Schneiderman Pushes For 'Zombie Homes' Bill On Long Island
MINEOLA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- New York's attorney general brought his campaign for "zombie homes" legislation to Long Island on Thursday.
Eric Schneiderman held a new conference in Mineola to discuss a bill aimed at stopping the spread of so-called "zombie homes," WCBS 880 Long Island Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs reported.
They are properties that are abandoned, often during prolonged foreclosure proceedings.
Schneiderman said zombie foreclosures increased 50 percent from 2013 to 2014, bringing the total statewide to 16,701.
He said there were 4,048 zombie homes on Long Island in 2014 -- the highest number in the state.
The newly expanded Abandoned Property Neighborhood Relief Act would require notifying homeowners they have the right to stay in their residences until a judge declares the foreclosure complete.
It would require lenders to take responsibility for properties soon after they are vacated, not at the end of a foreclosure process.
"In my view, this legislation is a no-brainer. I don't think zombies have brains, so maybe it's appropriately titled," Schneiderman joked.
Zombie houses lower property values and attract crime and other problems, Schneiderman said.
"We're always worried about break-ins, about people trashing it, people hanging out," said Priscilla, who lives near one of the abandoned houses.
The bill has widespread bipartisan support, Xirinachs reported.
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