Civil rights advocacy group ERASE Racism says a new report that alleges widespread racial discrimination against minority homebuyers on Long Island comes as the federal government has eased fair housing rules.
The Newsday report revealed how real estate agents steered minority homebuyers towards integrated neighborhoods and white homebuyers to whiter neighborhoods.
ERASE Racism President Elaine Gross says the Department of Housing and Urban Development is responsible for enforcing the Fair Housing Act, which provides protections against housing discrimination.
“There are a number of mechanisms in place, ways they can do that. However, under the current administration, they have been systematically undermining the enforcement of fair housing. We need a sea change, and that’s not going to happen until we have some high profile government action to hold people accountable.”
She says new rules from the agency will make it more difficult for minority homebuyers to address racial discrimination.
New York Attorney General Letitia James has opened an investigation into the alleged discrimination. Gross says it’s a good start, but state agencies could also be working to revoke licenses from real estate agents who violate the law.
The New York State Senate has announced committee hearings next month.
