MONTICELLO – The Monticello Village Board has given its special legal counsel, Michael Sussman, the assignment to develop and present a local law increasing protections of tenants.
Sussman said Thursday that the recently adopted state budget includes language authorizing villages and other governments outside New York City to engage in just-cause eviction protection.
“One of which may relate to limiting rent increases to reasonable rates and also providing for just cause provision for eviction,” he said. “We think both of those will be part of a more comprehensive approach that we intend to take to try to foster affordability in housing in the village, which is desperately needed.”
The cities of Kingston, Newburgh and Kingston previously adopted their own versions of the law, but they were developed in a different context because the state budget with the new legislation was not in place. They were dealing with a different legal environment, Sussman said. “I believe we have the specific state authority now to deal with this issue.”
The three cities are facing legal challenges by a landlords’ organization.
