STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. –   Members of the Staten Island Board of Realtors® (SIBOR) recently gathered with more than 9,000 Realtors® and guests from across the nation in Washington, D.C., on behalf of current and future home and property owners.

While attending the 2018 REALTORS® Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo, May 14-19, Realtors attended meetings and informational sessions, and met with regulatory agency staff and lawmakers on Capitol Hill to discuss and advocate real estate issues affecting their businesses, communities and clients.

Members of the Staten Island Board of Realtors® (SIBOR) meet with Congressman Dan Donovan on Capitol Hill. Gathering outside Rep. Donovan’s office are, from left, Dawn Carpenter, a SIBOR director and past president; Sandy Krueger, CEO of SIBOR; John Vernazza, a SIBOR past president and the NAR Federal Political Coordinator to Rep. Donovan; Realtor Rosanne La Fata; Paul Costello, SIBOR System Administrator; Phyllis Cangro, a SIBOR director; Scott Setaro, SIBOR president-elect; Greg A. Sokol, SIBOR immediate past president; Rep. Donovan, and Michael Blasi, president of SIBOR.

While in the nation’s capital, members of the Staten Island group met with Congressman Dan Donovan (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) and joined with members of the New York State Association of Realtors® for a meeting with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York).

During the legislative-focused meetings, the Island Realtors and others advocated support for several important legislative initiatives, including renewing and strengthening the long-term viability of the National Flood Insurance Program; strong net neutrality protections to ensure the Internet is open and competitive for consumers and businesses; indexing homeownership tax incentives for future inflation and permanently extending the tax exclusion on mortgage debt forgiveness, and adopting sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes in the Fair Housing Act.

 Dr. Ben Carson, secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, addressed a general session during the event to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act.

The SIBOR faction included Mike Blasi, president; Scott Setaro, president-elect; Greg A. Sokol, immediate past president; Sandy Krueger, CEO of SIBOR; Phyllis Cangro and Dawn Carpenter, directors; John Vernazza, NAR Federal Political Coordinator to Rep. Donovan; Realtor Rosanne La Fata, and SIBOR IT specialist Paul Costello.

About the Staten Island Board of REALTORS® (SIBOR)

Established in 1915, the Staten Island Board of REALTORS® (SIBOR) is the largest professional and trade association in Staten Island, N.Y.

SIBOR exists to enhance the ability and opportunity of its members to conduct their business successfully and ethically, and promote the preservation of the public’s right to own, transfer and use real property.

Comprised of more than 1,900 members, SIBOR serves real estate agents, brokers and affiliated professionals throughout the borough and surrounding areas.

SIBOR is the provider of the Staten Island Multiple Listing Service Inc. (SIMLS), which works as a clearinghouse through which more than 250 local real estate firms exchange information on properties they have listed for sale. Together, its members participate in over 5,000 real estate transactions every year.

All SIBOR Realtors belong to the New York State Association of REALTORS® (NYSAR) and the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).

SIBOR may be reached at 718-928-3220 and viewed online at SIBORREALTORS.com. SIBOR may also be visited on Facebook at “Staten Island Board of Realtors” and on Twitter via @SIBOR.

Media Contact: Barton Horowitz
Relevant Public Relations, LLC
Headquarters: 718‑682‑1509
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