Clips owner allegedly wouldn't rent to blacks

[BigSqwert]

Link

 

Clips owner allegedly wouldn't rent to blacks

U.S. Department of Justice sues Sterling for alleged practices in Koreatown

 

LOS ANGELES - The U.S. Department of Justice on Monday sued Los Angeles Clippers owner and real estate mogul Donald Sterling for housing discrimination, claiming he refused to rent apartments to blacks and families with children.

 

Federal prosecutors contend that Sterling, his wife, Rochelle, and their family trust refused to rent to many prospective tenants, treated them poorly and misrepresented the availability of apartments to them in the city’s Koreatown section.

 

The defendants also are accused of refusing to rent to black prospective tenants in Beverly Hills as well as families with children looking to rent apartments that the defendants owned or managed in Los Angeles County.

 

“Here in Los Angeles, where housing is already at a premium, it is imperative that no one be denied housing simply because of their skin color, ethnic background or because they have children,” said U.S. Attorney Debra Wong Yang.

 

A message left with attorney Michael Kennick, who has represented Sterling in previous lawsuits, was not immediately returned Monday.

 

Claiming violations of the federal Fair Housing Act, the lawsuit seeks an end to “discriminating on account of race, national origin and familial status,” plus unspecified monetary damages and penalties. The lawsuit also names as defendants the Sterling Family Trust and the Korean Land Company, which owns multifamily rental properties throughout the county.

 

In November, a federal judge ordered Sterling to pay nearly $5 million in fees to plaintiffs’ attorneys in a lawsuit accusing him of discriminating against black and Hispanic tenants.

 

The case — filed by attorneys including the nonprofit Housing Rights Center for 19 plaintiffs — resolved with a financial settlement that the judge described as “one of the largest ever obtained in this type of case,” though the terms were not disclosed.

 

The 2003 lawsuit alleged that Sterling tried to drive out tenants, particularly blacks and Hispanics, at apartments he owned in Koreatown.

[Texsox]

Two ideals are in conflict with me.

 

1. Discrimination is wrong.

2. Being forced to rent your property to anyone, seems wrong as well.

 

For example, let's say a property owner decided as a concept to create a building that catered to Japanese businessmen who are sent to the US on two year assignments. (many maquilla employees are like this) He decorates the building in a manner that would be comfortable for Japanese with signs in that language, etc., and now wants to have mostly or all Japanese tenents. He believes this will result in a higher occupancy rate and greater profit margins. He believes that these businessmen will be more willing to rent his place and he can charge more if it is a "little" Japan.

 

That doesn't seem wrong to me until someone is denied housing. Then I'd be outraged at the discrimination.