On June 13, the Hudson Valley Tenants Union (HVTU) held its first-ever General Assembly. This was a three-hour event and tenants ratified a constitution, elected leadership, and set priorities for the next year. 

Over 50 members participated and voted. 

The ratified constitution was built by a tenant-led bylaws committee created in January, and it outlines that anyone who shares the goals of the HVTU can join as a member, as long as they are not a landlord or make money from other people’s housing in some other way. 

The constitution also outlined the primary purpose of the HVTU: organizing new associations, especially across specific landlord portfolios. A five-member tenant council was also created to govern the organization, and tenants elected the following individuals to serve on the council over the next year: Caitlin Ruppert, Raquel Gonzalez, Brigid Kelly, Andrew Hiller and Steph De John. 

Members also proposed and voted on resolutions to guide the work of the Hudson Valley Tenants Union over the next year. After debate and deliberation, all five resolutions proposed passed with nearly unanimous majorities (there were a few abstentions). 

• Resolution 1: Ensure tenants file for rent reductions 
• Resolution 2: Organize tenants beyond Kingston 
• Resolution 3: Help pass the REST Act 
• Resolution 4: Affiliate with the statewide tenant bloc 
• Resolution 5: Support pro-tenant mayoral candidate in Kingston.

(The full text is available; email info@hvtenantsunion.org.)

Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha spoke about the need to build more tenant power to accomplish legislative victories in Albany, such as the passage of the REST Act (see below), which would make it easier to expand rent stabilization throughout upstate New York. 

The HVTU works toward building tenant power across the Hudson Valley through collective action and community organizing. Learn more at www.hudsonvalleytenantsunion.org.

Hudson Valley Tenants Union
Kingston, NY