Wikipedia Racial Injustice in Chicago Courts

Search results

Wednesday, August 6, 2014



Forward this conversation [

Press ?rd shortcuts.

Posted by at No comments:

Monday, August 4, 2014



Former CHA CEO Woodyard resigned amid sexual harassment allegations

November 18, 2013



Photo courtesy of CHA
Former CHA CEO Charles Woodyard.
Charles Woodyard, the former CEO of the Chicago Housing Authority, left the agency amid sexual harassment allegations, WBEZ has learned.

On Oct. 15, Woodyard abruptly resigned after two years on the job. At the time CHA released a statement that quoted Woodyard as saying “I am pursuing other opportunities that I hope will benefit my family and my career.” Woodyard added he wanted to “spend more time guiding” his teenage son. But on Oct. 14, CHA signed a $99,000 settlement agreement with a former employee. WBEZ obtained the confidential agreement.

The female employee – whose name is redacted in records – alleges that she was a victim of sexual harassment, including physical contact by Woodyard. She alleges that she continues to require medical treatment for physical and emotional distress.
CHA and Woodyard deny the allegations.

"The allegations are false. I never sexually harassed anyone," Woodyard told WBEZ.
The agreement says that one of the public housing agency’s reasons for settling is to avoid the expense and inconvenience of defending itself. The $99,000 includes back wages, attorneys’ fees and medical treatment for the former employee.

“The board took this allegation seriously, and determined it was in the best interest of the agency to settle it,” CHA board chair Z. Scott said in a statement.

In August, the female employee filed a charge of discrimination with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that said “during my employment, I was subject to sexual harassment. I complained to Respondent. Subsequently, I was disciplined and discharged. I believe that I have been discriminated against because of my sex, female, and in retaliation for engaging in protected activity.” She indicated that the latest discrimination took place in June.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel appointed Woodyard in 2011. Lewis Jordan, the previous CEO, was pushed out amid questions surrounding CHA credit card use. Woodyard had run the public housing authority in Charlotte, N.C. and has an extensive real estate background. His resignation from CHA took effect Nov. 1.

Beyond the sexual harassment allegations, there had also been concerns about how quickly Woodyard was getting things done. CHA is two years from supposedly finishing its massive original $1.6 billion Plan for Transformation, the blueprint for tearing down public housing and replacing some developments with mixed-income communities. CHA revealed Plan Forward, the second phase of the plan, this past spring. It focuses on acquiring homes in neighborhoods across the city for rehab and boosting economic activity around CHA sites.

The economy and fickle housing market have slowed down progress especially for selling market-rate units. Meanwhile, CHA promised it would rehabilitate or redevelop 25,000 units for public housing families. For fiscal year 2014, CHA plans to deliver 562 public housing units, but none of them will be on mixed-income sites. Originally, the Plan for Transformation was a five-year plan. Today, it’s supposed to be completed by 2015. That would mean the CHA would have to deliver a whopping 7,000 units by then.

Michael Merchant, former commissioner of the city Department of Buildings, is the new CEO.

Posted by at No comments:
CRAIN'S BUSINESS ARTICLE RE SUPERVOUCHERS JULY 28, 2014 POOR FAMILIES RENT IN PRICIEST BUILDINGS WAS MISLEADING:

IN THEORY THE PROGRAM WAS SUPPOSE TO PLACE QUALIFIED FAMILIES THAT MET SPECIFIC CRITERIA S GOOD CREDIT SCORES NO CRIMINAL BACKGROUNDS ETC., BUT THE REALITY IS THAT CHA AND VARIOUS BUILDINGS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST PERSONS OF COLOR PROHIBITING THEM FROM MOVING IN AREAS THAT WERE DESCRIBED AS OPPORTUNITY AREAS;

THE SUPERVOUCHER'S ARE IN THE HANDS OF CORRUPT POLITICAL CONNECTED PERSONS WHO DECIDE WHERE THEY WANT PERSONS OF COLOR TO LIVE; THEREBY, KEEPING CHICAGO SEGREGATED!    



                                                        Chicago Housing Authority
                                                            60 East Van Buren
                                                             Chicago, Ill. 60605

Attention:
Team A Madam May
Fax 312 786-6609
                                                                                                              August 3, 2014
Voucher #9727767

            NOTICE OF OFFICIAL COMPLAINT RE RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN CHA VOUCHER PROGRAM VIOLATION OF HEARING OFFICERS DIRECTIVE & MOBILITY VOUCHER FRAUD

Dear Madam:

Pursuant to Hearing Officer Fredrick H. Bates (June 11, 2014) DIRECTIVE CHA has circumvented the officers ruling by continuing to retaliate and obstruct any success of Complainant moving in any opportunity area.

