June 19, 1967 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Session 8689 Minutes June 19, 1967 Page 14 complaints are treated in a way that they will want to bring complaints to the City and that when their complaints are received they are given very expeditious handling -- in this way, too, the real estate industry will get the idea that the City means business. Councilman Woods said that while she can see why Mr. Kohn wanted to get a Bill that was short and to the point~ she feels it would have to be amended so much to do the kind of things that Councilman Epstein's bill already does (especially with the new amendments) that the Council would be far better off to move on the other Bill and then see that it is properly implemented. Mr. Kohn said he respects Councilman Woods' views on that, but he feels it would be a terrible mistake if this Council were to pass a Bill which gives the Human Relations Commission exclusive authority to go ahead to investi- gate complaints and to decide whether complaints should be issued. He again stressed the need for direct action, and spoke of the merits of the Bill he is proposing. Councilman Epstein expressed the view that sometimes people are reluctant to report these violations and she told of a case in point. Mr. Kohn said he thinks if the civil remedy is provided, the reluctance to some extent will disappear~ and discussing this further he said the neighborhood associations have plans and they will see to it that the people enforce the law and while they are happy to have the help of the Human Relations Commission they want to have the right to do it by themselves in addition to the Human Relations Commission. ~yor Kaufman called attention to the motion on the floor to amend Bill No. 6403. At this Juncture, ~. Lewis Fowler, 7847 Milan, upon being recognized, said he has not had an opportunity to review the Bill proposed by Council- man Bamburg and ~1r. Kohn, but he has had a chance to read the amended version of Bill No. 6403. He said he wants to add his voice to that of Councilman Woods and P~. Kohn about the problem of enforcement. He said he thinks the Bill proposed by Councilman Epstein is a good Bill, but he thinks "she is asking a leopard to change its spots when she is asking the Human Relations Commission to suddenly become very active." He pointed out that almost all of the buying season of 1967 has been used up and he urged that the rest of it not be used up. Mayor Kaufman observed that it is unfortunate the Human Relations Com- mission has been the whipping boy for some time - all of the residents on the Commission are residents of University City and have the same interests in the community as other citizens in the preservation of values. He added this is a most difficult body to serve on and said he has expressed that view before. Councilman Lieberman asked wherein does the real obligation for controlling this sort of movement or regulation of business fall - does it fall within the area of the citizen making a complaint against someone who is obviously breaking the law or does this fall within the area of what has come to be known as "human relations.'~ He said there is a regulation of business here - there is no doubt about it - there is a punitive action - there is a nuisance action, but is it really a matter for a citizen to take up directly with the Police and with the court or should they go through some