07/08/1991 Regular - Laserfiche WebLink

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Session 1550, Minutes July 8, 1991 Page 9 He suggested that "Sold" signs are not an i.rrlication of flight but of vitali- ty, and he felt the nearly 200 real estate agents who live in University City would agree. He thought the six IlDnth trial period was reasonable. He said the Board abides by the Code of Fair HousinJ approved by the U. s. Justice Deparbnent, and he did not recall a time in the last 20 years when a griev- ance was received from any community, includi..rg University City. '!here is a listinJ service, he said, and all properties for sale through realtors are listed in that source and are available for perusal. He said steerinJ is il- legal, and the Board wanted people to live where they wished. He added that many programs have been instituted over the years to ensure that all buyers and sellers are treated fairly. He urged the Council to pass the ordi.nances. Ms. Elsie Glickert, 6712 Etzel, said Mr. strada! represents the Real Estate Board and is therefore biased, and she repeated an earlier assertion that while property north of Olive may be listed in the conp.lter, realtors do not brinJ white buyers into that area. She said the Board was asking University City to relax its rules, but there was no benefit to the City. She felt "Sold" signs were siIrply publicity for the real estate agent. She said there should be a public hearinJ on the solicitation bill since it affects the health and welfare of the community. She also believed that the Board was not policinJ its agents because people must ask to be shown property here. Ms. Sophia Buckner, 6527 crest, said she was frightened at the ProsPeCt of real estate agents beinJ able .to solicit for the purpose of leasinJ, rentinJ or buyinJ property. She felt that agents have separated white University City from black University City and that they will do blockbustinJ allover again, just as they did in the 60s and 70s. She was concemed that a ghetto will be created even though the City has never actually had one before. Mr. Stradal was asked to return to the microphone. Mr. Price said he felt that homes in black neighborhoods do sell for less money than similar homes in white neighbo:d100ds, and also that realtors steer white buyers away from neighborhoods with a predominantly black IXJPUlation, contrary to Mr. stra- da! 's statements. Mr. Price said he agreed with the six-llDnth trial period. As for IlDnitorin:J, he noted that UCRS can detennine who is buyinJ homes in any given geographic location, and that will help decide if what Mr. strada! is sayinJ is true. Mr. Price said he was somewhat offended at the way Mr. stradal presented the Real Estate Board's position, as though the City had to accept the situation whether they liked it or not. Mr. strada! apologized, sayinJ Mr. Price's ccmnents were similar to many he has heard for the last 23 years, in that everyone blamed. realtors for the lack of integration in the neighborhoods. He said the Board was completely open to suggestions for solving this problem. He said steerinJ was illegal eveJ:YWb.ere and the Board wanted to know if it was goinJ on in order to take action; however, it carmot tak.e action until there are complaints. He said buyers are completely free to look at every heme in the Multiple ListinJ Ser- vice and agents are legally obligated to show buyers any property they wish to see. He felt the Board was doing all it could to see that its mexnbers obey the law. Mr. Price enphasized that there must be an open market so that everyone has