Author Archive | Craig Waletzko

New York Fair Housing Network Responds to Enactment of New Laws STATEWIDE COALITION COMMENDS GOVERNOR, LEGISLATORS Below is a joint statement issued this week by the New York Fair Housing Network in response to new statewide fair housing legislation being signed into law:   New York, NY – January 7, 2022 – On Tuesday, December […]

FHJC Reaches Disability Discrimination Settlement Against Adult Care Facilities  DECISION MARKS ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT VICTORY FOR PEOPLE WHO USE WHEELCHAIRS The Fair Housing Justice Center (FHJC) has reached a settlement with four assisted living facilities in a lawsuit challenging discrimination against people with disabilities, particularly wheelchair users. The case stemmed from complaints by residents of adult […]

Nine New Fair Housing Laws Signed by Governor Hochul LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE SPURRED BY LONG ISLAND DIVIDED Two years after Newsday’s landmark investigative report Long Island Divided uncovered the discriminatory practices of real estate agents and companies on Long Island, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has signed into law a package of laws designed to combat […]

FHJC Releases “Less Than or Equal To” NEW FILM INSPIRED BY REAL LIFE STORIES OF HOUSING DISCRIMINATION “≤” [Less Than or Equal To], which premiered at an online event in September 2021, is now available to the public on the website of the Fair Housing Justice Center (FHJC). The newly produced original film is a collection […]

Settlement Reached in Disability Lawsuit Against Operator of Assisted Living Program WHEELCHAIR USERS WILL NO LONGER BE EXCLUDED AT EAST HARLEM FACILITY Today, the Fair Housing Justice Center (FHJC) announced a settlement that resolves a federal lawsuit against Vista on 5th Corporation, owners and operators of the Vista on 5th Assisted Living Program, a twelve-story facility located at 1261 5th Avenue. […]

Settlement Reached in Disability Lawsuit Against Operator of Residential Treatment Facilities  AGREEMENT ENSURES DEAF PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO INTERPRETERS AND OTHER AUXILIARY AIDS AND SERVICES The Fair Housing Justice Center (FHJC) announced today that a settlement has been reached in a federal lawsuit filed in the Southern District of New York (SDNY) alleging disability discrimination by Odyssey House, Inc. […]

FHJC Welcomes New Executive Director LEADERSHIP TRANSITION AND ORGANIZATIONAL GROWTH The Board of Directors of the Fair Housing Justice Center (FHJC) is pleased to announce the hiring of Elizabeth Grossman as its new Executive Director. Ms. Grossman comes to the FHJC directly from her position as Interim Chief Legal Officer at the Southern Poverty Law Center. Her extensive […]

Fair Housing Accessibility Case Settled DEFENDANTS AGREE TO RETROFIT TWO RENTAL BUILDINGS IN MANHATTAN AND BROOKLYN AND PAY $1.45 MILLION On October 30, 2021, federal Judge Gregory H. Woods signed an order agreeing to retain court jurisdiction to enforce a settlement agreement between the Fair Housing Justice Center (FHJC), developer defendants Gotham Organization Inc., Bam […]

Settlement Announced in Borough Park Race Discrimination Lawsuit COURT-ORDERED AGREEMENT INCLUDES INJUNCTIVE RELIEF AND $120,000 RECOVERY On September 21, 2021, a settlement was announced in a race discrimination lawsuit the Fair Housing Justice Center (FHJC) brought against 1137 63rd Street LLC and building owner/manager Kostas Paxis. The federal lawsuit, filed in November 2019 by the […]