Yonkers Corporation Counsel, from 2011 to 2012, Has Yet to Collect a Penny of Over $25 Million of Unpaid Taxes Spanning 40 Years By HEZI ARIS
YONKERS, NY -- July 29, 2012 -- One year on and not a penny to show for it. Why? Has Yonkers Corporation Counsel forgotten it was tasked to delve into the lack of payment by property tax owners, some delinquent for two decades and more worth of unpaid taxes? Yonkers Corporation Counsel is also delinquent in not proceeding to foreclose on these properties. Pathetically, Yonkers Corporation Counsel not done the required due diligence pursue the property owners who have chosen to abandon their financial obligations to Yonkers with no repercussions whatsoever other than to encumber the taxpayer with picking up the tab.
It was August 2010 when then Yonkers City Councilwoman Joan Gronowski made a Freedom of Information Law (F.O.I.L.) request of Yonkers Corporation to ascertain how many millions of dollars have been lost through the many years Yonkers has not been pro-active in demanding and receiving payments due.
The list below was published a year ago. It defines properties delinquent in property tax payment to the City of Yonkers and Westchester County. Acid-tongued bloggers made the information found herein available to the Yonkers Tribune so The People would come to know the circumstances that has in part brought the City of Yonkers to the financial disaster it faces today. My personal thank YOU! To those who dared share these fiscal figures for the public good.
What follows are properties archived by the City of Yonkers acknowledging the delinquency of the property owners in paying real estate taxes. The properties have not been foreclosed at the choosing and direction of Yonkers City Hall, specifically by then Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone. At issue for Yonkersites today is what will Mayor Mike Spano’s administration has done or by this reading do to demand Yonkers Corporation Counsel retrieve the funds due or foreclose on those property owners egregiously in arrears. Some of those delinquent are members of the "Family and Friends" network who have been permitted to forego payment for over four decades. The cost to the City of Yonkers and Westchester County totals in the millions. The properties would eventually become part of the rationale to designate blight, and the future use of eminent domain instigated by government sanction, promotion and action.
The Yonkers Tribune wouldn't dare ask Inspector General Dan Schorr to make inquiry of the atrocity that Yonkersites suffer today by the blind eye permitted in years past. We wouldn't want to strain his synapses beyond their breaking point. In juxtaposition to the pointless and benign conduct of the now thankfully departed Dan Schorr, perhaps I.G. Kitley S. Covil may find it worthy to propose appropriate and prudent corrective conduct in dealing with the financial albatross around Yonkersites’ necks.
Owner’s Name...Property...Yrs Outstanding…AMT DUE
Cornyn, Joseph...602 S. B’way……19..............$945,612.67
Cornyn, Joseph...610 S. B’way....17..............133,757.09
Cornyn, Joseph...606 S. B’way……15..............122,880.16
Massimo, Joseph.37 Saratoga......17..............194,979.23
Martinelli, Michael…6 Landscape Ave..21.........242,239.25
Sandel Development…150 Bruce Ave..14..........262,634.80
Ciuffetelli, Quirino....23 Elinor Plavce..33........ 10,859.60
Copsidas, Jr., Frank...48 Lawrence St...21.........94,410.36
Municipal Housing Authority.47 Lawrence St.42…200,422.84
Pregnancy Care Center....454 South...12..........207,426.69
37 Radford St. Assoc…37 Radford St…..18.........366,790.16
David, William........34 Saratoga Ave…28.........215,039.41
Bruce Radford Realty..37 Bruce Ave....17….......901,400.40
Mitchell, Leyland..120 Elliott Avenue...10..........84,128.70
Marques, Manuel..155 Radford Street...13.......129,968.25
Goldberg, Morris...21 Ashton Road.......10.......110,671.89
MHA…………………..340 Riverdale Ave……..35.......632,126.97
Crew Development...90 Elliott Ave.......17.......239,718.12
Watson, Charlotte...45 Livingston Ave...11........19,957.60
