Austin City Council opts to sue the state over housing discrimination beef
After months of the Texas Legislature seemingly taking shot after shot at the city of Austin, City Council is swinging back.
On Thursday, Council gave the go-ahead to Interim City Manager Elaine Hart to sue the state over a 2015 law that preempted city protections against housing discrimination for low-income residents.
Senate Bill 267 canceled out a 2014 amendment to the city’s Fair Housing Ordinance that made it illegal to refuse to sell or rent housing to anyone based on their source of income. The amendment was intended to expand opportunities for residents who receive federal Housing Choice Vouchers.
Standing in opposition to the proposed lawsuit was the Austin Apartment Association, which had also urged Council not to amend the ordinance three years ago. The group’s director of government relations, Paul Cauduro, fielded Council Member Ellen Troxclair’s question about what difficulties landlords face when they accept tenants who receive the vouchers.
Read more: https://www.austinmonitor.com/stories/2017/08/council-opts-sue-state-housing-discrimination-beef/
