HomeMy WebLinkAbout1988-FHC-leaflet Fair Housing in Lexington, Massachusetts THIS IS YOUR TOWN BOARD OF SELECTMEN
John C. Eddison
The Town of Lexington has a unique Jacquelyn R. Smith
history. Some 200 years ago, Minutemen Paul W. Marshall
stood their ground against British Leo P. McSweeney
troops in defense of freedom, and a William J. Dailey, Jr. FAIR HOUSING
battle ensued that has found its way
into many history books. TOWN MANAGER IN
Every year in April on Patriot 's Day, Richard J. White LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS
hundreds, sometimes thousands, of people
from surrounding towns make their way
to the beautiful Green in the center of FAIR HOUSING COMMITTEE
town to witness the re-enactment of Gerri Weathers, Chairperson
that battle. The statue of the Lexing- Florence Baturin
ton Minuteman stands on a corner of the James Brannon
Green and remains an attraction for Mary Haskell
thousands of tourists. Leona W. Martin
In order to maintain our proud Robert Pressman
tradition of seeking equality for all William Spencer
citizens, the Town of Lexington is Ernest T. H. Tsai
involved with solving the problem of Stephen Baran, Fair Housing
providing housing for persons of low, Director -
moderate, and fixed income. ....
As the Town, along with other cities WHAT CAN YOU DO?
and towns in the Metropolitan Boston In order to help with Fair Housing 1,
area, recognizes the shortage of such activities or to receive further
housing, it struggles with the issue of information about Fair Housing in
the availability and high cost of land Lexington, call Steve Baran at _ 1
and construction to provide that hous- 617-862-0500 or write him in care of
ing. The Town also recognizes the the Town Hall, Lexington, MA 02173.
importance of retaining long term
residents and families with children
who may be affected by increasing in-
flation and taxes. Funding provided by:
Ernest Realty Trust
With all this, the Town understands E. T. Realty Trust
the benefits of a diverse population in Merrill Lynch Realty
today's world and, therefore, ILexington Fair Housing Committee THE KEY TO DIVERSITY
affirmatively acts to promote a greater Lexington Housing Authority
racial, ethnic, and economic diversity and other local businesses.
of population in Lexington.
FAIR HOUSING IN LEXINGTON: needs be satisfied while preserving KNOW YOUR LAWS
A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE the character of the town; and by
minimizing environmental damage from Housing discrimination is prohib-
new construction or rehabilitation, ited in the Town of Lexington by the
• Housing Policy Plan Adopted in the historic and aesthetic qualities following laws:
Town Meeting April 9, 1979. of Lexington would be maintained.
The present Fair Housing Committee • The Civil Rights Act of 1866
• Fair Housing Committee is stepping up efforts to inform and (federal) prohibits all
established September, 1979. educate Lexington citizens in the discrimination on the basis of
area of Fair Housing laws and race.
practices through local and regional
• Fair Housing Plan prepared • The Civil Rights Act of 1968
seminars and distribution of printed
and presented to Selectmen in (federal) prohibits
materials.
December, 1980. discrimination in the sale or
The Fair Housing Committee will rental of housing because of
participate with other town boards race, color, creed, religion,
• Fair Housing Resolution adopted and committees; such as: , the Board national origin, or sex.
by Town Meeting on March 23, of Selectmen, the Planning Board and
1981. its Housing Advisory Committee, • Massachusetts General Laws,
Lexhab, and the Lexington Housing Chapter 151B, prohibits
THE FAIR HOUSING COMMITTEE Authority in conjunction with discrimination because of
Massachusetts Housing Partnerships race, color, creed, religion,
TheLexington Board of Selectmen further the proposals to place
national origin, sex, blind-
toness, marital status, ancestry,
Committee more affordable units throughout the
established a Fair Housing age, receipt of public
Town of Lexington.
made up of interested citizens of the assistance, or veteran status.
town in September, 1979.
If you have a concern that Fair
Through meetings and hearings with • The Fair Housing Amendments
g g g Housing rights have been violated, you
local planners, developers, real may contact a member of the Fair Hous- Act of 1988 (federal)
estate agents, and minority ing Committee, the Selectmen, or one of prohibits discrimination on
residents, the Committee explored the town officials listed on the the basis of mental or
the Town' s housing market, reverse side. physical handicap, single
Should you wish to raise an issue parents and in the sale or
occupancy patterns, zoning by-laws, or file a complaint at the state level, rental of housing to a family
and availability of subsidized the appropriate agency is the
because they have children.
housing. Massachusetts Commission Against Dis-
As a result of these efforts, the crimination (MCAD) .
Committee recommended goals, objec- di
We are proud of our democratic
tives, and action plans suggesting heritage which requires that all people
be treated equally, particularly in
that the local and regional housing their quest for housing.
EQUAL HOUSING
OPPORTUNITY