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

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…