Abby Hoover is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media Hudson Mayor Kamal Johnson February 21, vetoed plans for a housing vacancy study of the city, nixing a Common Council resolution that authorized a survey to determine Hudson's eligibility to opt into the Emergency Tenant Protection Act of 1974. In killing the plan, Johnson said he was doing so because "...it is highly unlikely that Hudson's vacancy rate would qualify the city for participation in the [act]." Johnson cited a preliminary 2018 inventory of rent-regulated housing stock prepared for the Housing Task Force, which estimated that 21 percent of city residents currently live in “low-income, permanently affordable, rent regulated housing.” Under the ETPA, if a city’s vacancy rate is under 5 percent, its rental market is considered stressed, and the city can declare a housing emergency. The resolution did not authorize funding, Common Council President Tom DePietro explained on the night of the vote; it only requested the mayor commission the survey. The council approved the resolution at its February 18 meeting, with 1st Ward Alderwoman Jane Trombley and 5th Ward representatives Dominic Merante and Eileen Halloran dissenting. Second Ward Alderwoman Tiffany Garriga proposed the resolution. She said she brought the process forward because she felt it was the right thing to do, and called for more action and less talking from her fellow council members. “Elected officials from the Democratic party control all levels of government in this city, and say they are for affordable housing and housing justice,” Garriga said. “If you are so, then show it.” Ed. NOTE: Johnson and DePietro are active WGXC volunteer programmers. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.