Posted on 08/23/2005 5:23:44 AM PDT by Happy2BMe
Landlord sues town, citing discrimination
Associated Press
WEST PALM BEACH - A landlord whose hurricane-damaged apartments were condemned sued the town of Jupiter for more than $2.6 million in damages on Monday, alleging discrimination against his Hispanic immigrant tenants.
John F. White, who bought the 30-unit Young Apartments complex in March 2000, said he was immediately subjected to harassment and "excessive and selective inspections" because he rented to "a politically unpopular group," according to the suit. One code violation cited an "inoperable car," which was a $50,000 vehicle that had a flat tire for less than 24 hours, the suit said.
Tony Carpentiere, Jupiter's deputy building official, said the units were not condemned but labeled uninhabitable, as were apartments and homes throughout the town that were excessively damaged by the September hurricanes.
"It sounds like someone filing a lawsuit in response to legitimate government activities," said town attorney Thomas Baird.
The lawsuit alleges that Jupiter residents are increasingly complaining about the growing number of Hispanic immigrants in the area. As many as 3,000 immigrants have moved to the town to seek construction work in residential areas. When town officials began discussing creating a neighborhood resource center where migrants could gather to seek day labor jobs, one group of residents, called Jupiter Neighbors Against Illegal Labor, repeatedly protested, arguing that taxpayer money was being used to support illegal immigration.
Baird said any comments by residents that are discriminatory "are not reflective of the Town Council or the Town Administration."
But the lawsuit alleges that town officials violated the constitutional rights of White and his tenants by showing "ill will" toward "an undesirable population." The suit says police also violated the Fourth Amendment in January when they forcibly entered White's apartments at 5:30 a.m. without notice or search warrants, and awoke his sleeping tenants, the suit says. Police were enforcing a new ordinance that allows no more than five people who are not all related by blood or marriage to live in a housing unit.
White's property was under contract in December for $3.75 million but because of the harassment and continued violations, the buyer canceled the deal, which would have earned White more than a $2.6 million profit. His 30 apartments rent for between $800 and $1,000 a month.
"In responding to citizen complaints and attempting to deal with this perceived issue, the town tried to drive him out of business," White's attorney, Larry Stumpf said. He said all 14 of the damaged properties have since been repaired.
Will the same bunch who got the rancher's land in Texas and gave it to illegal aliens get this case?
===========================================
A landlord whose hurricane-damaged apartments were condemned sued the town of Jupiter for more than $2.6 million in damages on Monday, alleging discrimination against his Hispanic immigrant tenants.
==============================================
The lawsuit alleges that Jupiter residents are increasingly complaining about the growing number of Hispanic immigrants in the area.As many as 3,000 immigrants have moved to the town to seek construction work in residential areas.
When town officials began discussing creating a neighborhood resource center where migrants could gather to seek day labor jobs, one group of residents, called Jupiter Neighbors Against Illegal Labor, repeatedly protested, arguing that taxpayer money was being used to support illegal immigration.
I think the State of Texas should sue the government of Mexico for a few billion for refusing to stop the flow of illegal aliens.
If you really want to get things done, put a bounty on illegal aliens - monetary rewards for simply turning them and those that hire them in for breaking federal immigration laws.
I told my husband this morning that if we would try and defend our home, we would lose it to the illegals and they would gain citizenship because I refused to open the door to them. What a world George Bush, the Republicans and Democrat Rats have brought on us. American citizens no longer have rights. Our Constitution is dead as well as the Bill of Rights have been transfered to the illegals. Thanks, idiots in our government.
My grandmother told me that this would eventually happen, once they let that Burt Reynolds move in. She dated all activities in Jupiter - Tequesta as before Burt or after Burt. She was convinced that he was the one who brought in all of the crime to the area.
Of course, she's been dead since the mid 1980s.
Not sure about him.
"Baird said any comments by the town that are discriminatory..."
Like using the term "illegal aliens" to describe ILLEGAL ALIENS!
" Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free" -- Ronald Reagan
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.