HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-121 CCR Member Dan Ryan introduced the following resolution and
moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 2014-12.1
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER TO
FILE A HUD FAIR HOUSING COMPLAINT
WHEREAS the Twin Cities region suffers from severe and persistent racial
concentrations of poverty; and
WHEREAS affordable housing in the Twin Cities region is disproportionately
located within Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and the inner-ring suburbs, where there are already large
concentrations of low-income and nonwhite families; and
WHEREAS this imbalance harms low-income and nonwhite families by
restricting their access to the employment prospects, quality education, and other opportunities
that define economically diverse,racially integrated communities; and
WHEREAS this imbalance also harms the cities and suburbs that contain
concentrations of poverty, by reducing their tax base and potentially inducing middle-class
flight; and
WHEREAS the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency and the Metropolitan
Council have helped create and administer a system that intensifies and perpetuates
concentrations of poverty by disproportionately allocating Low-Income Housing Tax Credits to
areas already containing most of the region's affordable housing; and
WHEREAS the Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul have also disproportionately
allocated Low-Income Housing Tax Credits to areas suffering severe concentrations of poverty
and segregation; and
WHEREAS the Metropolitan Council explicitly prioritizes other sources of
affordable housing funding for municipalities which have already constructed many affordable
units;and
WHEREAS, contrary to the requirements of federal law, the Metropolitan
Council has failed to review, examine, or even discuss these problems in its recent Analysis of
Impediments; and
WHEREAS the federal Fair Housing Act proscribes activities that perpetuate
racial segregation in housing, and imposes upon governmental entities receiving federal funding
a responsibility to affirmatively further fair housing;and
RESOLUTION NO. 2014-121
WHEREAS providing fair housing choice is an essential and indispensable
component of any strategy to combat the region's persistent racial concentrations of poverty and
attendant social problems.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Brooklyn Center is
authorized to file a HUD Fair Housing Complaint concerning the activities of the State of
Minnesota,its agents,the Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul,and their agents.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Brooklyn Center appoints and
retains Myron Orfield and Michael Allen as counsel for the purpose of filing this complaint.
September 8,2014
Date Mayor
ATTEST: " ",
City Clerk
The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by member
Lin Myszkowski
and upon vote being taken thereon,the following voted in favor thereof-
Tim
hereofTim Willson, Kris Lawrence-Anderson, Lin Myszkowski, and Dan Ryan;
and the following voted against the same: none;
whereupon said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted.