Mayor Mamdani, Governor Hochul Announce State’s First Pied-à-Terre Tax, Requiring Ultrawealthy and Global Elites to Pay Their Fair Share

 

Historic measure will help close the budget gap, Mamdani administration to increase taxes on luxury secondary properties owned by residents outside New York City 

Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul announced the proposal of the state’s first pied-à-terre tax, a major step toward closing New York City’s budget gap while protecting the public services working New Yorkers rely on.

The pied-à-terre tax — supported by 93% of New Yorkers — will levy an annual surcharge on one to three family homes, condominiums and co-ops valued above $5 million when owners have a separate primary residence outside of New York City. While leaders from multiple mayoral administrations have proposed similar measures for more than a decade, this policy marks the first time such a tax will be enacted in New York State.

The measure targets ultrawealthy out-of-city residents and global elites who use New York City real estate as a vehicle for wealth storage rather than as homes. It is projected to generate $500 million in annual revenue, including from some of the most expensive residences in the country — from billionaire Ken Griffith’s $238 million penthouse in Midtown, at one time the most expensive home sold in the United States, to Russian auto-dealer Alexander Varshavsky’s $20.5M property (purchased in cash), and thousands more owned by foreign oligarchs and the global ultrarich.

“Thanks to the support of Governor Hochul, we are one step closer to balancing our budget by taxing the ultra-wealthy and global elites with a pied-à-terre tax — the first of its kind in our state. Alongside the governor, our administration is fighting every day to make sure we address this fiscal deficit fairly, where the wealthy contribute what they owe and our budget reflects our commitment to the working New Yorkers being priced out of our city,” said Mayor Zohran Mamdani. 

“New York City is the greatest city in the world, and the people who call it home should not be left carrying the burden alone. As Governor, I understand the importance of stabilizing the city’s finances without compromising on essential services New Yorkers count on. If you can afford a $5 million second home that sits empty most of the year, you can afford to contribute like every other New Yorker,” said Governor Kathy Hochul.

Housing Lottery Launches for 2951 Wallace Avenue in Allerton, The Bronx

 

The affordable housing lottery has launched for 2951 Wallace Avenue, a six-story residential building in Allerton, The Bronx. Designed by Angelo Ng & Anthony Ng Architects and developed by Long Lin, the structure yields 36 residences. Available on NYC Housing Connect are eight units for residents at 80 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $81,326 to $140,000.

Amenities include assigned parking spaces, elevator, and outdoor areas. Residences have air conditioning and hardwood floors. Tenants are responsible for electricity, including stove, heat, and hot water.

At 80 percent of the AMI, there are four one-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $2,092 for incomes ranging from $81,326 to $116,640, and four two-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $2,419 for incomes ranging from $97,852 to $140,000.

Prospective renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for these apartments. Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than April 28, 2026.

NYS Office of the Comptroller DiNapoli Urges Vote Against eXp's Proposed Move to Texas and All Directors

 

Real Estate Company Proposed Move After Lawsuit Alleged Cover-Up of "Rape Culture" at the Firm

The New York State Common Retirement Fund is urging investors to vote against a measure to reincorporate eXp World Holdings Inc., the cloud-based real estate brokerage, from Delaware to Texas and against all company directors in the wake of a troubling court ruling, New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, trustee of the Fund, announced today.

The company proposed the move just weeks after a Delaware judge ruled that a lawsuit be allowed to proceed against certain company officers and directors, including its founder and CEO Glenn Sanford, for allegedly concealing a pervasive “rape culture” at the company. Texas law limits shareholders’ rights to hold companies accountable.     

“No one should be subjected to sexual violence in the workplace,” DiNapoli said. “When companies fail to address and stop abuse by those in power, they perpetuate harm and put shareholder value at risk. The timing of this abrupt move — from a state where an adverse ruling occurred in a case seeking to hold the company’s leadership responsible, to a state where they may be shielded from future accountability — is highly suspect and should raise concerns for all investors.”     

The precedent-setting ruling by the Delaware Court of Chancery found that the failure of eXp’s management and board of directors to respond to workplace sexual misconduct is the basis for breach of fiduciary duty claims. According to the ruling, for many years top eXp agents “allegedly drugged and raped [other] agents at company-sponsored events.” The court noted that the lawsuit filed by shareholders alleged that some of eXp’s leaders “…benefited financially from retaining the perpetrators and actively covered up their conduct,” while others “failed to respond in good faith to red flags notifying them of the company’s rape culture.”

