Assemblyman Brian Manktelow (R,C,I-Lyons) joined his colleagues with the Assembly Minority today for a virtual press conference to speak out against the upcoming bill (A.7175) to extend the state’s eviction moratorium. The current moratorium is set to expire on Saturday, May 1 while the proposed bill would extend the moratorium until at least August 31, 2021.

“While we certainly don’t want people to be homeless, there are many people who are taking advantage of the current moratorium,” said Manktelow. “Not only are there people who are able to pay rent and are simply choosing not to, instead are spending money on luxuries such as new cars, vacations and more, there are also those who had eviction notices prior to the moratorium whose court proceedings have been put on hold. This is completely unfair to landlords, who are still being forced to pay for mortgages and upkeep at these facilities without receiving any income. It is a completely unbalanced system and, quite frankly, once this moratorium comes to an end, many relationships will be ruined and courthouses will be overflowing with eviction cases. We need to find a way to help those who need help, without doing it at the expense of others.”