Tenant Law
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L.A. Clippers Owner and Los Angeles Megalandlord Used Racial Discrimination in Providing Housing at His Rental PropertiesWednesday, November 25, 2009
This month The United States Department of Justice obtained
The lawsuit alleged Mr. Sterling instructed his property managers and other employees that "African-Americans and Hispanics were not desirable tenants" and that employees maintained internal documents tracking the race of prospective tenants among Mr. Sterling's 119 apartment buildings (over 5000 apartment units). ESPN has reported that Mr. Sterling told one of his property managers that black tenants "smell" and are "not clean" and that Mexicans "just sit around and drink and smoke all day." The Justice Department's analysis showed that rentals to African American and Hispanic tenants at Mr. Sterling's properties was much lower then could be expected absent discrimination, and private lawsuits pending at the same time (and included in the settlement) claimed that Mr. Sterling's employees harassed and mistreated minority families who were already Mr. Sterling's tenants.
In addition to being a mega Los Angeles landlord and racially intolerant, Mr. Sterling is an NBA Team Owner of the Los Angeles Clippers. While his actions do not reflect well on the NBA which promotes a message of inclusiveness, the NBA as of now will not issue a statement condemning such discrimination nor launch an investigation into Mr. Sterling and his practices.
Tenant activists are pushing for the NBA to condemn racist housing discrimination and to investigate Mr. Sterling. Please sign the petition, located at www.nbashowyoucare.org.
This month The United States Department of Justice obtained
... the largest monetary payment ever... in the settlement of a case alleging housing discrimination in the rental of apartments. Los Angeles apartment owner Donald T. Sterling has agreed to pay $2.725 million to settle allegations that he discriminated against African-Americans, Hispanics and families with children at apartment buildings he controls in Los Angeles.See the Justice Department's Press Release.
The lawsuit alleged Mr. Sterling instructed his property managers and other employees that "African-Americans and Hispanics were not desirable tenants" and that employees maintained internal documents tracking the race of prospective tenants among Mr. Sterling's 119 apartment buildings (over 5000 apartment units). ESPN has reported that Mr. Sterling told one of his property managers that black tenants "smell" and are "not clean" and that Mexicans "just sit around and drink and smoke all day." The Justice Department's analysis showed that rentals to African American and Hispanic tenants at Mr. Sterling's properties was much lower then could be expected absent discrimination, and private lawsuits pending at the same time (and included in the settlement) claimed that Mr. Sterling's employees harassed and mistreated minority families who were already Mr. Sterling's tenants.
In addition to being a mega Los Angeles landlord and racially intolerant, Mr. Sterling is an NBA Team Owner of the Los Angeles Clippers. While his actions do not reflect well on the NBA which promotes a message of inclusiveness, the NBA as of now will not issue a statement condemning such discrimination nor launch an investigation into Mr. Sterling and his practices.
Tenant activists are pushing for the NBA to condemn racist housing discrimination and to investigate Mr. Sterling. Please sign the petition, located at www.nbashowyoucare.org.
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