In 2024, DiNapoli wrote eXp to express concern about legal and reputational risks and to request an independent investigation into the company’s actions related to the sexual harassment and assault  allegations. A response from eXp stated that “an independent review of the facts and allegations is already underway.” However, the company did not follow-up and it is unclear whether such an independent review was ever conducted.  

In recent years, the Fund has filed multiple shareholder proposals seeking reports on efforts to prevent harassment and discrimination against employees and steps taken to improve workforce management with portfolio companies including Activision Blizzard Inc., Tesla Inc., Starbucks Corp., Uber, and Wells Fargo & Co., the last of which received support from a majority (55%) of shareholders. In 2019 the Fund announced a landmark $41 million settlement to hold Steve Wynn and Wynn Resorts’ officers and directors accountable after filing a lawsuit claiming they failed to protect the company and employees from former CEO Steve Wynn’s alleged sexual misconduct.

In addition to voting against the move from Delaware to Texas, the Fund is urging investors to vote against all six eXp director nominees, including the CEO and board chair and directors who were named in the Delaware lawsuit, for failure to provide independent oversight and accountability. 

Shareholders will vote on the proposal and directors at the company’s annual general meeting on April 24, 2026.

The New York State Common Retirement Fund is one of the largest public pension funds in the United States and has consistently been ranked as one of the best managed and best funded plans in the nation.

Bronx River Art Center - Celebrate Earth Day at BRAC

 

Celebrate Earth Day with Bronx River Art Center

RSVP on Eventbrite

Join us for a joyful afternoon of art, environmental engagement, and community connection as we unveil our newly renovated Community Room.

Explore our galleries and studios, participate in hands-on activities, and enjoy live performances, wellness sessions, and interactive programming for all ages.

Event Highlights

Community Room Unveiling   Open House and Guided Tours   Artist Open Studios and Exhibitions   Hands-On Earth Day Activities   Spring Class Demonstrations and Enrollment Opportunities   Wellness Programming, Including Yoga   Community Partner Tabling   Live Music and DJ Performances   Artist Talk in our Gallery   Light Refreshments and Family-Friendly Activities

12:30 - 1:30pm: "Son de Citilore" will be performing from is a community-based group committed to sharing Son Jarocho, the traditional music of southern Veracruz, Mexico, along with its rich cultural heritage.

5:00 - 7:00 pm: An artist talk for our current exhibition, "Chronicles of Grace: Exploring the Aging Body". Learn more about the artists’ processes and how they explore themes of aging in their work. The conversation will be moderated by Deanna Liderman, with translation assistance provided by Ruddy Mejia.

Featuring Our Community Partners

New York Botanical Garden Bronx River Alliance Bronx River Community Garden Drew Gardens

Event Details

Saturday, April 18, 2026 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM Bronx River Art Center 1087 E. Tremont Ave, Bronx, NY 10460 Free Admission – Registration Encouraged

Celebrate Earth Day with art, community, and creativity. We can’t wait to welcome you!

RSVP on Eventbrite

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson - REMINDER: GREEK HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION

 

Attorney General James Secures $350,000 From Brooklyn Furniture Store for Cheating Consumers

 

1StopBedrooms Will Refund Consumers Who Experienced Excessive Delivery Delays, Were Charged Improper Cancelation Fees, or Received Damaged Furniture

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced she secured up to $350,000 from Payless Furniture, Inc. d/b/a 1StopBedrooms, a Brooklyn-based furniture store, for cheating consumers. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) received hundreds of complaints from consumers against 1StopBedrooms for excessive delivery delays, exorbitant cancelation fees, falsely promoting 30-day “hassle-free” returns, and delivery of damaged furniture with no opportunity for a full refund or exchange. As a result of OAG’s investigation, 1StopBedrooms is required to pay restitution to consumers who experienced these issues, in addition to $75,000 in penalties and $2,000 in costs to New York state. 1StopBedrooms will also be required to change its advertising and business practices to protect future consumers.

“No New Yorker should have to pay hundreds of dollars for furniture only to receive it late or damaged,” said Attorney General James. “We are requiring 1StopBedrooms to refund customers who were forced to pay unlawful cancelation fees or could not cancel their order after it was delayed for months. As New Yorkers struggle with the rising cost of living, my office will continue to fight back against companies that try to take advantage of consumers.”

