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Troy council overrides mayor, adopts "good cause" tenant-protection law
Summary
The Troy City Council voted 7–0 on April 9 to override Mayor Montello’s veto and adopt a local law applying Article 6A of the Real Property Law to Troy, establishing "good cause" eviction protections for tenants after public testimony and council debate.
The Troy City Council voted unanimously April 9 to override Mayor Carmella Montello’s veto and adopt a local law extending “good cause” eviction protections to the city.
The override came after public comment in which renters and advocates urged passage. Frankie, a long-term renter who addressed the council during public forum, told members the mayor’s veto amounted to a denial of basic protections: “The word veto is derived from the Latin ‘I forbid.’ So, the mayor literally said to renters, 65% of Troy residents, ‘I forbid you’ from having basic protections,” Frankie said.
Council members framed the vote as responsive to voters and tenant needs. Council member DeLorenzo noted the item had been defeated previously but carried this year after voters made it a priority. “This year, the new council listened. We passed this unanimously, 7-0,” he said. Council member Campbell Cohen and others emphasized legal exemptions and limitations in the state statute, including a 15‑year exclusion for new development that the council said addresses common developer concerns during debate.
The local law adopts the provisions of Article 6A of the New York Real Property Law, as stated in the ordinance language presented to the council. After brief debate, the council recorded seven ayes, zero nos and the veto was overridden, making the law effective as adopted by the council.
Why it matters: Council supporters and tenant advocates said the law gives renters legal protections against unjust evictions and excessive rent increases, while opponents (including the mayor in her veto message, which was discussed by speakers) had argued otherwise. The council’s action means the city will now implement the local law consistent with the state statute’s terms and any administrative steps necessary for enforcement.
What happens next: Council members and staff said implementation details and outreach to residents will follow. The council meeting record shows no immediate administrative implementation timeline in the transcript; the council did not specify an exact effective-on date during the vote beyond the adoption on April 9.
