January 15, 2022 – Brooklyn, NY: Tenant activists burned eviction notices in front of the Brooklyn Housing Court earlier today in protest of the Eviction Moratorium ending in New York.
Many housing justice groups converged outside of the Housing Court in Brooklyn Saturday morning for what tenant activists are calling a ‘ceremonial burning’ in protest of the upcoming evictions and to highlight the Good Cause legislation.
Video and stills by Ken Lopez (FNTV freedomnews.tv)
On January 14, 2022 – Manhattan, NY: 18 people were arrested after Tenant Activists marched to Governor Kathy Hochul’s office to end winter evictions and extend the ban through the end of June.
Eviction moratorium has been in place for more than 20 months and was extended twice amid the ongoing COVID pandemic and has now expired on January 15th. Governor Hochul recently stated that it will not be extended.
There have been 81,530 eviction filings in New York City since March 15th, 2020. Cases were put on hold while moratorium is in place, according to Gothamist.
Hundreds marched through NYC demanding extention and at least 18 people were arrested following an act of civil disobedience, by blocking the roadway outside of Governor Hochul Office.
Protesters sat in the roadway disrupting midday traffic in midtown while highlighting the Good-Cause Eviction Legislation.
According to the National Low Income Coalition, The statewide legislation, “Good Cause Eviction” bill was introduced by State Senator Julia Salazar and Assembly Member Pamela Hunter, would prevent no-fault evictions and establish a tenant’s right to an automatic lease renewal in most cases. NLIC stated that some circumstances would allow the landlord to evict a tenant due to major violations of a lease or failure to pay rent except in the case of a steep rent increase.
On January 12th 2022 at a March on Billionaires Row, We spoke to Crown Heights Tenant Union member that said “We’re demanding that Governor Hochul take us seriously, take tenants seriously, from protecting their homes. And extending the eviction moratorium beyond January 15th.
“Half of the real estate in Midtown is empty because they like to hoard it, in order to make as much money as possible. Because this is pretend to them. For us, this is our home. For us it’s our money. For us it’s our lives. For us it’s our survival. For them, it’s a game.” said the young passionate union member.”
“Because 200,000 households, which means, half a million people, are about to lose their home. We also want to abolish winter evictions, period. There’s no reason anyone should be sleeping on the street in the winter time. We also want them to pause the Good Cause Bill.”
Video by Ken Lopez (FNTV freedomnews.tv)
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings