NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday extended New York state's ban on evictions through the end of August.
Cuomo signed an extension of both the COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2020 and the COVID-19 Emergency Protect Our Small Businesses Act.
The governor said the extension prohibits residential and commercial evictions, foreclosure proceedings, credit discrimination and negative credit reporting related to the COVID-19 pandemic until Aug. 31.
"As we approach the light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel, it is critical that we continue to protect both New York's tenants and business owners who have suffered tremendous hardship throughout this entire pandemic," Cuomo said in a statement.
"Extending this legislation will help to ensure that vulnerable New Yorkers and business owners who are facing eviction through no fault of their own are able to keep their homes and businesses as we continue on the road to recovery and begin to build back our economy better than it was before," the governor said.
The bill passed through the state Legislature this week. State Sen. Brian Kavanagh sponsored the bill in the New York Senate.
"The Centers for Disease Control have specifically found that permitting evictions increases the spread of COVID-19 and that moratorium laws like New York's work to prevent transmission," Kavanagh said in a statement. "Ensuring that everyone has access to a stable, safe place to live is always a priority, but it's never been more important than it is now."
Tenant advocates have been pushing for an extension, while landlord groups have opposed the ban.
Cuomo first announced a state moratorium on residential and commercial evictions on March 20, 2020 to ensure no tenant was evicted during the height of the pandemic.
