A New York State Court has struck down the City of Albany’s “Good Cause” eviction law, eliminating critical protections for tenants in unregulated housing against exorbitant rent increases and arbitrary evictions. The Legal Aid Society condemned the ruling, calling on lawmakers in Albany to enact the protections statewide.

“As rents continue to skyrocket to historic levels, and more and more New Yorkers find themselves pushed from their homes and communities as a result, it’s unconscionable that a court would strike down such a critical protection serving thousands of tenants,” reads a statement from Legal Aid.

“We never maintained that a ‘Good Cause’ patchwork system that varies by jurisdiction was ideal, and given the perilous situation facing so many tenants throughout New York, Albany lawmakers must immediately codify ‘Good Cause’ statewide,” the statement continues “‘Good Cause’ is budget-neutral and supported by a wide-ranging coalition of tenants, housing advocates, unions, small landlords, and the majority of New Yorkers, and this bill must be ushered into law at once.”