BEACON – Mayor Lee Kyriacou cast the sole dissenting vote as the Beacon City Council Monday night adopted good cause eviction legislation.
It had widespread support from the community, tenants and the grassroots organization For the Many.
The measure was modeled after similar local laws adopted in the cities of Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, Kingston and Albany, and is pending in Ulster County and other local municipalities.
The law states that landlords cannot 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.
“Renters can breathe a sign of relief tonight,” said Councilman Dan Aymar-Blair, following the vote to approve the local law.
Brahvan Ranga, political lead at For the Many, said the city council stood up for tenants’ rights “in the face of an organized and aggressive opposition.”
