Kingston, NY — Citizen Action of New York has announced its endorsement of Omar Herrera for Mayor of the City of Ossining.
Omar is a proud product of the Ossining school system and has served his community in a number of different capacities, most recently as a member of the Village Board of Trustees and District Leader for the Ossining Democratic Committee.
Citizen Action members voted to endorse Omar for his commitment to passing the Emergency Tenant Protection Act, which was rejected by Mayor Victoria Gearity.
The Emergency Tenant Protection Act (ETPA) allows municipalities in the New York Metropolitan Area to adopt a form of rent stabilization. There are presently 19 municipalities in Westchester County that have adopted the ETPA. If passed, a minimum of 1200 rental units in the Village of Ossining would be protected from exorbitant rent hikes.
Local grassroots groups, clergy, and local leaders have called on the Mayor to support the measure, though so far she has ignored the appeals of the Ossining community.
“Omar is a true public servant. He’s committed to finally passing the Emergency Tenant Protection Act, which is long overdue in the City of Ossining. This important provision will protect community members from being pushed out by greedy landlords and developers,” said Citizen Action leader Mary Vandazande.
“Citizen Action is proud to stand behind Omar’s run for Mayor of Ossining. Housing instability has become an epidemic in the Lower Hudson Valley. Developers and landlords are raking in record profits, while our communities continue to suffer,” said Andy Falk, Community Organizer for Citizen Action of New York. “It’s Black, Brown, and low-income residents that are being pushed out or forced to spend a growing share of their income on rent. The ETPA will help us keep our communities strong and whole.”
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