Rodriguez, Carlos....53 Morris Street.....30......1,942,901.60
Rodriguez, Carlos G....52 Yonkers Ave...11.........890.417.79
131 Ludlow Street…242 Hawthorne Ave..17.........560,843.53
Fakhouri, Harb....209 Buena Vista Ave….23.........248,370.74
Delaney, Patrick..195 Riverdale Ave......41.........443,595.13
Mir, Mahmood.....11 Herriot Street.......23.........110,507.87
Westchester Housing...117 Herriot St…….10........159,403.69
Westchester Housing....115 Herriot St…….11….....132,734.83
Bagley, Bertram...69 Jackson Street.......25.......117,111.02
Sheehy, M..........67 Jackson Street.......24.......115,685.78
Celmin, Alexander..155 Stanley Ave.......10...........93,340.00
Caruna, C............160 Stanley Ave........19...........69,398.78
Ludlow Medical Assoc..16 Highland Place..20.........184,905.52
Highland Housing Corp..74 Highland Ave...14………...119,195.05
Zarembski, Teddy...38 Groshon Ave........23..........177,330.10
Kurikose, Mary................59 Herriot St...16..........45,876.03
Peacock Realty Corp........150 School St...18........760,687.21
Peacock Realty Corp...150 School St. (Rear)…19…….225,766.39
Seven Odell Inc...............207S Waverly St…18.....686,204.70
Barnes, Bernice.................34 Cedar Pl.....12.....253,722.03
Maffei, R A........................240 Oak St....18........59,381.08
Rashid, Anwari.................207 Beech St...14.........26,869.07
Lara Pedro................8 Quentin Charlton..16.........38,629.10
Saulle R...................184 Fillmore St........19........7,555.63
Saulle R...................186 Fillmore St........19..........7,202.57
Rotchfrod.................39 Cliff Street.........18.......321,939.72
Vasiliu, Louis.............227 Elm Street........19........257,007.18
Donnelly, James.........55 Garfield Street....24.........167,372.24
Anchev, Slancho.........97 William St......................43,403.11
Hamilton Mutual Realty...142 Yonkers Ave....11........14,073.43
Hamilton Mutual Realty...53 Currans Lane....11.........38,183.14
Hamilton Mutual Realty....138 Yonkers Ave….11….......30,183.45
Hamilton Mutual Realty...136 Yonkers Ave....11….......15,064.18
Hamilton Mutual Realty....144 Yonkers Ave...11.........16,654.26
Advantage...................54 Victor St.........10..........149,116.92
Bruce Block Realty of Westchester...105 Ash St...26....154,054.31
A & S Realty...............95 Ash St...............12.........184,682.13
Caesar, Michael..........81 Maple St..........10..........175,976.48
Moray, Joseph............110 Ash St.............9............19,263.31
Moray, Joseph............112 Ash S..............9............70,994.81
Moray, Joseph............111 Maple.............9............12,319.53
Moray, Joseph............28 Walnut...........9............76,105.11
Palucci, Domenico........106 Oak St.........25.............80,211.12
Union Avenue Corporation...124 Beech.......14...........58,365.34
Bascon, Camilo....125 Beech St................23...........167,091.27
EMC Mortgage Corp....146 Oak St.............10.............20,306.82
Municipal Housing Authority..208 Willow Street...23.....266,156.48
NPB Realty Corp.....109 Oak St................17...........174,182.72
Mercado, Ralph.....11 Maple St.................14..........32,010.86
Marji, Habib.......173 Linden St.................24...........178,518.64
Marji, Habib.......177 Linden St.................24..........177,420.78
Marji, Abe...........37 Hawthorne Ave…….......9..........219,640.20
Post Reilly, Constance G...158 Waverly St....10..........157,427.21
Rincon, Guilliermo............98 Waverly St...11...........20,926.80
Municipal Housing Authority.......68 School St.....39......363,583.68
Municipal Housing Authority....2 Brook St...........39…...932,182.30
Municipal Housing Authority....20 Brook St.......39…….....40,478.81
Precious R W Realty Inc........10 School St....17…………...691,906.35
UNKNOWN............52 School St............34...............113,345.74
UNKNOWN.............68 Fairmount .........19.................23,545.56
244 New Main St Realty C...244 Main St....23..............942,638.27
General Data Systems Corp..17 Park Hill Avenue RE…9...30,972.27
General Data Systems Corp..17 Park Hill Avenue RE...9..23,454.56
