[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6649843,"mediaKeyId","2512165-f08fb34c8e58ea823e2268c09300469a","parentId",2512165,"title","Middletown holds public hearing on 'good cause' eviction law as residents, landlords clash","audioSeconds",3619,"startMs",1558000,"endMs",5177000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2512165-f08fb34c8e58ea823e2268c09300469a&start=1558&end=5177","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2512165-f08fb34c8e58ea823e2268c09300469a/thumbnail_1558000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6649843/Middletown/Orange-County/New-York/Middletown-holds-public-hearing-on-good-cause-eviction-law-as-residents-landlords-clash","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6649843-8bf068ae5fc91e794599e3c05aaec7ac/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149939&Signature=lrqBqwGyCsDi2wl3TlSB0k26jTO7I5tiB0o3O11jF9N3Nbc7lpzBous1LXpfnUzL4UvOW60~NO9oOoExhzpKY3aTZEwgmwhou34YkOMioCpFgfkokNr-XNkRoI~gCAh4AH5BlaW~2c46spRL-7ARwlC6oOaS0BWlwMP7dpuGJeu~RJLyjm6vmUAPOG39kajwNXQS~2gXdlsAsPCjlVbZb2WbKWq8hT4kN8NUcpnas0FBuKzJgV8JXqb9qBOG8et94KPhbiCpcIcyF1ytHnultuEim51VxE1uqCZIDZtkhmbHdxD~3MHc4RV9XMu5tgKFk4rKAc~QjTxRU66Z-Uwwjg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Middletown, NY","date","2025-03-06T00:22:09.21Z","article","The Middletown Common Council opened a public hearing Tuesday on proposed local implementation of New York State's good cause eviction law, drawing more than a dozen speakers representing tenants, tenant advocates, landlords and housing-service providers.

Councilman Paul Johnson, chair of the council's Legislative Committee, opened the hearing and framed the ordinance as an attempt to balance tenant stability and landlord rights. \"This is not rent control,\" Johnson said, describing the measure as protection against \"arbitrary evictions\" while preserving landlords' ability to evict for nonpayment or other lawful causes.

Supporters — including longtime educator John Perino, tenant organizers from For the Many and attorneys from tenant-rights groups — told the council the ordinance is needed to prevent sudden, large rent increases and retaliatory evictions that destabilize families and students. Vanessa Sid, who identified herself as a Second Ward resident and organizer with For the Many, urged the council to set the portfolio-size exemption at one unit so small landlords living in a single-rental property are still covered. \"If folks pay their rent, abide by the law, and their lease agreement, they should not have to face the threat of eviction or predatory rent increase,\" Sid said.

Tenant advocates and legal aid representatives cited local examples. Ben Surface, supervising attorney with the Hudson Valley Justice Center, described a case in Middletown in which a landlord sought to remove a tenant who received a housing subsidy despite rent being paid on time. Surface warned that common ownership structures using LLCs can make it difficult for tenants to show whether a landlord qualifies for any portfolio-size exemption during the fast-moving summary eviction process.

Advocates asked the council to adopt a high-rent exemption tied to a multiple of Fair Market Rent (some witnesses urged 345% of FMR) and to keep the portfolio exemption low (one-unit), so the law covers the broadest set of tenants and cannot be easily circumvented by corporate landlords using separate LLCs for properties.

Homeowners and local landlords opposed elements of the proposed ordinance, saying it would limit their ability to recoup rising maintenance, insurance and capital costs. Several landlords described long, costly eviction proceedings driven primarily by nonpayment of rent. One landlord said he had seen a 58% rent increase on his own unit in the past few years and warned that limits on rent growth could discourage investment and maintenance of rental housing.

Speakers on both sides said they wanted to avoid unintended consequences. Naomi Dan, chief of staff at Housing Justice for All, said the state law already contains exemptions (for example, owner-occupied buildings under certain sizes and recently built units) and urged Middletown to use the local flexibility to close loopholes that would make the law ineffective.

Council members asked clarifying questions during the hearing and acknowledged tradeoffs. Alderman Ray noted the law does not remove landlords' ability to evict for nonpayment, nuisance, or other enumerated good causes. Councilman Johnson said the council had heard extensive public comment and expected at least one or two more committee meetings before any formal ordinance vote; he kept the hearing record open for written comments for two weeks.

The public hearing record will remain open, and no council vote was held on the ordinance at this meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","The March 4th 2025 Common Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Middletown Common Council opened a public hearing Tuesday on proposed local implementation of New York State's good cause eviction law, drawing more than a dozen residents, tenant advocates and landlords.","taxTitle","Middletown, Orange County, New York","taxId",54257,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6649834,"Council approves series of resolutions including Paramount repairs, office-sharing with Congressman Ryan and DPW reappointments",272,5691000,5963000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2512165-f08fb34c8e58ea823e2268c09300469a&start=5691&end=5963","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2512165-f08fb34c8e58ea823e2268c09300469a/thumbnail_5691000.jpg","/articles/6649834/Middletown/Orange-County/New-York/Council-approves-series-of-resolutions-including-Paramount-repairs-office-sharing-with-Congressman-Ryan-and-DPW-reappointments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6649834-5912181d013bcd96fed18f2fb2382ca2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149939&Signature=I3n9iEfXjVy2ZQ9KkkcT74qFikAnU5i2zQriOQkp3qrQAQQ18OTp1NdWU-y0LGH8kYvY9affaxKhfy4p8YWtnC23bO4v3J2A192bQfVgWjc8j7i0WxAx4uqxFQXUzPQMkQ0Qjli1gKTfXSi6lyZr41whiPq~1xO4dWBjZWmXraDiBFOENUc9uegjiqxpIUvjpMSlFx1lZ0X-KJaVwXsx-MnGNvE1ilPH7MT0j-pYMaY2xocUD4pcbICXKB41IDmbn2fec~XlR8gKIbQ6CKBXAF158gL2uj7cEMBi1EkZieI2XekjHSf~mDjgJ-yFuB-guMKdNpl-mHPnOMvzfm4wfA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Middletown Common Council approved a slate of resolutions and motions during its March 4 meeting, voting unanimously on a range of operational, capital and personnel items.

