Kingston Passes Good Cause Eviction Legislation

KINGSTON – On Thursday, January 13th, the City of Kingston Common Council held a special session to vote to pass Good Cause Eviction legislation, at the urging of community members, tenants, and the grassroots organization For the Many. The Council passed the legislation unanimously, with Aldermen Barbara Hill, Carl Frankel, Reynolds Scott-Childress, Rita Worthington, Naimah Muhammad, Tony Davis, Michael Olivieri, Steven Schabot, and Michele Hirsch all voting in favor.

The Good Cause Eviction law passed in Kingston is modeled after legislation that has been passed in the cities of Albany, Hudson, Poughkeepsie, and Newburgh, and is currently pending in Ithaca, Ulster County, and other municipalities. The legislation aims to bolster tenant rights by protecting against unfair evictions and predatory rent increases.

The law states that landlords shall not remove tenants except under several listed circumstances, such as the tenant violating an obligation of their lease, or the landlord wanting to reclaim the property for personal use. The law also prevents evictions in cases in which the tenant fails to pay rent due to a pattern of “unconscionable” rent increases.

Advocates and local elected officials stress that these new protections were urgently needed as the statewide eviction moratorium expires on January 15th. In preparation for that date, they are encouraging tenants to know their rights, utilize legal services, avoid self-evicting, and stay in their homes without a legal court order forcing them to vacate.

“Tonight, the Common Council took the steps needed to protect Kingston residents from the looming threat of the end of the eviction moratorium,” said Brahvan Ranga, Political Coordinator at For the Many. “These protections offer tenants the tools necessary to protect their right to housing. We urge tenants to stay in their homes unless legally evicted, and utilize these protections in their dealings with landlords”.

“Tonight, the Common Council voted on proposed Local Law 1 of 2022, the Good Cause Eviction legislation. I am proud of my colleagues, the voting members of the council, for considering this important legislation”, said Andrea Shaut, Kingston Common Council President. “Over the course of the past few months, we have heard testimony over and over again calling for the need of this legislation – from tenants and landlords alike. It’s the right thing to do. Good tenants should not have to live in fear of losing their home, and this law will help reduce that fear.

“Housing is a basic need. Everyone deserves a safe affordable place to live”, said Rita Worthington,” Alderwoman for the Fourth Ward and Common Council Majority Leader. “With the current housing insecurities facing our city, I am hopeful that the Good Cause legislation passed by this council will fundamentally protect against unfair evictions and predatory rent increases which will in turn stabilize our community.”

“The COVID pandemic has exposed that our housing market is setup to abandon thousands of tenants to make a quick profit, even when there is an emergency”, said Sarahana Shrestha, candidate for State Assembly District 103. “We should have passed Good Cause Eviction at the state level last legislative session, but we did not, and with the state legislature dragging its heels again, it is incumbent on New Paltz and Kingston to protect tenants and pass local Good Cause Eviction.

Judith Goldiner, Attorney-in-Charge of the Civil Law Reform Unit, said: “With the statewide moratorium set to expire this weekend, New Paltz and Kingston have both stepped up for vulnerable tenants by passing Good Cause eviction protection. We congratulate both cities and call on Albany to pass the legislation to protect tenants across the state.”
The legislation will now go to Mayor Steve Noble, who must now call a public hearing and sign the legislation. His signature is expected, as he has publicly stated his support for the law.

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.