Yonkers legislator violated city regulations by renting his affordable condo, says city IG

Westchester County Legislator Chris Johnson moved into a $770,000 home in Yonkers he purchased with his wife last summer, then rented his affordable condominium in violation of city regulations, according to a report issued late Friday afternoon by Yonkers Inspector General Liam McLaughlin.

The condo on North Broadway, meanwhile, remained Johnson's "residence" for political purposes because he was registered to vote there, and it remained within the legislative district he represented. The new home was located outside of the 16th legislative district.

The report, issued in response to a Tax Watch investigation, called on the city administration to enforce the regulations for the program, set up in 1988 as a remedy in the city's federal desegregation lawsuit. Among the remedies is foreclosure, with the city then putting the 1.5-bedroom unit on the market to income-eligible purchasers who would occupy the unit.

Johnson was defeated in Tuesday's Democratic primary by City Councilwoman Shanae Williams, D-Yonkers. She has renewed her call for Johnson to resign, maintaining he forfeited his seat because he no longer lived in the district he represented.

John's new home is on Rose Hill Terrace in the 15th District, but would become part of the 16th in January under a redistricting plan that Johnson supported.

If Johnson doesn't resign, Williams said the county board should vote to remove Johnson, the board's majority leader.

"The Board of Legislators needs to take action," she said.

Spano: 'Affordable' units not for investments

Mayor Mike Spano said that his administration will consult with its legal team to determine next steps. He noted that apartments obtained through the Affordable Housing program were not to be used as investment properties.

"These are not to be used as investment properties for a couple making enough income to afford a house costing close to $800,000," said Spano. "I think it's in the best interests of the city to put it back in the system so that someone else can enjoy the affordability that goes along with it."

Johnson did not return a phone message seeking comment.

The report provided details on how Johnson, and his wife, Tai, a senior aide to state Attorney General Letitia James, were able to convince a bank to loan them $731,500, with 5% down,for the $770,000 colonial on Rose Hill Terrace. The home, with a fenced-in backyard, is located on a quiet hilltop street off Roberts Avenue not far from Gorton High School,

On their loan application, the Johnsons listed the apartment at 421 North Broadway as an investment property. They expected to receive $2,500 a month for the unit, which they were prohibited from renting, according to the report.

It stated there was a draft lease with his brother-in-law, who lives there with his girlfriend and their two children, for rent of $1,500 a month

The report said that Johnson was aware that he needed to maintain his primary residence there, yet moved into a new primary residence on Rose Hill Terrace with his wife and son around July 1, 2022.

"Christopher Johnson, by his own admission, verified that 421 N. Broadway is not longer his primary residence," the report said. "He further confirmed that he has subleased the unit to his brother-in-law, his brother-in-law's girlfriend and their two children for $1,500 a month. This clearly violates the residency requirements under the Yonkers Affordable Housing Program."

In May, Johnson told Tax Watch that he maintained two residences — on Rose Hill Terrace and North Broadway. For the North Broadway condo, he also received a STAR property tax exemption, which are not allowed on investment properties.

Will the Board of Legislators act?

The county Board of Legislators has so far refrained from taking action. Their charter only calls for representatives to "reside" in their districts. Board Chairman Vedat Gashi, D-Yorktown, said the panel must conduct a review, based on inspector general's report.

Legislator James Nolan, R-Yonkers, in whose district Johnson has resided for the past 11 months, said the board needs to act.

"Due to this investigation, I need to consult with my colleagues and determine what to do to maintain the integrity of the board," he said.

Outside District: Johnson purchase home outside of 16th District he represents

Hit Job: Johnson accuses inspector general of "hit job" in probe

Declaration: Johnson declares home outside his district as principal residence

The report was issues three days after Johnson's resounding defeat in the Democratic primary by a 61-39% margin.

Williams wants Johnson to return salary he has received from the county during the period he no longer lived in the district he represents.

Johnson, a guidance counselor in the Yonkers Public School, receives $87,000 a year as a legislator, which includes a $10,000 stipend for serving as the board's majority leader.

Johnson followed prominent Democrats in 16th

Johnson was a rising star in the Yonkers Democratic party. He began his work in government as an aide to state Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins, who represented the 16^th District in the 1990s and early 2000s. He was elected to the Yonkers City Council in 2011, serving three terms, before his election to the county Board of Legislators in 2017.

He was endorsed by Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins, a Yonkers Democrat who represented the 16th District before Johnson was elected.

Johnson accused McLaughlin, the Republican former City Council president appointed to the post by Spano, of pursing a political agenda by launching an investigation during the primary campaign.

“This situation smacks of the swamp politics characteristic of Mayor Mike Spano and his cronies, with political hit jobs disguised as investigations,” Johnson said in an earlier statement. “Inspector McLaughlin is clearly wielding his investigation as a political weapon.”

McLaughlin, however, did not publish the report until after the primary. He waited until late Friday afternoon at the start of the July 4 weekend.

McLaughlin said he will continue his investigation into the affordable housing program, to determine if there are other owners of affordable units who, like Johnson, lease them to tenants in violation of city regulations. Under the program, the units remain under affordable housing guidelines for 30 years, then become market-rate units.

Johnson's units on North Broadway is scheduled to become a market-rate unit in 2026.

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David McKay Wilson writes about tax issues and government accountability. Follow him on Twitter @davidmckay415 or email him at dwilson3@lohud.com.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Yonkers report says legislator Chris Johnson violated housing rules