UPDATE: Kingston’s Common Council is set to take an urgent vote on December 30, 2023, to potentially override Mayor Steve Noble’s veto of a resolution that would continue rent control protections under the Emergency Tenant Protection Act (ETPA). Alderwoman Michele Hirsch expressed strong confidence that the council has the necessary six votes to proceed, marking a pivotal moment for the city’s housing policy.
This special session, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at City Hall, could greatly impact rent control for hundreds of residents in Kingston. The vote is particularly critical as it will be the last for the current council before four new members take office in January, making this decision even more urgent.
Hirsch did not hold back in her criticism of Noble, stating, “Although the mayor and landlord lobby appear aligned, that has no bearing on any legal challenge.” She emphasized that the council’s findings will stand on their own merits, independent of the mayor’s objections. “We remain confident that the City of Kingston’s Rent Stabilization laws will endure,” she added.
Mayor Noble’s veto, issued on December 22, argued that the council’s findings contained factual inaccuracies and misrepresented a crucial 2025 vacancy study. While he supports ETPA protections, he proposed limiting them to buildings with 22 units or more, which tenant advocates warn would strip protections from approximately 40% of the current 1,000 units covered under ETPA. Currently, all buildings with six units or more built before 1974 benefit from these protections.
Richard Lanzarone, executive director of the landlord advocacy group Housing Providers of New York State, declared that if the council overrides Noble’s veto, they are prepared to defend property rights through legal means. “Should the council override the mayor with the resolution in its current form, we stand ready to do whatever is necessary,” Lanzarone warned.
However, tenant rights advocates argue that Noble’s proposal ignores the data showing that the vacancy rate for buildings predating 1974 with nine or more units is below the critical 5% threshold. Numerous advocates criticized Noble’s record on tenant protections, specifically pointing to a 2023 workforce housing deal involving the Stony Run apartment complex, which was previously challenged regarding its ETPA status.
In an email sent after his veto, Mayor Noble defended his housing policy record and accused critics of using “scare tactics” against his administration. “My administration has done more in the field of affordable housing than any of my predecessors,” Noble stated, insisting that the legislation passed by the council is flawed and could face legal challenges if enacted.
As Kingston residents await the outcome of this crucial vote, the stakes could not be higher. The override could secure essential rent control protections for many, or it could lead to significant changes in the city’s housing landscape. Observers and stakeholders are closely monitoring the developments as the council prepares to make this defining decision.
Stay tuned for live updates as this story unfolds.