General Data Systems Corp..17 Park Hill Avenue RE...9…7,524.80
City of Yonkers......17 Park Hill Avenue R E.........9.....9,645.80
City of Yonkers......17 Park Hill Avenue RE ........9......9,645.80
City of Yonkers.........69 Ravine.............17.............40,776.44
City of Yonkers….......47 Ravine.............17............108,686.7
City of Yonkers..........7 Bartholdi Pl.......17.............35,457.23
City of Yonkers.......58 Ravine...............21.............43,245.24
City of Yonkers.......66 Ravine..............19..............34,408.68
City of Yonkers.......70 Ravine...............19.............28,265.67
City of Yonkers.......72 Ravine...............19.............36,188.11
City of Yonkers.......78 Ravine...............19………......34,090.68
City of Yonkers.......80 Ravine...............19…….........42,110.57
City of Yonkers.....253 Woodworth Ave....19...........36,121.50
City of Yonkers.....247 Woodworth Ave....16........34,535.21
City of Yonkers.....247 Woodworth Ave....19.........79,478.27
City of Yonkers......56 Ravine Ave...........19.......38,218.95
City of Yonkers.....68 Ravine Ave...........19......36,594.30
City of Yonkers.....50 Point Street.........19.......80,174.98
City of Yonkers.....255 Woodworth Ave...19..........42,503.42
City of Yonkers....249 Woodworth Ave....19.........38,257.48
City of Yonkers....242 Woodworth Ave.....19........39,747.35
City of Yonkers.....32 Point St..............19........41,359.01
City of Yonkers....293 Warburton Ave.....19.......63,800.71
City of Yonkers...250 Woodworth Ave.....19.......116,886.93
City of Yonkers...264 Woodworth Ave.....19........40,012.19
City of Yonkers...25 Glenwood Ave........19.......34,974.72
City of Yonkers…415 Warburton Ave.......19........96,100.42
Cooper, Bernice…146 New Main St.........26........27,912.50
American Intl Ent...53 Hawthorne Ave....17........84,128.66
Rodas, Luz / Ruiz, Delia...149 Buena Vista Ave...30...259,309.70
Silberbach, E.......17 Hawthorne Ave......35........66,747.71
Wilmott, David.....35 N B’way..............28.......846,587.79
Hudson View Assoc LLC...39 Wells Ave.....9.......14,022.38
Hudson View Assoc LLC...33 Woodworth Ave…9...54,973.85
Hudson View Assoc LLC...32 Wells Ave.......9.....19,603.32
Hudson View Assoc LLC...43 Wells Ave.......9......19,718.94
Broadway Wells Corp.....63 N B’way.......17......384,160.23
Fraioli, Anthony ESTATE....67 Ravine.......19.......47,339.44
Mohamed.....259 Woodworth Ave...........27..........108,272.51
Preservations Developmnt…242 Woodworth Ave...18...33,166.75
Preservations Developmnt..317 Warburton Ave...19....42,602.58
Preservations Developmnt..262 Woodworth Ave...18…34,455.10
Preservations Developmnt..319 Warburton Ave...19...47,390.72
Preservations Developmnt..110 Ravine Ave…..19.......94,399.14
Preservations Developmnt...27 Glenwood Ave...19....48,740.00
Lilly Madison Service Co...321 Warburton Ave..14.....249,794.18
YAIP..................230 Woodworth Ave............16...116,886.93
Quinn, Rudene....289 Warburton Ave..............29.....180,637.64
Ravine Garden Corp...124 Ravine Ave..............13....430,816.97
Ravine Garden Corp...27 Woodworth...............13....71,486.62
The Monterey Condo…357 N B’way................10…..445,096.23
Building & Site Tech Inc...47 Lincoln Ter............9...22,269.28
Building & Site Tech Inc...41 Lincoln Ter...........9...21,720.81
Costabile, G..........121 Morningside Ave…………..11...35,369.81
Fasciglione, Vito....82 Morningside Ave............17...182,906.68
U.K. Enterprises....80 Morningside Ave..............9...15,955.03
1st Arabic Baptist Church....111 Vineyard Ave……..9...14,154.51
1st Arabic Baptist Church........73 Vineyard Ave...9...12,247.35
1st Arabic Baptist Church.......109 Orchard St......9...10,297.28
1st Arabic Baptist Church........103 Orchard St.....9....9,689.98
1st Arabic Baptist Church........109 Orchard St RE...........23,480.37
1st Arabic Baptist Church........105 Orchard St.........9...14,102.40
Churchill Mortgage Invest.........113 Orchard St......12...29,974.65
Church Mortgage Invest.............97 Orchard.........12...45,207.61
D Reque Development Corp.......95 Orchard........39...160,967.13
