HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Human Relations Commission - 11/07/1996 A
MINUTES
OF THE
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION MEETING
November 7, 1996
Commissioners Present Commissioners Absent
Rev. Willie Davila Nancy Somers
Anna M. Mercado Leonides Bazar
Ms. Lena D. Coleman Errol Summerlin
Mr. Harold Williams, Jr.
Rabbi Paul Joseph Staff Present
Corina Garcia Helen R. Gurley
Ruthie Caraway
Adell Lucas
The Reverend Willie Davila, Chair of the Human Relations Commission, called the regular monthly
meeting to order at 6:30 p.m., a quorum was not present. He called for a motion to suspend the
regular agenda to allow the speakers to begin their program. Motion passed.
CHAIRS' COMMENTS
In calling the meeting to order, the chair mentioned the fact that the Commission needed another
commissioner for a quorum. However, he said that since the main agenda included a public hearing
on fair housing, the hearing could begin. He then went on to say that when a quorum was present,
the commission would handle an issue that is on the agenda on which a vote is needed.
The Chair also shared with the Commissioners and audience his agenda on fair housing: He said that
for quite sometime the Commission has wanted to develop a program in fair housing. He visualizes
the program to provide training and enforcement in this area. To provide this program to the
community, the Commission will need to present to the City Council changes in the housing
ordinance. These changes will help the Commission in becoming substantial equivalency to the
federal fair housing statute.
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NEW BUSINESS
At approximately 7:30 P.M., Commissioner Rabbi Paul Joseph arrived. Upon his arrival, the Chair
called for the Commission to reconvene to the business portion of the meeting as a quorum was
present. He called for the following action item:
1. Requests to issue a subpoena for information against a Respondent
Dr. Gurley made a request to the Commissioners to write the issuance of a subpoena. She wanted
to issue the subpoena to a Respondent who has failed, since December 23, 1994 to respond to the
Commission's request for information. She said, the charging party filed his claim of discrimination
on June 17, 1994, and the Respondent acknowledged having received it on July 18, 1996. The
Department sent its first request for information to the Respondent on December 23, 1994. She
further said that on October 11, 1995 the second request was sent, and the third request was mailed
on February 5, 1996. Yet, the Respondent has chosen to ignore these requests for the same
information, and without this information, the department cannot complete a thorough investigation
`, into the charge of discrimination.
The Chair asked for a motion to approve the Director's request to issue a subpoena. The
Commissioners approved the motion.
PUBLIC HEARING 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Topic: Fair Housing
Dr. Helen Gurley introduced Mr. Gregory Bernard King, as the Director of the Southwest Fair
Housing Enforcement Center in Fort Worth.
Mr. King discussed the departmental priorities and case processing for his center. He discussed the
newly instituted policies established by Secretary Henry Cisneros. He said that some of these
priorities included housing the homeless,the expansion of decent, safe and affordable housing for the
low income individuals despite the person's race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status,
or disability. Mr. King said that the enforcement center investigated complaints of discriminations
filed under various Civil Rights statutes. These statutes included the enforcement of the Fair Housing
Act, the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (which prohibits discrimination in programs that
receives federal financial assistance) and the Community Block Grant Program and Public Housing
Authorities. Other statutes included the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination
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on the bases of disability, providing if the program receives federal financial assistance. Also two
additional statutes that his center was responsible for the enforcement were: Section 109 Housing
and Urban Developmem Act of 1974. This Act prohibited discrimination based on race, color, sex,
national origin or disability in programs that receive Community Development Block Grant funds,
and finally, the American with Disabilities Act under Title II.
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Dr. Helen Gurley introduced the seconded speaker. She said that John Benavides was the Fair
Housing Supervisor for the Texas Commission on Human Rights.
Mr. Benavides gave an overview of the Texas Commission's Enforcement Unit on fair housing. He
offered to help the Commissioners in developing a substantial equivalent ordinance and said the state
had a model that we could use. Benavides further told the group that the Texas Commission on
Human Rights has a memorandum of understanding with the Department Housing and Urban
Development to investigate cases of discrimination. Mr. Benavides, also said that their Commission
processing of cases is done in the same as the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
A citizen from the community asked questions about the Eight Eleven(811) City Home Program for
disabling persons. He said that someone needed to investigate the City's Leadership regarding the
411, discrimination involved in the program. Other citizens requested that an investigation into the City's
Public Housing Authority based on discrimination needed to be done. Also, several citizens
mentioned that the Human Relations Commission should have an ordinance that would prohibit
retaliation against employees and residents. Several persons feared retaliation because they attended
a meeting to hear discussions about Fair housing, and/or equal employment opportunities. They went
on to say that many persons who wanted to attend tonight's meeting did not. They said that the
housing authority's staff had advised these individuals not to attend tonight's meeting if they wanted
to keep their apartment.
The community wide meeting adjourned approximately 8:45 p.m.
Rev. Willie Davila, Chairperson Date Minutes Approved
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