Martha E. Stark

Martha Stark is the only person in the New York City area practicing property tax law who has also served as Commissioner of the New York City Department of Finance, the 2,400-person tax agency responsible for collecting more than $22 billion in revenue and valuing New York City’s more than one million properties and administering the property tax. She was also responsible for overseeing the administration of the commercial rent, corporate, unincorporated business, mortgage recording, and real property transfer taxes.

Stark also serves as the Policy Director and data analyst for Tax Equity Now New York, the organization that recently filed a lawsuit challenging the New York City property tax structure. She has also served as a consultant for the Real Estate Board of New York, Rent Stabilization Association, and the New York University Furman Center.

Ms. Stark served as a White House Fellow at the United States Department of State during President Bill Clinton’s Administration. She was a finalist to serve as New York State Comptroller in 2007 in a special legislative appointment procedure where she received 56 votes. She earned her law and undergraduate degrees from New York University where she played varsity basketball and served as the team’s co-captain for three years. She is a life trustee on the New York University Law Foundation Board of Directors. She also received an Associate’s degree in Graphic Arts and Advertising from New York City Community College.

Contact

(718) 928-3796

Martha@StarkPatchLegal.com

Education

New York University School of Law, Juris Doctor, 1986

New York University, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, 1983

New York City Community College, Associate in Applied Science, 1979

Admissions

New York State Appellate Division, Second Department, 1987

Connecticut, 1986

Public Service

Commissioner, New York City Department of Finance (2002-2009)

Director, Policy and Development, Office of the Manhattan Borough President (1994-1997)

White House Fellow, United States Department of State (1993-1994)

Assistant Commissioner and Special Counsel, Customer Service and Intergovernmental Relations, New York City Department of Finance (1990-1993)

Nonprofit Service

Board Member, The Black Institute (Current)

Life Trustee, New York University School of Law Foundation (Current)

Board Member and Co-Chair, GMHC

Board Member and Co-Chair, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund

Board Member, The Twin Towers Fund

Board Member, Lower Manhattan Development Corporation

Board Member, Prospect Park Alliance