That said Mobility program appears to be a front operation disguised to yield the appearance they are placing families like the Complainant in opportunity areas when in actuality whites are placed in units with vouchers, hereto attached, Quote from Streeter Place hand delivered to Candace of the Mobility program, July 31, 2014, for Melanie Toney;

When Complainant was in the other Mobility (2858 North Diversey) program which appeared to be a little better, CHA officials directed Rose Peoples to misrepresent Complainant to prevent him from moving in Streeterville (345 E. Ohio) and directed him to seek residence in Auburn Gresham!
   
A-    Melanie never responded or attempted to set up negotiations of the rents, thereby, validating the veracity said program is used to deter qualified families like the Complainant from moving into opportunity areas said obstructions are implemented so as to allow the 90 day time allotted in which to locate a unit; otherwise, the voucher will expire if a unit is not located forcing families and Complainant to move in gang crime infested areas;

B-    This is how families are systematically removed from the voucher program unlawfully as CHA attempted with my case but was unsuccessful, Hearing Officer reinstated said voucher blacks are the only persons losing their vouchers in this manner never is their whites seeking to have vouchers reinstated, allegedly this is how vouchers are sold allegedly for $1500.00 by removing qualified families from the program illegally!

C-    Leasing Agents questioned the integrity and legitimacy of the program in that they never provided documentation showing Complainant was in the Mobility program;

D-    Emailed sent (July 14, 2014) seeking Chief Hearing Officer and Hearing Officer jurisdiction CHA staff received the email along with 53 other persons nobody replied;
E-     Christine Klepper sent an email stating that the rent in Streeterville is too high, June 11, 2014; her reply, “ YOU SHOULD CONSIDER SOMETHING LESS EXPENSIVE”  
  
An email was sent to Jessie of Mobility (July 15, 2014) Verification of Units in Mobility et al; Melanie received word from CHA to move forward on 121 Chestnut;

An email was sent to Melanie Toney describing said credit scores of 716, (July 10, 2014) and continuous obstructions;

An email was sent to Melanie Toney regarding Voucher Discrimination (July 30, 2014) no reply;

Alby contributed to the Chicago Crain article (July 28, 2014) “Poor Families use supervouchers to rent in cities priciest buildings” is most suspicious because Melanie,

Jessie and Chris Klepper said they had no knowledge of any African Americans being accepted in those units, implies that whites are taking advantage of vouchers using them in opportunity areas, while members of Mobility were steering me to move in Englewood away from opportunity areas because CHA’s Mobility program is an unlawful front disguised to steal money from the Federal government; hereto attached, April 14, 2014 article “Woman alleges housing voucher discrimination in pricey Chicago buildings;

The Chicago’s Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights under law issued a report that found rampant racial discrimination in housing;
A-    New report reveals pervasive discrimination in housing voucher program, (April 1, 2014)
 
Congressman Aaron Schock issued a press release (July 28, 2014) Investigation into Chicago Housing Authority “Supervoucher” program.

CHA settled a sexual harassment lawsuit against former CHA CEO Charles Woodyard for $99,000.00 but is continuously discriminating against the Complainant in heinous manners because they have so many politicians in their back pockets and have no regard for the laws.
A-    CHA allegedly had a maintenance person or secretary to impersonate the position of a Commissioner of the City of Chicago Human Relations as they prepared the document and tried to Dismiss the Racial Discrimination Charges against CHA and 345 East Ohio, (March 18, 2014) case #13 H-73 so as to demonstrate their incompetence a signature was required but because of the plethora of “FRAUD” involved they were hoping nobody paid attention to the fraud;

B-    Reliable sources indicate some heavy personnel in CHA are affiliated with individuals in a Bogus paternity case 88 D 079012 in which white racist politically connected judges tried protecting one another with court orders never signed as favors not realizing, I was never the father of a woman’s child who was impregnated by another man, they thought destroying the original court file 85 D 068184 with a court signature DISMISSING the paternity suit made fraud a success;

C-    The person involved is providing Jr. on CHA documents and works in personnel only Jr. is not recorded on any of Complainant’s license or legal documents, now where did Jr. Come from?  











                                                                                  Respectfully submitted

                                                                                   Joe Louis Lawrence





CC Chg. FBI (Corey B. Nelson), OIG (HUD), Cong Aaron Schock, Crain’s Business, Alby Gallun, WBEZ, Natalie Moore, Sec of Housing, Julian Castro, Media


Posted by at No comments:

Friday, August 1, 2014



Woman alleges housing voucher discrimination in pricey Chicago buildings

April 14, 2014

Tiara is a African-American mother of two small children who longed for a better Chicago public school for her six-year-old son.
Last year, Tiara decided to move out of Bronzeville and began searching for apartments in the pricey River North area.

