As the New York legislature and governor engage in a high-stakes power struggle over the coming year’s budget, some voters in Flushing, Queens, among other neighborhoods, are finding strange fliers on their doorstep, warning them that a proposed measure to protect tenants from eviction was backed by “a group of self-professed socialist politicians” and “will devastate housing in New York.” The flier, printed by “Homeowners for an Affordable New York” also warned, “These are the same folks that caused crime to skyrocket with their bail reform law.”

Only one fact on this flier is true: “Good Cause Eviction,” which would protect tenants from losing their homes by preventing landlords from refusing to renew leases without good reason and includes some insurance against unreasonable rent increases. It was first introduced by socialist state senator Julia Salazar and is embraced by other socialist legislators in the senate and assembly. After organizing by housing groups, the New York City Democratic Socialists of America (NYC-DSA), and other progressive organizations, Good Cause is now supported by a majority in the state legislature, despite millions spent on deceptive fliers like the one making the rounds in Queens.

The name of the group on the fliers sounds wholesome enough — few are more politically venerated in America than the homeowner. But it’s also misleading. “Homeowners for an Affordable New York” is an Astroturf group created by large real estate companies who own many other people’s homes. This group is less interested in crime or public safety than the fact that Good Cause Eviction would make it harder to evict tenants for common greedy reasons like raising rents and making more profits.