CHAMPION
OF MINORITIES?
E-N
Busted By Feds
HUD
Charges San Antonio Express-News
With
Publishing Discrimination Violations
(Compiled
from HUD Press Release) 7-24-2004
"WALZEN
Area, Hispanic or White male
pref.,
to share home…"
Express-News
Ad
The
US Department of Housing and Urban Development
has charged the San Antonio Express-News and
Hearst Communications, Inc., its parent company,
with violating the Fair Housing Act by accepting
and publishing 42 ads for rental housing that
excluded potential renters because of their race,
religion, sex, national origin or familial
status.
"Some
newspapers still do not understand their
obligations even though the Fair Housing Act has
been the law-of-the-land for more than three
decades," said Carolyn Peoples, HUD's
assistant secretary for fair housing and equal
opportunity. "HUD is committed to enforcing
the nation's fair housing laws, and we will act
vigorously to keep peoples' rights from being
violated."
The
HUD charge stems from an April 2002 complaint
filed by the Fair Housing Council of Greater San
Antonio, one of many private, non-profit
organizations funded by HUD through its Fair
Housing Initiatives Program to investigate
alleged violations of the Act.
The
San Antonio FHIP had been investigating possible
violations of the Act by the paper since late
2000. Typical of the illegal ads, which ran
between November 2000 and October 2002, were the
following:
"WALZEN Area,
Hispanic or White male pref., to share
home…"
"2/1 House,
Beautiful historic house, in Beacon Hill,
See to apprec. No pets/children…"
A
hearing on the charges will be held by a US
Administrative Law Judge on October 5 in the San
Antonio area, unless either the complainant or
respondent elect to have the case decided by a
federal judge in US District Court. An election
to go to trial in district court must be made by
August 9.
Housing
discrimination charges heard before an ALJ carry
a maximum civil penalty of $11,000 for a first
offense - more if the respondent has committed
prior violations of the Act - plus actual damages
for the complainant, injunctive or other
equitable relief, and attorney fees.
Should
the case go to district court, either party may
request a jury trial. A district court may award
all of the damages available in an administrative
proceeding, and may also award punitive damages.
In
either forum, the case is brought on behalf of
the complainant, and prosecuted by an attorney
from either HUD of the US Department of Justice.
Also, each party has the right to be represented
by their own attorney.
HUD
is the nation's housing agency committed to
increasing homeownership, particularly among
minorities; creating affordable housing
opportunities for low-income Americans; and
supporting the homeless, elderly, people with
disabilities and people living with AIDS. The
Department also promotes economic and community
development as well as enforces the nation's fair
housing laws. More information about HUD and its
programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.
*
* *
People
who believe they are the victims of housing
discrimination should contact HUD at
1-800-669-9777 or DOJ at 1-800-896-7743 or (202)
514-4713. Additional information is available at www.hud.gov and www.usdoj.gov.
