Astoria Lawmakers Rally For Eviction Protections, Bail Reform

ASTORIA, QUEENS — More renewable energy. Protections against evictions. A fight against bail amendments.

These were some of the issues Queens lawmakers rallied for on Wednesday at Athens Square in Astoria after disagreements over Gov. Kathy Hochul's housing and bail reform changes led state lawmakers to miss the April 1 budget deadline.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, and Council Member Tiffany Cabán were among the members at Wednesday’s rally. Lawmakers voiced their support for policies including Good Cause eviction protections and the Build Public Renewables Act, which would lift limits on the New York Power Authority to build its green energy infrastructure.

"We need publicly owned renewable power in the state of New York,” said Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, with the support of the group Housing Justice for All. “It does not have to be corporate-owned. It does not have to be done in a way that jacks your Con Ed bill up more and more.”

Good Cause eviction protections would require landlords to show they have a “good cause,” such as non-payment or violating the terms of the lease, in order to evict a tenant.

The rally was also in support of New York’s bail law that eliminates money bail for most misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies. About 97 percent of cases are resolved through plea deals and only three percent go to trial.

Lawmakers in Albany are looking to roll back on bail reform to a system similar to those prior to the law passed in 2019.

“To truly keep New Yorkers safe, we must reject any attempts to criminalize our communities,” said Gonzalez. “Real safety comes from investing in the resources that everyday New Yorkers need such as stable housing, clean air and water, and affordable public transit.”