Fair Housing / Lending News

George Willborn, popular comedian and radio personality, claims he was denied the purchase of a ahouse by a white couple, Daniel and Adrienne Sabbia, selling their chicago home because of his race. On August 10, 2010, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced that the couple along with their real estate agent Jeffrey Lowe will be charged with violating fair housing law. The the Willborns state the couple demonstrated "strange behaviour" during the house tour, and are accused of postponing negotiations although the Wilborns made a $1.7 million offer, the highest the sellers had received during the two years the home was on the market. Further, the Sabbias allegedly took the property off the market to avoid selling to the Wilborns. The real estate agent Jeffrey Lowe told government officials that the Sabbias did not want to sell to African Americans. Wilborn filed the complaint in January, it was amended in March and July. The cases will be heard before an ...

Kagan’s questionable history protecting tenant’s rights: Supreme Court candidate Elena Kagan’s position on housing discrimination is unclear to some; however, a closer look into her past opinions may provide some insight. In a case brought by tenants in Chico, California, Kagan stood in clear support of the landlord who refused to rent to a couple because they were unmarried and because it went against the landlord’s beliefs. The Supreme Court decided in favor of the tenants, but Kagan recommended that the Clinton Administration urge the Court to decide in favor of the landlord. Although Kagan has attempted to distance herself from such decisions, it begs the question whether or not this ideological position may resurface. Kagan’s past position in favor of religious freedom over the rights of tenants, who stand to suffer housing discrimination due to such individuals “beliefs”, is worrisome. This position leaves a dangerous opportunity for other types of discrimination such as race, se...