Eviction Legislation Presented to Council

NEWBURGH – On Thursday, September 9th, at the Newburgh City Council work session, For the Many (the organization formerly named Nobody Leaves Mid-Hudson), presented Good Cause Eviction legislation to the City Council.

The legislation proposed to the City Council aims to fundamentally protect tenant rights by protecting against arbitrary eviction and unconscionable rent increases, affirming tenants’ right to renew, and guarding against intimidation from landlords.

The proposed legislation also includes anti-intimidation language, which would make Newburgh’s Good Cause Eviction law among the strongest versions of the law in the entire state.

The Good Cause Eviction law proposed in Newburgh is modeled after legislation that has been passed in Albany, and currently pending in Hudson, Ithaca, Poughkeepsie, Kingston, New Paltz, and other municipalities.

“Good Cause Eviction does not mean the tenant does not have to pay rent, can do illegal activities, or violate the terms of the lease. It encourages landlords to have their properties up to code, and empowers tenants when asking for their housing to be up to code,” said At-Large Council Member and Orange County Clerk candidate Anthony Grice, who introduced the legislation. “It protects tenants and landlords by giving them a lease which helps with stability. I am proud to work with For the Many and Giselle Martinez on bringing this legislation to the City of Newburgh, and I look forward to earning Council support.”

“The Good Cause Eviction law allows for tenants to have safer living conditions and address quality of life concerns without fear of retaliation. This added protection to tenants would prohibit unjustifiable reasons for evictions that create housing instability while also helping first time homeowners and good landlords compete in the market,” aid Giselle Martinez, Democratic nominee for Council Member, Ward 1 and supporter of the proposed legislation.

“This law benefits everyone in our community while allowing us to protect our most vulnerable. I am proud of the work For the Many and Councilmember Anthony Grice have championed and look forward to obtaining the Council’s support.`

“Good Cause Eviction is urgently needed in the City of Newburgh,” said Brahvan Ranga, Political Coordinator for For the Many. “We speak with tenants in this community every day who desperately need these protections in order to guard against abuse from predatory landlords. Good Cause legislation was specifically recommended in the Housing Report released earlier this year – and the City Council is now courageously acting in order to address this issue.”

At the first opportunity to provide public comment at the Council meeting on Monday, September 13th, 2021, eighteen Newburgh residents attended to share their personal stories and urge the City Council to pass Good Cause Eviction, demonstrating the law’s widespread public support. These community members included both homeowners and renters, and came from a diverse set of socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds- but they were united in their belief that the legislation is urgently needed in Newburgh.

The text of the draft law now goes to Corporation Counsel, at which point it will be reviewed and a final draft will be released to the City Council for consideration.

For the Many (formerly known as Nobody Leaves Mid-Hudson) is building a grassroots movement of everyday people to transform New York so it works for all of us, not the greedy few.