Saturday, February 20, 2010

Did He Mean Bush? Reagan?

Two communities in the Bronx, Edgewater Park and Silver Beach Gardens have been accused of discrimination against Blacks when it comes to housing.


The areas are cooperatives where the homes are owned by the individuals but the land upon which they stand is owned collectively. As in all coops this means that in order for someone to buy a home there they must first be approved by members of the current community.


The cooperative set up a rule stating that the necessary approval must be obtained in writing from at least three residents prior to buying a home.


The communities have been around for over 20 years and it appears that there has never been an African American family living there. This could merely be a coincidence but it deserved further investigation according to the advocacy group known as the Fair Housing Justice Center.


The group filed lawsuits after a couple was turned away. The couple was actually a ‘tester’ pair sent to check up on the practice by the FHJC.


You may read the entire article and follow the issue if you like but I had to post the story because of the following line used in defense of the community.


According to the New York Times a retired construction worker and resident of Edgewater Park stated that, “If you don’t know people here you ain’t getting in, I don’t care if you’re the President.”


The prosecution rests.

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