I am a long-term tenant in New York State, specifically in Albany, and I am an African American. After renting for 13 years, I have some thoughts on why the NAACP of NY is misguided about the importance of good-cause eviction and why it is crucial for the Legislature to pass this legislation.
When I first started renting, my one-bedroom apartment cost me $550 per month. Now, that same apartment is $1,200 and continues to increase every year. While my current landlord is excellent, the majority of my rental experiences have involved the state failing to hold bad landlords accountable.
An example that highlights this issue is the Bleecker Terrace apartments in Albany. Initially, this subsidized low-income housing complex was purchased by an out-of-state investor with a promise not to raise rents. However, the new owner went back on that promise and imposed rent increases of over 20 percent in some cases. This serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for stronger tenant protections, including caps on rent increases.
Despite these glaring issues, Hazel N. Dukes, the President of NAACP NY, has recently expressed reservations about good-cause eviction. She raises concerns about its potential negative consequences, such as the fear that “arbitrary” rent caps will harm investments in housing. While the specific amount to cap rent increases is up for debate, we cannot ignore the fact that rental costs continue to outpace wage growth, and predatory rent hikes are alarmingly common.
Dukes suggests rental vouchers and the right to counsel as solutions, but they alone are not enough to address the underlying causes of the housing crisis. The rising operating costs due to inflation coupled with stagnant wages place an overwhelming financial burden on tenants. Many low- and moderate-income individuals, including myself, struggle to afford even a 5 percent increase in rent. Living paycheck to paycheck, we face yearly rent hikes without any corresponding salary growth.
It is important to recognize that the fight for housing justice goes beyond immediate assistance. Many of us choose to rent in New York because we simply don’t want to be homeless. While I would love to own a house, even obtaining an FHA loan through a credit union feels unattainable. In addition to good-cause eviction legislation, we must also push for the revival of the NY Public Banking Act. This act would create opportunities for individuals to become homeowners by enabling regions, cities, or municipalities to establish their own banks. It would liberate taxpayer money from the control of private corporate banks that often reject individuals as too risky for a mortgage. The current system leaves struggling individuals subsidizing the properties of others while they struggle to qualify for their own homes.
Nearly 50 percent of New Yorkers are renters, and the lack of protections for them is not just a moral injustice; it also leads to community instability, increased poverty, and higher crime rates. If reducing crime is truly a priority, then we must start by keeping people in their homes and expanding access to affordable housing and homeownership. Stable communities are stronger and safer.
Including good-cause eviction in the legislation is a critical step to promote housing stability and protect tenants from exploitative landlords. However, the NAACP of NY’s alignment with the real estate industry instead of advocating for the disadvantaged shows a neglect of the interests of the very people it should champion.
Alÿcia Bacon, Albany Resident
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