The Westchester Brief | 06.23.26: Erase the Racist Clause in Your Deed

Send us Fan MailFor decades, thousands of Westchester County deeds have carried restrictive covenants, clauses that once barred homes from being sold to people of certain races, religions, or ethnic backgrounds. They've been unenforceable since 1948, but the language stayed in the records. This episode explains a new process, effective June 3 under New York Real Property Law Section 327-a, that lets property owners formally redact those discriminatory covenants from their recorded deeds through the Westchester County Clerk's office, how the administrative process works, and why so few residents know it exists.In This Episode:(0:00) The sentence buried in your deed(1:00) What restrictive covenants are and how they spread(2:30) The new law: Section 327-a and the Clerk's form(3:45) How the redaction process actually works(5:00) Quick hit: the county's $25 million Housing Flex Fund IISources: Westchester County Clerk (Land Records Forms, RPL Section 327-a redaction); New York Real Property Law Section 327-a.Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or share this episode with a neighbor.Support the showI Live Here Westchester is a production of I Live Here Media.We spotlight the voices, visionaries, and stories that make Westchester County more than just a place to live—it’s a place to belong.Have a guest suggestion or want to partner with us?Email: [email protected]: www.iliveheremedia.comFollow us on Instagram: @iliveheremediaSubscribe, rate, and share to support local storytelling.