Courtesy Freepik

By MOHAMED FARGHALY
mfarghaly@queensledger.com

With less than three weeks until New York City’s first tax lien sale since the
pandemic, thousands of homeowners—particularly in Brooklyn and Queens—face
potential displacement from properties where many have lived for generations.

On May 20, the city will auction off the liens on properties with outstanding debts
for taxes, water bills, or emergency repairs. The move could set thousands of
working- and middle-class homeowners on a fast track to foreclosure. Notices were
mailed two weeks ago to property owners included in the sale, triggering a 30-day
countdown that housing advocates warn is especially dangerous for low- and
moderate-income (LMI) New Yorkers and communities of color.

In response, the Center for NYC Neighborhoods (CNYCN), a city-funded nonprofit,
has launched a full-scale outreach campaign to connect at-risk homeowners with
resources that may help them avoid the sale.

“This is basically the way that New York City collects debt on delinquent… property
taxes, water debt, or HPD emergency repair liens,” said Kevin Wolfe, Director of
Outreach and Public Affairs at CNYCN. “What basically happens is… those who are on
the tax lien sale must be notified… We are less than 20 days away from the lien sale,
basically. And we are… at the final stretch, trying to make sure that the homeowners
who are on the lien sale are able to get off.”

The sale, which had been suspended since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and
executive intervention by state officials, has returned in full for the first time in four
years. Advocates like Wolfe say its structure unfairly burdens small homeowners.

“Homeowners make up a disproportionate amount of those that are on the lien
sale,” Wolfe said, pointing to city data showing that while they represent 18% of the
total debt, their properties comprise about 42% of those included in the sale.
Homeowners with even modest debts—many under $5,000—can lose their homes if the lien is sold and they are unable to resolve it. “Once it’s at that stage, then you
have a lot fewer options and a lot fewer rights,” Wolfe warned.

The burden also falls disproportionately on Black and Latino communities. “Black
homeowners are six times more likely to be on the lien sale than white
homeowners. Hispanic, Latino homeowners are twice as likely,” Wolfe said. “Those
same neighborhoods that were redlined are the same neighborhoods that have the
highest concentrations of liens in 2024.”

Courtesy CNYCN

In response, CNYCN has organized nearly 50 outreach events across the five
boroughs, particularly targeting Southeast Queens and central Brooklyn—two areas
with the highest concentrations of at-risk homeowners. These events offer on-the-
spot help from legal, housing, and financial counselors, and are free to homeowners
through funding from the New York City Council.

The organization is urging anyone who received a 30-day notice to act immediately.
“Even if you’re reading this article the day before the lien sale, call us,” Wolfe said.
“We basically say it’s not too late. I know that it’s a scary situation. A lot of people
don’t even want to open the mail… but we will do our utmost to provide assistance
and get you off the lien sale.”

One critical option is the city’s “Easy Exit” program, which can remove eligible
homeowners from the lien sale list for a year while they work to resolve their debt.
“Most people do qualify—if your household income is about $107,000 or less, you
can be pulled off the lien sale,” Wolfe explained.

Other options include payment plans with reduced interest rates, property tax
deferral through the Property Tax and Interest Deferral (PTAID) program, and
permanent exemptions for seniors or people with disabilities.

CNYCN is also warning homeowners to be vigilant against scammers. Because the
lien sale list is public and includes contact information and debt amounts, it’s
become a gold mine for predatory actors. “They’ll offer to buy your air rights, or say
‘we’ll help you get this resolved,’ and then just take their money… It turns out that
they’re signing over their deed,” Wolfe said, noting that central Brooklyn—one of
the hardest-hit areas—is also a hotspot for deed theft.

For assistance, CNYCN encourages homeowners to call its Homeowner Hub at 646-
786-0888, available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or dial 311 and
request help with a tax lien. More information is also available on the group’s
website, including a tax lien tracker that visualizes the sale’s disproportionate
impact across the city.

By MOHAMED FARGHALY
mfarghaly@queensledger.com

Helen Sokol turned 103 this year, and as with each passing milestone, she was
surrounded by friends, family, and fellow community members at the Frank
Kowalinski Post No. 4 in Maspeth, where she was honored once again for her life of
resilience, service, and warmth.

Born in 1922 in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, Sokol has lived through a century of
change and history — much of it from her longtime home in Queens, where she
settled nearly 80 years ago. The daughter of Slovak immigrants, she arrived in New
York in the 1940s, first staying in Middle Village before moving to Elmhurst with her
late husband, Emil. The couple raised three sons and now have two grandchildren.

