City-Wide Tenant Union of Rochester

City Council has introduced the Eviction Reduction Law (Introductory 94), which grants EVERY tenant in Rochester protections against unjust evictions and unreasonable rent increases. This is a major victory. But to get this bill passed, tenants and allies in Rochester must come together and fight for our community, starting by speaking out at the virtual public hearing on Thursday, March 10 at 5 pm.

With this law, tenants who pay rent and follow the terms of our leases can stay in our homes without fear of eviction.  Signing up to speak live on Zoom is the best way to be heard! But you can also send an email with written comments. Registration info below.

What is the Eviction Reduction Bill?

Everyone deserves safe, stable housing. Yet Rochester is facing a huge housing crisis: tenants are facing mass evictions, we’re seeing record rent hikes, and our apartments are often in poor condition. Because of decades of racist housing policies, Black and brown families are dealing with the worst of the crisis.

This bill, also known as Good Cause Eviction Protections and No C of O No Evictions, gives tenants the right to renew their tenancy. Landlords would have to show that they have a “good cause” (such as non-payment or violating the lease) and a valid Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) to evict us. The bill would also allow us to fight back against rent increases of over 5% and fight for safe housing without getting evicted.

Read an overview of the law here and read about myths and facts regarding the law here.

Registration instructions:

To sign up for the hearing, email council@cityofrochester.gov or call 585-428-7538 by 1 pm on Thursday, March 10. Say, “I would like to sign up for the hearing on Thursday, March 10 for Introductory 94.”

If you are emailing them, please make your subject line “Introductory 94 Hearing” and include your name, mailing address, phone number, and the group or organization you’re representing (if any).

Talking Points for Tenants:

The most important part of this hearing is telling the elected officials how this law will impact the lives of thousands of tenants in Rochester! We are the majority! Think about how pieces of the legislation might affect your life when you are coming up with your remarks. Also, be sure to thank Council President Mary Lupien, Councilmember Kim Smith, and Councilmember Stanley Martin for their support of the bill.

My name is ______. I am a tenant, and I am asking you to pass the Eviction Reduction Law because….

• My landlord keeps raising my rent and I can’t afford to pay.

• I am living in bad conditions, but I was afraid to call Code Enforcement or fight for better conditions  because my landlord might evict me. Rochester families should not have to choose between fighting for safe housing and getting evicted.

• My building does not have a valid Certificate of Occupancy, so my landlord should not have been able to legally rent out my unit. My landlord should not be allowed to evict me either.

• I’ve consistently been in situations where I did not know if my lease would be renewed, causing anxiety about my living situation.

Talking Points for Neighbors and Allies:

• Thank you to Council President Mary Lupien, Councilmember Kim Smith, and Councilmember Stanley Martin for your support on this bill, which will bring much needed stability to our community in the face of an eviction crisis.

• Housing is the foundation for healthy families and communities; as Rochester faces unprecedented crises across violence, education, and public health, we need stable housing and neighborhoods now more than ever.

• Rochester has been in a housing crisis long before the pandemic and will stay in one for good unless you act now.

• Albany, Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, and Kingston have all passed Good Cause. Rochester tenants deserve these protections just as much as tenants in those cities.

• Pre-pandemic, Rochester saw 8,000 evictions filed a year -- about 1 eviction filed for every 10 Rochester households.

• Rochester’s Black and brown families deserve safe, stable housing.

• The Eviction Reduction Law improves housing quality and increased property values due to better maintenance of neighboring properties.