New Yorkers must have the right to Good Cause Eviction protections | Opinion

Last August, Nestor Marquez made the difficult decision to move from Port Chester, New York to South Carolina. After 15 years of living in New York, he, his wife and his two children were forced to pack their bags because they could no longer afford to live here. The family had been living in an unregulated studio for the past five years — they were tenants with no housing protections.

When his landlord raised Marquez's rent by almost $700, it was impossible for him to keep making rent. Unable to find an affordable apartment, he had no other choice but to move down south. Marquez is not the only tenant in this situation; there are nearly 1.6 million New York households across the state who also lack protections, and nearly 60% of Westchester renters live with rents above 30% of their income. New Yorkers need the Legislature and Gov. Kathy Hochul to respond to this dire situation by passing Good Cause Eviction legislation this year.

The Good Cause Eviction legislation would protect New Yorkers from harsh rent hikes that often lead to the displacement of our people and against senseless retaliatory or discriminatory evictions that push tenants out of their homes and communities and into the streets.

Just like Marquez, there are tenants across Westchester who live every day in fear of losing their homes. Take for example the story of Clara Campos, who spoke up to her landlord when he tried to increase her rent. Instead of respecting her right to a 90-day notice and a written notice, the landlord gave her only four days’ notice that he would increase the rent by more than 15%. When she tried to advocate for herself, he retaliated. Within a few weeks, and just before Christmas, he served her with an eviction notice. She tried to fight the eviction in court, but they could not do anything for her. After living in her home for more than 21 years, she was forced out. Campos had to live at a friend's house until she could find a new home.

New Yorkers like Marquez and Campos need protections and we can easily deliver those protections by passing a state budget that includes Good Cause. The housing crisis is not only hurting New York City, it has clearly taken over our entire state. For far too long, our people have been left at the mercy of predatory landlords and in imminent danger of losing their homes. Good Cause has gained support from local elected officials from across the state, labor unions, Congressional leaders, and New Yorkers because it makes sense. Putting our most vulnerable tenants first is the right thing to do.

Both Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and state Senate Majority Andrea Leader Stewart-Cousins have included it in their one-house budgets, but now we need the governor to address housing affordability by prioritizing tenants and ensuring Good Cause makes it to the final state budget. Tenant protections must remain at the top of Albany’s agenda — it is long overdue we tackle this issue to ensure every New Yorker has a stable and affordable home to live in.

Rep. Jamaal Bowman, a Democrat, represents New York's 16th Congressional District.

Theo Oshiro is co-executive director of Make the Road New York.

On Twitter: @JamaalBowmanNY, @TheoOshiro. 

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: good cause eviction protections ny