AM I MY BROTHER'S SWEEPER? Ah, the joys & horrors of home ownership in New York City! I feel this woman's pain. When litterbugs attack, N.Y.C. makes homeowners pay By DOLORES PRIDA The day I closed on the purchase of a beautiful, if somewhat rundown, brownstone in East Harlem 16 years ago was a special occasion for me. Not only had I had finally achieved the pinnacle of the American Dream, but also become the first member of my immigrant family to ever own a home. Little did I know that from that day on, I would become my brother's sweeper - and my sense of pride would get a, well ...trashing. Nobody had bothered to tell me that homeowners are punished for the debris passersby leave in front of their homes - both on the sidewalk and on the street, up to 18 inches from the curb. When, a few weeks after moving in, the first pink slip charging me with a violation for "failing to sweep" my sidewalk was left at my door, I was astounded. Not only because I had indee...