Newburgh passes Good Cause Eviction

Last night, we passed a historic law to protect Newburgh’s renters. It’s called Good Cause Eviction — and we’ve been fighting to pass it in 5 cities and 1 county across the Hudson Valley over the past few months.

Our victory will prevent unfair evictions and rent hikes. It will pave the way for cities like Beacon, Kingston, and Poughkeepsie to follow suit. And it will build the momentum we need to pass it on the state level next year.

Newburgh is the place I grew up. It’s a city mostly made up of Black and brown working people. It’s a city mostly made up of renters. As corporate developers buy up our properties to make a quick profit, I’ve seen rents skyrocket and my neighbors get priced out. But last night, I saw us coming together to fight back against the housing crisis ripping through our community. And we won.

This is a glimpse into what’s possible when we come together across race, age, and class. When hundreds of us sign petitions, contact our elected leaders, share our stories at public hearings, and bring our friends and family along with us to do the same. When we can elect and work closely with champions in office, like Newburgh’s Anthony Grice, who are bold enough to govern for the many, and not the greedy few.

We believe that each and every one of us should be guaranteed a safe and healthy home — and we won’t stop fighting until we make that a reality for all. We still have calls to make, public hearings to attend, and elections to win (and we’d love for you to join us).

But for a moment, we’re celebrating this milestone and we hope you are too. Thank you for being a part of this fight with us.