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Page 12A-THE KINGS MOUNTAIN HERALD-Wednesday, April 26, 1989 Fair Housing Amendments Represents A Vital Step The Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, which took effect March 12, represents a vital step toward stamping out housing dis- crimination nationwide, according to the National Association of Realtors. The law, enacted last September, extends anti-discriminatory protec- tion to the handicapped and fami- lies with children, and strengthens the enforcement authority of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the government branch charged with administering federal fair housing laws. "The new coverage of the law, combined with the new enforce- ment system, will go a long way toward wiping out housing dis- crimination in this country. The National Association of Realtors and its members stand ready to car- ry out the letter and spirit of the new law," said NAR President Ira Gribin. Gribin noted that stronger en- forcement and a quicker process for hearing fair housing complaints were long overdue. Under the fair housing law enacted in 1986, HUD had no authority to pursue fair housing complaints if resolution through the department's concilia- tion efforts failed. Further recourse was left solely to the aggrieved party. Now, HUD is authorized to bring fair housing complaints be- fore its own administrative law judge (ALJ). Or, HUD will refer complaints to the Department of Justice (DOJ), if either the ag- grieved party, the respondent, or HUD elects a trial in a federal dis- trict court. An ALJ hearing must begin with 120 days after HUD is- sues a charge. Or, if a jury trial is requested, HUD would have to au- thorize civil action by DOJ within 30 days after the request. "The law now has the teeth it needs to do the job, and the choices to offer equitable enforcement," Gribin said. Although both NAR and civil rights groups supported a new sys- tem to expedite and strengthen en- forcement of the fair housing law, NAR questioned the constitutional- ity of the ALJ process. The jury tri- al option was viewed as the com- promise that brought NAR and the civil rights groups together in sup- port of the 1988 act, Gribin said. "We overcame our differences with the civil rights community to push for this law," Gribin said. "We are ready to work for full compli- ance. Realtors have a responsibility to offer full and equal access to housing." The full impact of the new law's coverage for families with children and for the physically and mentally impaired cannot be assessed until the law has been in effect for some time, Gribin said. The protection for the handicapped includes spe- cific design requirements for new multifamily dwellings available for first occupancy after March 13, 1991. All units in new buildings with four or more units must be ac- cessible and adaptable to wheelchair users, if the building has an elevator. In buildings with no elevators, only ground floor units are covered by the construc- tion requirements. Gribin said it will not be permis- sible to exclude the handicapped or families with children from units on upper floors of high-rise build- ings, based on the assertion that such dwellings per se would pre- sent health or safety risks. One re- sult of the coverage extended to families with children is the end of "adult-only" communities designed to appeal mainly to young, child- less professionals, he noted. The act does, however, exempt certain types of elderly housing projects from requiring access to families with children. Specifically, exempt projects would be commu- nities intended for, and solely oc- cupied by, residents aged 62 or old- er. Other exempt communities are those in which at least 80 percent of the units in a housing facility are occupied by at least one person aged 55 years of age or older, and which provide significant facilities and services designed to meet the needs of the elderly. "Nothing in the law implies that Congress sought to impose any new liability on building owners or managers," Gribin said. "But they, along with sales agents, are going to be facing entirely new situations in which housing discrimination must be avoided." Under the 1988 act, persons found guilty of violating fair hous- ing laws could, in some cases, face stiff penalties in addition to liabili- ty for damages. An ALJ would be able to award compensatory dam- ages, injunctive and other equitable relief to the aggrieved party, and impose civil penalties ranging from $10,000 to $50,000. In jury trial cases, the court could grant com- . pensatory and punitive damages as well as permanent or temporary in- junctions and other orders for affir- mative action. The 1988 amendments also strengthened the remedies provided by the 1986 law for fair housing vi- olations, removing a $1,000 cap on punitive damages awarded in court cases brought by private individu- als. Civil penalties ranging from $50,000 top $100,000, as well a monetary damages, could be im- posed in pattern of practice cases filed by DOJ. The extent of the changes in he enforcement system and the new remedies underscores the need for Congress to define fair housing, said NAR executive vice president William D. North. "We believe a clear definition should distinguish equal opportuni- ty from integration maintenance," North said. "We interpret fair hous- ing to mean freedom of choice for everyone. A person's