Rockland County Files Lawsuit Against Phony Landlords

NEW CITY, NY — Rockland County has filed a lawsuit against two men who illegally occupied and rented a property that was foreclosed by the county after they failed to pay taxes on the property since 2012. The total in back taxes: $54,000.

Rockland County Executive Ed Day announced the lawsuit, which alleges that Joseph Greenbaum, the owner, and Elazer Dancziger, the property manager, allowed new tenants to rent apartments at 749 North Main St., New Hempstead, after the foreclosure.

After the county assisted the original tenants to leave, Greenbaum and Dancziger rented out the units to new tenants at $2,000 a month, the suit alleges.

Records also show that Dancziger runs medical transport businesses Yad Ezrah Inc. and Medway from the address.

"Their actions were not only illegal, they were outrageous," said Day. "It's a scam - like renting the Brooklyn Bridge. They represented that they owned a property that they did not own."

In a complaint filed in Rockland County Supreme Court, the county is seeking to recover damages for the unlawful occupation of the property.

Rockland County took the deed for the property, a single-family residence, on Sept. 18 in a foreclosure action.

"We make every effort to work with owners," Day said. "But every time a property owner does not pay taxes, that means every other property owner has to pay more. That is wrong."

A year ago, another property owned by Greenbaum, a small grocery store at 137 North Main St., Spring Valley, was just hours away from being auctioned in a foreclosure sale when he paid an outstanding $37,196 tax bill.

"This property owner is clearly aware of the consequences of not paying your taxes," Day said. "This is not a joke."

After the County took possession of 749 North Main St., all tenants were told they had to move. Assistance was offered to the tenants and a check of the property showed that it had been vacated.

Now county officials are helping the new tenants find new places to live.

"It is not the policy of the County to be in business as a landlord," Day said. "We understand that these tenants are victims in this situation - they had no idea they were being scammed."

The case has been referred to the Rockland County Sheriff's Department for criminal investigation.

PHOTO/ Rockland County Executive's Office