Berino Timothy s...................137 High Street...16....63,545.57
Holly, Thomas......................141 High St.........21...167,013.03
Dawe, Jane........................84 Orchard St.......15...32,221.26
Volpolicelli, Ronald............145 High St...........26...71,977.64
Beauford, Thomas.................88 Orchard St....34...87,211.60
Prince, Alix Sara................143 High St..........35....85,419.46
Battaglia, Jr., Frank..........57 Moquett E Row...14...66,579.78
Ford, Earl T.................16 Coolidge.............16...18,680.58
Schussler, Albert..........18 Troy La...............14....17,058.81
Sikora,Jr., Marion..........45 Woodycrest Ave....26....22,413.07
Sikora,Jr., Marion.........43 Woodycrest Ave.....26....22,413.07
Sikora,Jr., Marion.......43 Woodycrest Ave.......26....22,413.07
Sikora,Jr., Marion......39 Woodycrest Ave.......26....22,413.07
Sikora,Jr., Marion....35 Woodycrest Ave........26....22,385.29
Sikora,Jr., Marion......33 Woodycrest Ave.......26....22,413.07
Sikora,Jr., Marion.....37 Woodycrest Ave........26....22,413.07
Sikora,Jr., Marion.........31 Woodycrest Ave....26....22,413.07
Intl Siva Consciousness.....287 Yonkers Ave.....11....9,325.35
Udeagha, Emilin............Farquhar Ave........23…...2,865
The total of the above arrears amount to over $25 million. The arrears listed are of those due for more than 10 years, including those that even exceed 40 years duration. There are other delinquincies that are past due but are less than 10 years in duration.
There are many more properties that qualify to be listed. There is just not enough time to list them all. The bottom line is they are still delinquent and City Hall has the figures.
What follows is the F.O.I.L. request made by former Councilwoman Joan Gronowski:
From: Joan Gronowski
Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 2010 4:07 PM
To: Alain Natchev
Subject: Abandoned Property
Alain, I attended a community meeting at the Living Transformation Center, 28 Lawrence Street, and was asked to check on a seemingly abandoned piece of property located at 34 Saratoga Avenue. This property is overrun with weeds and overgrowth and is increasing the blight in the Lawrence Street corridor. I checked out the property and found that the property owner, David William of 91 Cortlandt Avenue, New Rochelle, owes property taxes to the City of Yonkers in excess of $200,000, dating back to 1987. Can you tell me what, if anything, the city is doing to address the millions of dollars lost due to these delinquencies, and what, if anything, can be done in this instance.
Joan Gronowski
Yonkers City Council - District Three
Why is property owned by the City of Yonkers
on this list?
Posted by: retired said | July 29, 2012 at 15:54
Just ballparking it(pun intended), I came up with $25, 000,000 (that's twenty-five million dollars)! And that is just what is listed here. Why are we ignoring this money? I.G. Covil, what say you?
Posted by: anon | July 29, 2012 at 16:16
There are several properties listed as being owned by, City of Yonkers, Municipal Housing Authority,and Religious groups. Are these groups all tax exempt? Even without them though, there seems to be a large sum of back taxes that should be collected. Just wondering also, if there are any properties on the east side of the city?
Posted by: Tax Exempt | July 29, 2012 at 17:04
It appears that the Orchard Street properties are lots owned by the First Arabic Baptist Church and are currently on the market for approx $250K.
Posted by: Just Snooping | July 29, 2012 at 18:33
Is Michael Martinelli (6 Landscape Ave.) Judge Martinelli?
EDITOR'S NOTE: Yes, it is. It was said last year that he represented the owner but the owner was never revealed. Either way, the arrears have NOT been paid.
Posted by: Every penny counts! | July 29, 2012 at 21:01
this is becoming hilarious
Yonkers can't get a former council member to pay for six years of parking.
and you expect these a88holes to collect $30 million in taxes.
AND why is it this *newspaper* will never report approx. $1million in grants the DWBID returned intended for the betterment of downtown.
