NYC building turns away black tenants, lawsuit filed
A Bronx, New York landlord is being accused of discriminating against prospective black tenants.
Black renters say the landlord told them there are no vacancies available moments after telling white applicants that the building has open apartments.
This week, the housing testers for New York’s Fair Housing Justice Center took the I-Team with them behind the scenes of one investigation, sharing recordings captured by hidden microphones, that they say reveals blatant discrimination by one Bronx landlord.
“Today, housing discrimination is like a revolving door where people are politely and courteously escorted in, out of, and ultimately away from the desired housing so there’s no way they would even know they’re being discriminated against,” said Fred Freiberg, executive director of the Fair Justice Center, the nonprofit organization that employs the testers.
Fair Housing Justice filed a federal lawsuit against J.J.A. Holding Corp. The lawsuit is in regards to two buildings in the Woodlawn section of the Bronx. In both cases, audio recordings catch rental agent Ray Brij-Raj telling the black candidates that there were no vacancies, despite telling whites just before that there were some apartments available.
Under federal law, it is illegal to discriminate against anyone for housing on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, presence of children and disability.
Check back for updates.
Sound off below!