ability to rent or own should be based solely on what they can afford.” NAR will continue to seek legis- lation prohibiting the use of race- conscious methods to achieve or maintain a certain level of integra- tion, North said. Integration main- tenance plans, now used in some localities; actually deprive individ uals who are otherwise qualified from renting or buying a unit if they are not of the race necessary to sustain the racial mix sought, he added. "Integration maintenance contra- dicts the spirit of the federal fair housing law. To the National Association of Relators, fair hous- ing is equal access," North said. The National Association of REaltors, the nation's largest trade association, represents nearly 800,000 members involved in all aspects of the real estate industry. IT'S A BOY Danny and Wendy McAbee of Kings Mountain announce the birth of their son, Daniel Lowery McAbee, March 30. The baby weighed seven pounds and 12 ounces at birth. He is the grandson of Millard and Mae Metcalf and . the late Russell and Josephine McAbee. His mother is the former J 629-6448 TRIPLE M AUTO SALES o HWY 274 « BESSERMER CITY, N.C. MIKE MAYNE & ALBERT DiFLORIO OWNERSe Ls ON THE LOT FINANCING Wendy England. 629-3247 SPEAKS TO REALTORS - Cleveland County Tax Supervisor Jim Hendricks is shown speaking at the meeting of the Kings Mountain Board of Realtors Thursday at the Holiday Inn. Hendricks demon- strated the new "compucolor" computerized tax system. Billy Joe Royal Back in 1965 at the age of 19 : Billy Joe Royal had his first bit hit. The song was "Down In The Boondocks." He was a pop super- star for the next few years, releas- ing hits like "Cheery Hill Park," "I Knew You When," and "Hush." In 1970 Billy Joe ran out to luck, the hits stopped. Royal moved to California and began working night clubs. He finally wound up in Las Vegas as a lounge act. When his contract ran out in Vegas, he worked other clubs, releasing a few records that flopped. he did a cover of the Drifters "Under The Boardwalk." It went half-way up the chart in 1978. Royal continued to look for good songs and a label that would take a chance on him. Billy found the song "Burned Like a Rocket." Still, no big label would record him. Royal put the song out on an independent label and pushed it for six months. It became big enough to get him a contract with Atlantic American Records. The song was beginning to climb the charts when space shuttle Challenger exploded in mid air. Radio stations, in respect to the as- tronauts, dropped the record. Royal cut another song "Boardwalk Angel." It bombed. His next release "I Miss You $99909466040400008490080, Wedding by 1101 W. DIXON BLVD., SHELBY, NC 482-6626 $990000009 WKMT Music Director } Lotimrilly Lem Lynch Photography ; Already" put him back on the : charts. Other hits followed, "Old Bridges Burn Slow," I'll Pin A Note On Your Pillow," and "Out Of Sight And On My Mind." Billy Joe was born in Valdosta, Ga., into a working class family who were also musicians. Royal moved to Marietta, just outside of Atlanta. At age 14 he got a job on a weekly radio shoe, "The "Alabama Jubilee." There, he worked with Ray Stevens and Jerry Reed. When the Jubilee went under a couple of years later, Royal found an unusual job. At age 16 he was the featured singer in a downtown strip joint in ~ Atlanta, Sometime between 1959 and 1961 I played the Bambo Ranch in Savannah, Georgia. I heard that both Billy Joe and Joe South were working at the club. I don't remem- ber either, and I'm sure they don't remember me. Reckon that makes us even. a Tyler Gets Honorable Mention In Showstoppers Competition Tyler Allen, clogging student of Nancy Riddle, instructor with Jane Campbell Dance Academy, recent- ly performed at Showstopper in Hickory and received honorable mention award for his solo,"Thank God, I'm A Country Boy." He participated in the six and under category and at four years of age was the youngest clogger. Tyler is the son of Timmy and Dena Allen and grandson of Bill and Betty Allen and Dean and Judy Bowen, all of Grover. He thanks his friends and family for supporting him in the competi- tion. Learn To Drive! : Now Training Men & Women On Loaded Equipment for BLANTON'S py aY Cone) gay: 02 TRAINING CENTERS TYLER ALLEN Dot Certification ¢ Job Placement Assistance Financial Assistance For Those That Qualify Day, Weekend Classes NC 1-800-522-1576 * Outside NC 1-800-255-9171 Fletcher, NC (704) 684-2595, P>O> Box 569, 28732 Concord, NC (704) 782-3146, 100 Terminal Court, 28025 Lumberton, NC (919) 720-1180, P.O. Box 808, 28254 their SHARING THE VISION Pastor Appreciation Day Sunday, April 30, 1989 Kings Mountain Church of God 111 East Parker Street You are invited to attend this special service to help us honor the Reverend and Mrs. James E. Allen and faithfulness dedication to our church. Sunday School begins at 10:00 a.m. and Morning Worship at 11:45 a.m. “COMING SOON OAK GROVE HOURS: 6:43 3:30 PRE SCHOOL 8:30 -NOON 2,3,&4 YEAR OLDS SUMMER PROGRAM PICK UP APPLICATIONS AT OAK GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH 10:00-5:00 FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 739-4833 OR 739-8308 QUALIFIED TEACHERS BEKA CURRICULUM HOT MEALS SNACKS ker KOS A ————
The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.)
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April 26, 1989, edition 1
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