Posted by: Editor take note | July 30, 2012 at 00:51
let's revise this to *Editor is On Notice*
Posted by: Editor take note | July 30, 2012 at 00:59
look at the past due water bills tons THATS RIGHT tons of money in un collected bills welcome coy free water to in addition to whatever else you can grab
Posted by: WATERMAN | July 30, 2012 at 01:05
marji own a nice piece of property on hoover rd litigate and put a lien on it
Posted by: anon | July 30, 2012 at 01:17
theres more than one city employee on the list cross reference and put lien on their paychecx
Posted by: 4 close | July 30, 2012 at 01:19
This information indicates a complete dereliction of duties. For a city constantly on the brink of bankruptcy one would think the CoY would make this matter a priority. How do you allow individuals and corporation not to pay their property taxes for 10 and 20 plus years. It is really hard for me to believe that the CoY officials who oversee these matters are so incompetent, lazy, ignorant, corrupt or whatever the reason is to let these matters slide. On one hand their is a constant threat of laying off police officers, firefighters and teachers. On the other hand unimaginable and unheard of leniency is given to tax cheats. Is anyone current or retired accountable for this ABOMINATION of so called management? Jeff Meyer St. Pete/Tuckahoe, NY
Posted by: Jeffrey Meyer | July 30, 2012 at 10:09
the previous administration was provided this information and if you look hard check out the properites around the waterfront and getty square.
The next is the taxpayers funds for the YBID.
Posted by: ronald regan | July 30, 2012 at 20:39
So what about I-Park and Joe Cotter. These guys are always get deal from the City and nobody ever looks at anyting till the City loses 1 million dollars. The place is in foreclosure and now the City is owed another million.
Cotter wants to build parking and other properties? Is he the owner or is Lynne Ward?
Posted by: ronald regan | July 30, 2012 at 20:45
This is not the complete list. Why was it edited?????
Michael Rotanelli refuses to pay the taxes on 165 Saw Mill River Rd due to a divorce. He had told the court he was paying them. He also refuses to sign a required release to release joint funds to pay the mortgage and bills on a marital residence his wife resides in located in Katonah It is going into foreclosure because of his actions which will leave her homeless. He even refuses to pay for needed cancer treatments for the dog. The money is there.
Wonder who will own the corporation that will pay the taxes.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This list was edited by hand by the editor over one year ago when it was first placed online. The list was so large, it required greaterbrevity. It was my decision to place all those propertie in arrears beyond 10 years. Therefore all arrears under 10 years duration were excluded from this list. NO OTHER ommissions were ever consciously omitted. Kindly, Hezi
Posted by: Edited list why? | July 30, 2012 at 21:25
as usual, when the MAINSTREAM MEDIA, i.e. the journal news and news12, finally jumped on board belatedly with this story, they stupidly focused on some well known names, i.e. Ernie Davis, Charlie Cola and Rotanelli who owed a mere pittance compared to scores of these lesser-known deadbeats, some of whom owed almost a million dollars. THAT is the issue.
Posted by: LIONS AND TIGERS AND MAYORS, OH MY | July 30, 2012 at 23:47
Sounds like a class action to me.
Wake up yonkers imbeciles.
Posted by: why not | July 31, 2012 at 02:47
Yep.
But this Editor won't report anything related to the BID
Posted by: why not | July 31, 2012 at 02:50
Hezi is no longer the News
you want news?
Stand on Main at Getty Square and you will have the news.
It's right in front of you.
just like the weather.
Gunshots?
yep they are real
Homeless Folks?
yep they are here.
Has the Council or the Mayor or any of these not for profit bastards bothered to address any of it?
of course not that's how they make their money.
Yonkers is a dirty corrupt shithole.
That's the news for today.
Posted by: why not | July 31, 2012 at 03:14
Yes, and today is TAX day and we must continue to support this "dirty corrupt shithole."
Posted by: How many hacks are you supporting? | July 31, 2012 at 07:59
City employee Mario Caruso living on Hereford Rd is on that list. So is Ralph Arred's house, but he is in bank foreclosure anyway. And a cop named Rausulo owns the 96 Lake Ave property on the list too.
Posted by: The Yonkers Dark Knight | July 31, 2012 at 09:28
rasulo hasn't been a cop for a long time
Posted by: get your facts straight | July 31, 2012 at 09:44
Do these balances include Interest due
or only the principle amounts?
Posted by: retired said | July 31, 2012 at 13:31
I'm not paying another penny to this shithole of a city!
Posted by: Catch Me If You Can | July 31, 2012 at 13:56
The City Charter has very specific rules
on how interest is to be calculated on
overdue taxes. If I was on this list I
would go to the Tax office in CH and
have them do the calculations before
me to insure the amount owed is correct.
Posted by: retired said | July 31, 2012 at 19:54
Since there are so many taxable properties in this city, and it is apparant that many dont pay taxes for decades and nothing is being done about it, why bother paying taxes at all.
Posted by: Tax Exempt | July 31, 2012 at 20:46