NAACP, Democratic Aids Aides Rap Newly Proposed Housing Law

NAACP, Democratic Aides Rap Newly Proposed Housing Law

The fair housing ordinance proposed by the City Council’s Committee on Housing Legislation at last night’s Council meeting came under attack today by the Ann Arbor chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

In a statement issued by Albert H. Wheeler, chairman of the local chapter’s housing committee, the ordinance was termed a “weak ordinance that fails to provide adequate protection to Negroes in their search for decent, non-segregated housing. In fact, the arbitrary application of five units owned by one person as the minimum condition of coverage is in itself discriminatory and implies that the city government proposes an ordinance that denies Negroes the same protection that white citizens enjoy.'

The local chapter called for the immediate exploration of other means of citizen-local government negotiation with view towards the preparation and passage of an equitable housing ordinance within the next two or three weeks.

Similar reaction to the proposed ordinance was expressed today by Michael J. Berla, City Democratic Party chairman. He said:

‘Upon first hearing, it seems that some of the provisions fall short of making a significant advance toward the goal of nondiscrimination in housing. This goal has been stated in the official policy of the city, urged by representatives of over 30 civic and religious groups, and supported by hundreds of citizens in the recent picketing of City Hall and current newspaper advertisements"

Berla extended an invitation to all interested citizens to attend the Thursday   evening meeting of tne Ann Arbor Democratic Party in the Public Library to consider fully the proposed ordinance.

Wheeler's statement continues:

“The Mayor and several members of the Council continue to explain their slow progress and the weak contents of the proposed ordinance on the basis that such an ordinance should be fair to all concerned parties. We find it very difficult to conceive of an ordinance that will effectively eliminate discrimination, on the one hand, and still receive support of those who discriminate, on the other.”

Wheeler cited the following! points in support of NAACP’s view 'that the the ordinance is unfair to the Negro and “unduly solicitious” of the discriminator:

1) Failure to cover the sale of all real property.

2) Failure to cover the rental in accommodations in less than five units owned by one person.

3) Exemption of all rooming

4) Inclusion of the provision that a false complaint is a misdemeanor. Not only would this tend to intimidate the Negro who might be discriminated against but it raises the very serious question of how will the victim know who owns five or more units, it is contended.

5) Recommended waiting period until Jan. 1, 1964, instead of the usual 10 days after second reading will sanction three to four months of discrimination after passage of the ordinance.

6) Added provision that penalties would not be invoked until July 1, 1964, is unique and is included to protect the financial interests of the discriminator.

7) Unprecedented proposal to withhold use of the injunction until after a person has been found guilty in the court of one previous violation of the ordinance.