1StopBedrooms is an online furniture store headquartered in Midwood, Brooklyn. The OAG opened an investigation after receiving 270 complaints from consumers detailing issues with deliveries and returns. The OAG’s investigation revealed that 1StopBedrooms advertised furniture on its online store as “in stock” and displayed quick shipping dates, sometimes within 30 days, when the actual delivery dates were in fact much later. 1StopBedrooms did not provide consumers with the legally required notices to inform them of their right to a full refund due to delivery delays.

The investigation further revealed that 1StopBedrooms failed to refund consumers for fees when orders were canceled and charged consumers a 15 percent “restocking” fee plus a return shipping fee of $2.25 per pound on canceled orders or orders that were excessively delayed. Several consumers only received partial refunds, and others did not receive any refunds on canceled orders.

1StopBedrooms also failed to correct orders or help consumers when they received damaged, missing, or incorrect furniture deliveries. The store’s refund policy advertised that consumers had only 24 hours to report damaged furniture to receive a refund. However, 1StopBedrooms failed to adequately repair damaged furniture or respond to consumer complaints. The store also told consumers that they had to withdraw their complaints with the Better Business Bureau or other online review platforms in order to receive a refund.

The settlement with OAG requires 1StopBedrooms to pay $78,810.71 in restitution to 57 consumers who filed complaints with OAG or the Better Business Bureau against 1StopBedrooms. The settlement further requires 1StopBedrooms to pay an additional $206,115.37 to 232 consumers who are eligible for restitution, including those who did not receive a delivery date at the time of purchase or a delivery delay notice, received unwarranted cancelation charges, or received defective or incorrect furniture. 

Under New York law, if a seller is unable to deliver non-custom-made furniture by the delivery date or within 30 days of purchase, the company must notify the customer of the delay and any revised delivery dates, and must provide the option to:

• Cancel the contract and receive a full refund;
• Cancel the contract and receive a credit for any deposit;
• Agree to a new delivery date or range of delivery dates; or
• Select a different piece of furniture.

If a customer chooses to cancel the contract and receive a refund, the seller must make the refund within two weeks of the request. 

Any consumer who purchased furniture from 1StopBedrooms between January 15, 2019 and January 15, 2025 who believes they may be eligible for restitution is encouraged to email 1stopbedroomsclaims@ag.ny.gov to file a claim before the deadline of August 10, 2026. Attorney General James urges any consumer who experiences issues with online orders or deliveries to contact OAG by calling 1 (800) 771-7755, or submitting a complaint online. 

Van Cortlandt Park Alliance - Recognizing the People Who Lend a Trowel to Van Cortlandt Park

 

The numbers are in!

 

Last year, VCPA volunteers showed up again and again to care for Van Cortlandt Park. Together, they contributed more than 2,200 hours across forests, wetlands, meadows, and the pond. Thanks to them we planted 1,486+ native plants, managed 20+ invasive species, and logged an amazing 15,000 iNaturalist observations.

 

That’s the equivalent of $70,000 in hands-on care for the park.

 

From the Natural Areas to the Learning Garden to the Enslaved African Burial Ground, their impact is everywhere.

 

Many of these volunteers are also neighbors and longtime supporters. However they show up, they are at the heart of VCPA.

 

We’re so grateful.

 

If you’ve ever thought about getting involved, we’d love to have you join us out in the park.

Click here for more information.

 

Here’s to the people who roll up their sleeves, dig in, and make Van Cortlandt Park stronger every day.

 

Thank you!

Our Contact Information
Van Cortlandt Park Alliance
80 Van Cortlandt Park South, Ste. E1
Bronx, NY 10463
718-601-1460
http://vancortlandt.org

New York City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce - Join Us for the 48th Annual Run the Bronx

 

The NYC Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is proud to invite its members and community to be part of one of the borough’s most enduring traditions—the 48th Annual Run the Bronx, taking place on Saturday, May 2 at Bronx Community College.

For nearly five decades, Run the Bronx has brought together thousands of runners, walkers, families, and community members in celebration of health, wellness, and community pride. As the second oldest race in New York City, it continues to be a powerful reminder of what makes the Bronx strong.

This event is open to all, with a 10K run, 5K run, and 2-mile fitness walk. In alignment with its mission, all K–12 and CUNY students can participate at no cost, ensuring access and opportunity for young people across our borough.

Whether you’re looking to:

Run or walk alongside your community
Create a team with your organization or business
Volunteer and be part of the experience

There is a place for you at Run the Bronx.

Proceeds from the event support student scholarships at Bronx Community College, helping to create pathways for the next generation of leaders.

We invite you to join us and represent the Bronx.

RSVP Now

New York City Hispanic Chamber | 159 E 116th St Second Floor | New York, NY 10029