At this year’s celebration, representatives from Councilman Robert Holden’s and
Senator Joseph Addabbo’s offices presented Sokol with certificates recognizing her
contributions to the community and congratulating her on her remarkable
longevity.

Councilman Holden’s office praised her enduring commitment to civic engagement,
with staffer Phil Wong presenting her a Certificate of Recognition. “I am presenting
this to Helen from the Councilman Robert Holden’s office,” Wong said. “This
Certificate of Recognition presented to Helen Soko on her service to our
neighborhood and for her one hundred and third birthday celebration.”

A representative from Senator Addabbo’s office echoed those sentiments. “Senator
Joseph Addabbo recognizes and congratulates Helen’s uncle on the occasion of 100
and third birthday,” he said.

Sokol, who is known for her sharp wit and love of swing music, spoke candidly
about aging and the struggles she’s encountered recently, particularly with
healthcare.

“Turning 103… it’s a big change,” she said, reflecting on the shift she noticed in her
health after turning 102. She shared a frustrating experience with physical therapy
for vertigo, describing poor communication and inadequate treatment. “At least I
learned a little bit,” she said. “I’m trying to do things by myself now.”
Despite recent challenges, Sokol remains deeply engaged in her community. For decades, she’s been a member of the women’s civic organization that meets at the
Post, dating back to its original location on Seabury Street. The group, now
supported by the AARP, continues to serve local churches and address community
needs through regular meetings and outreach.

“I think the women who attend here genuinely enjoy it because they feel they can
speak their minds and see it lead to positive change,” Sokol said. “It’s a friendly
place.”

This year’s event was not just a birthday celebration, but a reaffirmation of Sokol’s
legacy — one rooted in family, service, and a sense of humor that remains intact.

Sierra Ryan
sryan@queensledger.com

Ernestine Smith runs a food pantry along with a group of volunteers in Woodside Queens. Every
Friday Smith and volunteers would stand outside with a table packing bags for those in need.
Whether that would be hot food, cold food, socks, underwear or Easter baskets for the kids Smith
is dedicated to helping those that need it.
Smith started out as a member of an organization called the National Hook-Up of Black Women
where she noticed there was an increase in homelessness in the area so she decided to take
action. “I was scrolling through social media and a blessing bag had popped up on my timeline,
people were making blessing bags in other states and I thought that was a great idea” Smith says
“I brought it to the lady and because it involved going out and dealing with homelessness and
mental health they were kinda against it so I started to do it on my own. I started purchasing
things and making bags on my own and handing them out of my car.”
Smith was then able to expand and bring her blessing bags to different boroughs until the
pandemic hit. After that was over she went back to Harlem due to the high level of
homelessness. Her son Mariam convinced her to start doing a food pantry in Woodside since
that’s where she has lived for 39 years. Smith “Then my son said to me a year and a half ago
mom you serve every other community but you lived in woodside but you don’t know the
residents so I think it would be dope if you bought a food pantry here and when I got back from
Africa I started a food pantry here.”

Smith was inspired by her mother. Growing up in South Jamaica Queens in the 70’s during the
food stamp era many lower income communities were often affected by drugs. When Smith was
younger her mother would do things to help the community. Smith and her siblings would often
go to food pantries to pick up supplies and her mother would cook food to feed the whole
neighborhood. One particular example is during Mothers day her mother would help mothers
that were addicts get dressed up for church. This way their kids could see them in a positive
light. “For every mothers day she would fix the mothers up even if they were on drugs or
whatever their situation was she would make sure they would have a wig and she would do their
make up and make sure they had a dress and she would fix them up and go to church. So if their
kids did not see them in a good space any other time in their life they know that Mothers day or
New Years or any holiday my mother would always make sure the kids would have a good
experience for that day.”
Smith has a history of health issues including a heart monitor but despite that Smith can’t stand
to sit in the house and do nothing “I’m not supposed to be doing any of this. I’m really supposed
to be home resting and not doing anything stressful or strenuous but being home drives me crazy
and my only good space is my pantry. ” Smith says.
Since Smith is not funded she hopes that she can get funding from the government soon. As of
now the funding comes from Smith herself along with small donations from friends and family.
Smith is currently using credit cards to pay for Uhaul trucks to pick up food. “My hope is that I
can be funded by the government and have a drop in center where I can provide washing
machines, showers, computers, maybe temporary bedding for domestic violence,” She said. “I
would like to have parenting classes for teenage mothers and parenting classes for fathers I would like to have public assistance come out and sign people up for medicaid or food
stamps housing and we need vehicles”

To follow updates on the pantry Smith has a Tiktok Tinka714_ and a facebook page Marians love
4 all inc.