FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 28, 2022

Mayor Noble Statement on the ETPA Lawsuit Filed by Local Property Owners

Today, the City of Kingston’s Corporation Counsel had to appear in court to defend Kingston’s adoption of the Emergency Tenant Protection Act (ETPA). We successfully opposed this attempt to halt progress. We believe that we will continue to prevail against these challenges of the City’s vacancy study and our declaration of a local housing emergency.

When we opted into this law, we knew there would be challenges to the adoption, but I believe in this law and the protections it offers to Kingston tenants.

As the Mayor, I have frequently heard from residents whose housing stability is in peril due to skyrocketing rents. Members of the Common Council, our Housing Director, local providers of affordable and supportive housing, and advocacy organizations can speak to the many members of our community with housing instability. Our housing vacancy study provided well-researched data to establish Kingston’s housing emergency. The data was further supported at a recent hearing of the City of Kingston Rent Guidelines Board, where many tenants testified to receiving double-digit rent increase and experiencing intimidation to pay the unreasonable increases or else vacate their home.

I want to make it very clear that: Despite this ongoing lawsuit, the declaration of a housing emergency has not changed and the Emergency Tenant Protection Act is still in effect.

The next Rent Guidelines Board public hearing is scheduled for November 5 at the Kingston Public Library at noon. The board will hear testimony from tenants, property owners, and members of the public to inform their determination for rates of rent adjustments.

More information can be found at https://engagekingston.com/etpa or by contacting the Director of Housing Initiatives.