Bronx News Network picks up on a story first reported in the Daily News that questions the residency of a number of Councilmembers, including newbie Bronx Councilman Fernando Cabrera. It seems the Councilman claims a home he owns in Westchester as his primary residence and this got him a $1500 tax break. The article also mentions that Cabrera's residency was an issue in his 2009 campaign. When reached, Cabrera's office said it was an oversight and he would pay back the money immediately. UPDATE: Here is a Daily News article calling for investigations into some of the allegations of misdeeds by some Councilmembers that was highlighted in a series of articles in the News.
Unfortunately, just another story of dishonesty from the City Council's Bronx delegation!
ReplyDeleteSince we're on the subject of Bronx politicians who are less than honest about where they live, didn't former State Senator PEDRO ESPADA have the same kind of issue? And doesn't Congressman ELIOT ENGEL still still have a residency problem since he and his family really live in Maryland?
ReplyDeleteHow does the board of elections not figure this out before he's allowed on the ballot?
ReplyDeleteYES, you are correct Anon. @ March 22, 2011 9:43 AM.
ReplyDeleteAlthough US Congressman Eliot Engel [D-NY-17] keeps an apartment in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, New York, his real residence is the house he lives in with his family in Potomac, Maryland. Here's how the NY Daily News reported it in 2009:
Daily News
Friday, March 13th 2009
BRONX REP. ELIOT ENGEL CALLS MARYLAND HOME FOR TAX BREAK
Bronx Rep. Eliot Engel may call himself a life-long Bronx resident, but he has also called Maryland his primary residence for years to get a local tax break that state officials have just squashed.
Engel, who rents an apartment back in his district, also owns a $1 million house with his wife in the well-off Washington suburb of Potomac, Md. - a property that has been afforded $7,000 in tax breaks since he bought it in 1993, The Associated Press reported.
To get the state and county paybacks, he had to list the property as his primary residence on county tax records - running afoul of Maryland tax collectors.
Engel insists he's just trying to play by the rules.
"My house is currently classified as 'nonowner-occupied.' I have never asked for any special privileges for being a congressman," he said.
A county tax official said Engel won't have to pay back the $7,000.
READ MORE: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/bronx/2009/03/13/2009-03-13_bronx_rep_eliot_engel_calls_maryland_hom.html
Was the photo of Cabrera taken in his Bronx kitchen or the one in Westchester?
ReplyDeleteThat's a nice example of healthy snacking he's got there on the countertop ... cupcakes and Pepsi!
ReplyDeleteI wish reporters would follow him during late nights and/or weekends. He spends most of his time in Westchester County... eI have bumped into him (not that he knows me) 3 times at the New Roc City in White Plains... maybe the movie theaters in the Bronx are not good enough for him....
ReplyDeleteSo maybe NYC Councilman Fernando Cabrera should do the right thing and run for office in his home county: WESTCHESTER!
ReplyDelete