Council votes to introduce local good-cause eviction law and call public hearing

The Government Operations Committee on July 7 voted to introduce a draft local law on good-cause eviction and to call a public hearing as part of the legislative process. The council's general counsel outlined the statute-of-process for local laws and the mayor's role: the mayor schedules the mandatory public hearing that must occur within the state-established timeline after the council's action. "...the mandatory public hearing is before the mayor...Once the council takes voted by the council out, and then it goes to the mayor," the city attorney explained.

Councillors debated the likely local effects. Several members supported tenant protections tied to the recently expanded rental-certificate program, noting the city now requires inspection and certification before eviction proceedings in many cases. Others asked for more data about how many housing units the proposal would reach; the mayor and other members cited city housing creation figures and said they wanted to understand the practical impact on landlords and tenants.

After discussion the council voted to introduce the draft local law at the next legislative session and to place the item on the agenda for final action after the public hearing. A councilor moved and the motion carried: the draft will be formally introduced on the council's next session, be laid on the table for the required seven days and, following the mayor's public hearing, return for a final vote (anticipated later in July). Committee members asked staff to schedule broad community outreach and to ensure adequate opportunity for residents, tenants and landlords to comment at the mayor's hearing.