The Hudson Common Council voted Sept. 21 to pass a good cause eviction law. The law is similar to one passed recently in Albany, and would require landlords to provide a detailed reason to a judge when evicting a tenant. The law passed with eight common council members voting in favor, and 3rd Ward Alderperson Shershah Mizan abstaining. Hudson Mayor Kamal Johnson previously spoke in favor of the law, saying it is needed as rising rents are forcing locals from their homes. “This is something that advocates have been talking about for years,” Johnson said. “We’ve seen our school district have to consolidate. We’ve seen our hospital no longer work for birthing services, losing jobs.” Besides making eviction's subject to a judge's oversight, the law also gives tenants a right to renew their lease, and protects them from an annual rent increase of more than five percent. Click here to download or play the portion of the Hudson Common Council meeting talking about the eviction law. Note: Johnson is a volunteer WGXC programmer.