Albany, NY – In response to the Albany Common Council’s vote on Good Cause legislation, which would end arbitrary evictions and guarantee good-faith tenants to a lease renewal in the city of Albany, Citizen Action President Ivette Alfonso said:
“By passing the Good Cause Eviction law, the Albany Common Council is taking a stand for housing as a human right and declaring that no one should have to live in unsafe housing because they’re afraid of being evicted.
“Albany will be the first municipality in New York State to enact Good Cause. And this despite the “the sky is falling” fear mongering carried out by some landlords and the State Association of Realtors. Yesterday’s vote will help end retaliatory evictions and protect our neighborhoods from rent increases designed to push people out of their homes and that drive tenants deeper into debt or onto the streets and into homeless shelters. This is a victory for the tenants of Albany who deserve to have a voice and live with dignity in safe, affordable housing.
“Evictions displace far too many Albany families. Good Cause strengthens housing security at a time when so many in our city are struggling to keep a roof over their heads. We applaud the Council for moving this critical legislation forward.”