§ 17-135. Statement of policy.

(a)

When certain individuals are treated differently in the housing market because of racial, religious or other prejudices, the entire community suffers. Discrimination frequently denies its immediate victims their right to acquire a decent home in a safe and pleasant neighborhood. Discrimination also typically causes neighborhoods to become highly segregated and engenders instability on the fringes of such areas. This instability seriously impairs any sense of community responsibility and accelerates neighborhood decay. Neighborhood decay reduces the housing supply and deflates the tax base. Concurrently, it increases the need for government services and necessitates a higher tax rate.

(b)

Although discrimination in housing is proscribed by the United States and Illinois constitutions and by various federal laws, the problem is best handled at the local level because there is no statewide enforcement program and the federal enforcement machinery is disturbingly slow, inadequate and sometimes simply unresponsive to local needs.

(c)

In light of the above, the council hereby declares that it is the public policy of this municipality to endeavor to ensure all persons an equal opportunity to provide for themselves a home of their own choosing that is as sufficient as their individual talents, industry and circumstances may permit.

(Ord. No. 18-89, § 1-1, 3-21-89)

State law reference

Authority to enact ordinances prescribing fair housing practices, etc., Ill. Rev. Stat., Ch. 24, § 11-11.1-1.