Brooklyn Council member neglects to declare rental income

Letitia James is running to be public advocate

Letitia James
Letitia James

A Brooklyn Council member vying to become the city’s public advocate has failed to report tens of thousands of dollars of rental income from a Fort Greene property she owns, Crain’s reported.

Council member Letitia James purchased the four-story Brownstone On Lafayette Avenue in 2001 for $550,000, according to city records seen by Crain’s. She has since lived in the property as well as rented it out to several tenants, yet failed to disclose her rental income from 2007 to 2011 in reports to the city’s Conflicts of Interest Board.

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A spokesperson for James told Crain’s the omission was a misunderstanding. “The councilwoman has adhered to the law at all times,” the spokesman said in a statement. “She has disclosed all income in her tax filings.”

The Conflicts of Interest Board did not immediately respond to Crain’s requests for comment. [Crain’s]  – Hiten Samtani