FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, March 20, 2026
Contact: Soojin Choi |347-556-6335| press@johnliusenate.com 

Queens, NY - State Senator John Liu today announced his office helped connect over 250 Queens residents to the application process for property tax and rent relief programs ahead of the city’s property tax payment deadlines, achieving potential savings of thousands of dollars per person.

Senator Liu’s office organized four workshops with the NYC Department of Finance over the last two months after receiving inquiries from residents about how they can lower their property taxes or secure rent relief. The workshops connected residents to one-on-one help with DOF tax professionals and Senator Liu’s staff, who offered assistance in enrolling in programs like STAR, Enhanced STAR, Senior Citizen Homeowners Exemption, Disability Homeowners Exemption, Veterans Tax Exemption, Disability Rent Increase Exemption, Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemptions, and in appealing their property tax assessments. Depending on income, residents could reduce their home’s assessed value by as much as 50 percent, or apply to freeze their rent. 

State Senator John Liu stated, “Too many homeowners and renters in our community are eligible for tax relief, but get discouraged and shut out of the process due to confusing paperwork and eligibility requirements. We organized these workshops to make sure our community is getting the most out of the many city and state tax relief programs that can help save thousands of dollars, and deliver real peace of mind for homeowners and renters in our community.” 

Judy Norrby, an elderly Flushing resident and recent widow of a veteran, attended one of Senator Liu’s workshops seeking help applying for the Veterans Property Tax Exemption, a popular relief program for veterans that was previously handled by her late husband. After meeting with staff and receiving one-on-one assistance reviewing her paperwork, she was successfully guided through the process and submitted her application for the program, which saves as much as 25% on property taxes.

Judy Norrby stated, “I'm deeply grateful for this incredibly helpful workshop that helps residents facing real estate tax issues. His staff helped me navigate through a number of confusing and overwhelming issues, but they carefully reviewed everything and accomplished a miracle. Navigating government regulations and paperwork can be daunting, and words cannot express how much this meant to me. These sessions really saved the day for me, and I’m so grateful for John’s dedicated and capable staff for their support.”

In another case, Fresh Meadows resident Mason Weng, and his mother Xiu Hua He, had tried unsuccessfully for over a year to apply for the Senior Citizen Homeowners Exemption, which can save up to 50% on property taxes. After speaking with tax professionals at the workshop, they were able to troubleshoot their issue and finally submit their application.

Mason Weng stated, “After months of frustrating delays trying to resolve my mom’s senior exemption, we are so happy we were connected to the right people for the guidance we needed to finally get results. What had dragged on for over a year was resolved in just days after attending this workshop. We’re incredibly grateful for the support; it made a real difference for my family and lifted a huge burden off my mom.”

The workshops were held in partnership with Assembly Members Ed Braunstein, Ron Kim, Nily Rozic, and David Weprin, Council Members James Gennaro, Linda Lee, and Sandra Ung, BUMC Bayside United Methodist Church, KCS, Korean American Family Service Center, Bellecourt Civic Association, Northwest Bayside Civic Association, Bayside Hills Civic Association, Community Board 7, 8, 11, Bayside Village BID, Flushing BID, Bayside Business Association, Hillcrest Jewish Center, and CPC Nanshan Senior Center.