But when she mentioned she had a housing choice voucher, or Section 8, landlords told Tiara they wouldn’t take her voucher. A few places said “yes” over the phone. So she’d arrive on time, with a paycheck stub and a rental deposit. But no matter -- Tiara says those places rejected her too.
(Courtesy of the CHA)
CHA Opportunity Area Map
Tiara is painfully shy and asked that her last name not be used. As she recounted her story, Tiara dabbed her teary eyes with a tissue.
“I’ve never experienced anything like this. I couldn’t believe it. It still took me awhile to like really come to the fact that I was discriminated against. That hurt so bad,” she said.
Tiara filed complaints against four property owners and management companies with the Chicago Commission on Human Relations. The complaints are currently under review.

Tiara’s allegations aren’t occurring in a vacuum. Earlier this month, the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law issued a report that found rampant racial discrimination in housing.

Tens of thousands of Chicago families rent in the private market using a housing voucher. Renters with vouchers only have to pay a portion of their rent. The Chicago Housing Authority administers the program and picks up the rest. CHA has been criticized for putting families in poor segregated neighborhoods in the city.
In 2011, the public housing agency started a mobility program. In very limited cases, CHA will pay more in rent if a family moves to so-called “opportunity areas.” About 10 percent of voucher holders are in this program.

Opportunity areas are communities with fewer than 20 percent in poverty and low-subsidized housing saturation. That’s how Tiara was able to consider high rises with monthly rents upwards of $3,000 a month.

“It allows families an opportunity to explore areas of the city that they might not otherwise be familiar with,” said Mary Howard, executive vice president of resident services for CHA.
Many neighborhoods with the highest number of vouchers also have the highest poverty and crime rates in the city.

“Families that live in opportunity areas on average have higher earnings than those that do not live in opportunity areas,” Howard said. She added that these areas can have higher retention rates. “So that once a family does move and becomes integrated in their new community, that they’re not moving is success.”

In segregated Chicago, North Side neighborhoods may seem inaccessible for some families in the voucher program. There can be feelings of isolation. CHA has mobility counselors who try to alleviate those concerns.

But that was never an issue for Tiara. She said in her case it was pushback from the rental community. It’s illegal for Chicago landlords to say at the outset that they won’t take Section 8 vouchers.

Danielle McCain is an attorney with the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and she represents Tiara.

“We want her voice heard as a voucher holder. We want these landlords to have to address these issues. Whatever damages we’re able to recover, those are ways in which we can influence landlords going forward not to have conduct such as this in the future,” McCain said.

McClain said housing voucher discrimination is common, and not just in affluent areas. She pointed to her group’s recent report as evidence, but also says a lot of discrimination goes unreported.
As for Tiara, she eventually found a happy ending in a Streeterville apartment building that accepted her voucher.

“I love it,” Tiara said. “You have parks everywhere. You have bus stops everywhere. You have stores, easy to get to. Healthy food. Healthy food almost everywhere. So it’s more like convenience.”
And most importantly, Tiara said, her six-year-old son attends a high-performing public school. And he’s thriving.
is WBEZ’s South Side Bureau reporter. nmoore@wbez.org
Posted by at No comments:


New report reveals pervasive discrimination in housing voucher program

April 1, 2014

(WBEZ/Natalie Moore)
Sign for an apartment that takes a housing choice voucher.
 
The Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law spent two years investigating discrimination in the subsidized housing market and found rampant racial discrimination.
Subsidized housing vouchers, commonly referred to as Section 8, allow families to rent in the private market. A new report outlines the discrimination.

To assess fair housing practices, trained investigators posing as potential tenants inquire about availability, terms and conditions to assess compliance. White and black testers, with comparable backgrounds, tried to rent from landlords.

Landlords already participating in the voucher program discriminated against tenants based on race 33 percent of the time, most commonly by steering them to other buildings or neighborhoods. This also happened based on disabilities 44 percent of the time and against families with children 25 percent of the time.

Landlords in opportunity areas - places with low poverty - who were not participating in the Chicago Housing Authority’s voucher program discriminated against white testers with vouchers 55 percent of the time. In 39 percent of the tests, landlords directly refused to rent to them. And a little more than half of the landlords who told white testers that they accepted vouchers discriminated against African American testers who said they had vouchers. Opportunity areas are an important tool to break up segregation in the housing market; voucher holders tend to be clustered in low-income, segregated black communities.

“Race is still a pressing concern within the city of Chicago and within our region. Even though this happened specifically within Chicago, it’s probably not a surprise to any of us that it’s probably the reality going even beyond that scope,” said Morgan Davis, executive director of the Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance.

The study was conducted for the CHA. In a statement, the agency said it takes allegations of fair housing violations very seriously and “educates owners, property managers and participants to ensure that federal, state and local fair housing laws are adhered upon. CHA also assists the Chicago Commission on Human Relations in its investigations of potential housing discrimination cases and/or fair housing violations.”
Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)