Aliya Schneider is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the Hudson-Catskill Housing Coalition Mon., Apr. 26, organized a protest held at Assemblymember Didi Barrett’s office in Hudson, calling for an extension of the state moratorium on evictions. Approximately 25 people gathered to voice their concerns for residents at risk for losing their homes and to ask for Barrett's support of an extension of the stay. The issue of displacement was triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is an issue the city has faced for years, protesters said. The city’s housing crisis has had a significant impact on the community of color, causing a decline in the population, said 2nd Ward Alderwoman and Common Council Majority Leader Tiffany Garriga. Barrett was not in her office during the demonstration but members of her staff came outside to hear protesters and agreed to relay the messages. Garriga, Mayor Kamal Johnson, 1st Ward Alderwoman and Common Council Minority Leader Rebecca Wolff, Mayoral Aide and 3rd Ward Supervisor Michael Chameides and Youth Department Director Nick Zachos were among the protesters. Some drivers on Warren Street honked their car horns and raised thumbs up in support of the protest as they passed. Chameides said the county has hundreds of thousands of dollars set aside for COVID-19 relief for housing, but people cannot access the funds during the moratorium. Those funds should be unlocked before the moratorium ends, he said. Note: Johnson is a volunteer WGXC on-air volunteer. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.