Golden wants felony charges against owners of illegal housing
A week before Dyker Heights and Bay Ridge community leaders are planning to hold a town hall forum to put together a battle plan against illegal home conversions, state Sen. Marty Golden is redoubling his efforts to pass legislation to crack down on property owners.
Golden (R-C-Bay Ridge-southwest Brooklyn) recently introduced a bill under which the owner of an illegally converted dwelling would be charged with a Class D Felony, punishable by up to seven years in prison, when a person suffers physical injury in or around a property that has been converted illegally.
Under the bill, owners would be charged with a more serious felony and get more jail time in cases where a person is seriously injured.