SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC NEWS) – Good cause eviction laws are subject to debate in central New York. Good cause eviction laws are put in place to help protect tenants. This includes requiring reasons for the termination of the lease and setting rent increase caps each year.
In April 2024, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a good cause law for New York. The law gave cities the opportunity to opt in to that law if they choose. Syracuse is one of several cities that is yet to have a vote about the law.
Citizens have started to ask for action from the Syracuse government.
“Tenants right now go unprotected by the way our system is set up. I think that good cause sets up bare minimum standards,” Onondaga County Legislator Maurice Brown said.
He said he represents District 15, which is in the city of Syracuse. Brown said his district is very diverse, and he thinks that good cause can help people regardless of income.
Brown mentioned the urgency of the situation.
“We’re in a housing crisis, we are. We are in a homelessness crisis. We can’t add to that without good cause,” Brown said.
The city is looking at this law as a possibility, Public Information Officer Sarah Pallo said. She said the process would require a Common Council vote. It will be a while until Syracuse has good cause laws Pallo said.
Some cities in New York have already passed these laws. Albany, Poughkeepsie and Kingston are some of the cities that have adopted these laws.
