Eric targets bias by real estate brokers

The city and state should get tough with real estate brokers who discriminate against low-income New Yorkers, says Brooklyn Borough President and mayoral hopeful Eric Adams, pointing to a recent lawsuit on the matter.

Steps proposed by Adams on Wednesday include revocation of licenses for brokers who repeatedly violate human rights law and increased staffing for the city legal team that investigates housing discrimination.

Earlier this week, the watchdog Housing Rights Initiative sued 88 brokerages and landlords for allegedly discriminating against low-income New Yorkers with Section 8 housing vouchers.

“It is time to send a clear message, particularly during this housing crisis, that it’s not accepted,” Adams said of such practices.

He called for new state legislation in which real estate brokers who commit housing discrimination would lose their license for at least a year the first time they’re caught. Repeat offenders would face the permanent loss of their licenses.

That’s on top of existing city and state penalties for housing discrimination that can run well over $100,000 per violation.

Adams called for increasing those fines.

“We believe in a three-strikes-you’reout rule,” Adams said.

“We need to really take the profit out of preventing people from having housing.”

He also wants to increase city Human Rights Commission staffing for income discrimination cases, which currently consists of just three attorneys, according to his office.

“The fine dollars should go into hiring new attorneys to fight these cases,” Adams said. “Right now, they’re understaffed.”