title
HOUSING DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINTS HUD CASE NO. 04-04-1139-8 SCHWANNA SMITH V. KENNEDY HOMES; HUD CASE NO. 04-04-1140-8 CLARETTA BAILEY V. KENNEDY HOMES; HUD CASE NO. 04-04-1141-8 TAHASI FOMBEY V. KENNEDY HOMES; HUD CASE NO. 04-04-1167-8 VANESSA GREEN V. KENNEDY HOMES; HUD CASE NO. 04-04-1298-8 ANTOINETTE WILLIAMS V. KENNEDY HOMES (B)
recommendation
The City Commission authorize the City Attorney to represent the City in
Housing Discrimination Complaints HUD Case No. 04-04-1139-8 Schwanna Smith v. Kennedy Homes; HUD Case No. 04-04-1140-8 Claretta Bailey v. Kennedy Homes; HUD Case No. 04-04-1141-8 Tahasi Fombey v. Kennedy Homes; HUD Case No. 04-04-1167-8 Vanessa Green v. Kennedy Homes; HUD Case No. 04-04-1298-8 Antoinette Williams v. Kennedy Homes.
explanation
Between August 11 and 12, 2004, the City of Gainesville received five Housing Discrimination Complaints from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Ms. Schwanna Smith, Ms. Claretta Bailey, Ms. Tahasi Fombey, Ms. Vanessa Green and Ms. Antoinette Williams, former or current residents of Kennedy Homes, alleges that repairs were not made to their property due to their race. Plaintiffs also allege that some type of conspiracy exists between the City and AIMCO in regard to code enforcement.
In addition to naming Kennedy Homes and AIMCO personnel, the complaints named the City Manager and former Mayor, Thomas D. Bussing. However, the City does not own, operate, or manage the property and has no responsibility to make repairs to Kennedy Homes, a privately owned property. Further, the City completed a full inspection of all the Kennedy Home units.