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Affordable housing developer sues town for discrimination
Concern for Independent Living, a nonprofit focused on affordable housing, has sued the Town of Southampton for blocking its planned Liberty Gardens project, which would provide 50 units of affordable and supportive housing, including for veterans. The lawsuit alleges that… Read More
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New York State pauses $3M fair housing testing program
The New York attorney general’s fair housing testing program has hit a delay, leaving unused up to $3 million in real estate license fees and penalty payments dedicated to the effort. Nine months after the new program was tentatively expected… Read More
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Residential real estate was confronting a racist past. Then came the commission lawsuits
Late in 2020, the National Association of Realtors issued an unusual statement – an apology. “NAR initially opposed passage of the Fair Housing Act in 1968, and at one time allowed the exclusion of members based on race or sex,”… Read More
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Suffolk landlord agrees to pay more than $105G to settle racial, disability discrimination lawsuit
The settlement resolves claims of racial and disability discrimination against five Suffolk County apartment complexes, with the companies agreeing to pay $105,000 to Long Island Housing Services, conduct monitoring for three years, and reach confidential settlements with other plaintiffs, shedding… Read More
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Another broker settles Section 8 discrimination case
Real estate agent Pasquale Marciano, owner of Century 21 Marciano, settled for $40,000 with the New York Attorney General after his agents allegedly rejected undercover investigators posing as Section 8 housing voucher holders. Marciano must now implement anti-discrimination measures, advertise… Read More
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NYS Human Rights Law statute of limitations extended to three years, effective February 15, 2024
On November 17, 2023, Governor Hochul signed legislation that extends the statute of limitations for discrimination and retaliation claims under the New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL) from one year to three years. Previously, this longer timeframe was only… Read More
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Smithtown landlord settles income discrimination complaint
Harbour Club LLC, owner of a Smithtown apartment complex, settled a familial status and source of income discrimination complaint with Long Island Housing Services (LIHS), agreeing to pay $19,500 in damages, implement a non-discriminatory fair housing policy, display compliance with… Read More
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Seaford landlord settles income-source discrimination complaint
The Long Island Business News reported that Long Island Housing Services recently settled complaints of housing discrimination on the basis of lawful source of income against the owner of a 2-family home on Long Island. The owner allegedly told testers… Read More
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Former landlord settles income source discrimination case
Former owners of Holbrook’s Saddle Rock Apartments settled a housing discrimination complaint regarding source-of-income bias for $30,000. Long Island Housing Services filed the complaint against Saddle Rock Apartments, LLC and Sun Lakes Development Corp., former owners of the 310-unit complex.… Read More