Resolutions carried included a transfer of $98,100 from the general fund balance to pay for HVAC system repairs at the Paramount Theater; an agreement allowing Congressman Pat Ryan's office to share office space at City Hall; a $2,000 intra-department transfer for 2024 Fire Department year-end costs; and engineering and construction services for roof replacement and repair at the Water Department and Department of Public Works garages (proposal from Clark Patterson Lee).

The council also approved a proposal from Stratagem for security upgrades at the Paramount Theater, an agreement with Quadrant for a mailing machine and sorting services, and the award of an ornamental streetpost bid to Candle Brothers. Members voted to amend city code to give the Planning Board further discretion in renewing permits for temporary businesses and movable structures.

Personnel motions included the reappointment of Ross Mastria as Deputy Commissioner of Public Works and the reappointment of Brian Smith as Deputy Commissioner of Public Works. The council adopted Local Law No. 1 of 2025 (written notice of defect) and moved the audit and claims motion authorizing the city treasurer to pay warrants.

All roll-call votes recorded in the transcript showed unanimous support. Council President Rodriguez called the measures carried after each roll call.","The Middletown Common Council unanimously approved multiple resolutions March 4, from a $98,100 transfer for Paramount Theater HVAC repairs to reappointments in the Department of Public Works.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6649838,"Middletown IDA presents project roundup; speakers highlight jobs, PILOTs and senior housing",910,226000,1136000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2512165-f08fb34c8e58ea823e2268c09300469a&start=226&end=1136","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2512165-f08fb34c8e58ea823e2268c09300469a/thumbnail_226000.jpg","/articles/6649838/Middletown/Orange-County/New-York/Middletown-IDA-presents-project-roundup-speakers-highlight-jobs-PILOTs-and-senior-housing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6649838-93378e294aff3188e69049e6d9490706/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149939&Signature=Sk3~NQ24YaAvhDCVHwFZ~f68MkdUU6E-5glu9U3RtKFq7LDny8pE9Lea2bGQpBcAdBagWw5VkSZppIdUcInUHDvIT9JPO4jnke3JPJ1qqMIXjKjotLO1oGCw2-rEoxUwJIPPuENIoqVFEmKw6634sHXtAIpk6bNvqnfwuprYZCHXRc9JnZdqF0TXydsTm5HJHUBuJd7MiEUtyIACgr-Edawb8eZ1cm2UeUxfUkCnR7k~FjjneFQBe1Ck32JwXRzPJoS-KcdWBpU3fU-a8kaqvgbeTfsuWnhyBcp4Zu6BbZKl7d8S0u2He4rKsc-zTATd90rI8E9PpkhaOgzytf0CEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A representative of the Middletown Industrial Development Agency (IDA) gave a summary of recent projects and the agency's role in local economic development during the March 4 Common Council meeting.

The IDA representative described the agency as a public-benefit corporation empowered by New York State to promote economic development and listed projects the IDA has supported through PILOT (payment-in-lieu-of-taxes) agreements, sales tax exemptions during construction and conduit tax-exempt bond financing.

The presentation cited Touro University's rehabilitation of a former hospital building into educational facilities and dormitories, a project the speaker said cost about $65 million and currently generates roughly $151,000 per year in PILOT payments; the speaker said that pilot is scheduled to end in 2028 and the property would then be fully taxable. The representative also described brewery and manufacturing projects, assisted-living and senior affordable housing projects, and a Southeast Towers senior affordable rental project they said was financed with approximately $7.44 million in tax-exempt bonds and provides 106 affordable units for seniors.

The speaker said the IDA requires public hearings on projects, conducts independent annual audits, posts reports to the city website and files activity reports with the New York State Authorities Budget Office, the State Controller and the Department of Taxation and Finance.

Council members thanked agency volunteers and asked questions about transparency after a council member referenced a public accusation on social media. Council President Rodriguez asked whether an allegation that the IDA lacks transparency was true; the IDA representative answered, \"Absolutely false, yes,\" and confirmed the agency does not gift properties.

The IDA representative closed by encouraging the public to consult posted reports and announced that IDA meetings are held monthly and available live on channel 20 and on the city website.","A representative for the Middletown Industrial Development Agency summarized recent projects and incentives, describing job creation, pilot (PILOT) payments and tax-exempt bond conduit financing used for local projects including Touro University and senior affordable housing.","actionData","errors"]

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Middletown holds public hearing on 'good cause' eviction law as residents, landlords clash

Council approves series of resolutions including Paramount repairs, office-sharing with Congressman Ryan and DPW reappointments

Middletown IDA presents project roundup; speakers highlight jobs, PILOTs and senior housing