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State Holds Hearing On
Cease & Desist Law Renewal
Seeking to renew the cease and desist zone for Marine Park, Mill Basin, Mill Island, Bergen Beach and Futurama, residents and community leaders attended a hearing last Thurs-day evening hosted by the New York Department of State. Officials with the Division of Licensing Services said they will also consider adding the Madison-Marine community, southwest of Canarsie, to the zone. The cease and desist rule has been in effect in those neighborhoods for five years and expires November 30. It was created in communities where residents were being subjected to intense and repeated solicitations by real estate brokers and agencies. Typically, residents are visited by agents, who urge homeowners to sell their property, while others are hounded via mail and telephone. Community Board 18 District Manager Dorothy Turano, who attended the hearing at Roy H. Mann Junior High School, said, "My son is on the cease and desist list. But he recently received a letter from a broker who wants him to sell his house to an 'anxious buyer.'" The list is comprised of those who have filed complaints or reports against certain agencies that repeatedly violate their license by antagonizing homeowners and hope to no longer be harassed. Despite the letter, which Turano turned over to licensing service officials for possible litigation, she said, "Creation of the cease and desist zone in the area has discouraged unscrupulous overdevelopers from using blockbusting tactics in the community." Richard Bearak, deputy director of planning and development with the borough president's office, said many agents feel the land is more valuable than the home. "Perfectly sound homes are being demolished and with the overdevelopment of the property, there is a mismatch of houses and one of the structural problems is overcrowding of parking and driveways," he said. Chairman of Community Board 18 Saul Needle said, "The cease and desist rule is not directed at the large population of real estate brokers - it is directed at the ones who don't play by the rules. They cannot be trusted." Turano requested that criteria for non-solicitation be redefined and that the Secretary of State continue to help the community to combat the issue. The Secretary has adopted a non-solicitation order, which prohibits agents from listing one's house for sale or contacting homeowners. According to real estate license law, agents who violate the order can be fined or have their license suspended. Licensing service officials said they will take testimonies into account and respond by November. The cease and desist law covering Canarsie is scheduled to expire next May. | |||||
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