Authority, presiding over evidentiary hearings and preparing reports with findings and recommendations in employee disciplinary proceedings pursuant to section 75 of the Civil Service Law.
From 1993 through 1996, Mr. DeCuzzi was a partner in the Manhattan law firm of DeCuzzi & Getzler. Prior to 1993, he was associated with a Long Island law firm whose practice was concentrated primarily in the area of real property taxation. As lead counsel in several cases of first impression, Mr. DeCuzzi established legal precedent resulting in millions of dollars in refunds and future savings for commercial property taxpayers.
Mr. DeCuzzi has been a contributing author of several articles published in professional and trade journals, and served as lecturer at the Nassau Academy of Law. Since November 1994, he has also served at the pleasure of the Mayor as a member of the Mayor's Committee on City Marshals.
He served as a Confidential Law Assistant to the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court, Second Judicial Department, following his graduation from law school. During that two year tenure, Mr. DeCuzzi prepared comprehensive reports, recommended appropriate dispositions and assisted in the drafting of decisions for over 100 civil and criminal appeals and related motions.
Mr. DeCuzzi received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology, magna cum laude, from the State University of New York in Albany. He is also a graduate of Rutgers University School of Law, where he received a Juris Doctor Degree.
He co-founded the Confederation of Columbian Lawyers Associations, an umbrella group of all Columbian Lawyers Associations throughout the metropolitan area, with a collective membership of over 1,500 Italian-American attorneys and jurists.
He is also a member of the New York State Bar Association since 1984, and a Sustaining Life Member of the Queens Farm Museum.
Born and raised in New York City and presently residing in Queens, Mr. DeCuzzi has been a lifelong New Yorker.