This article was originally published on the Marijuana Patients Organization site on August 15, 2013.
While information is sparse, a formal complaint against Jackson city council woman Laura Dwyer Schlecte should be delivered to the State Real Estate Board shortly. The council member, also a licensed real estate broker, drafted and voted an ordinance that excludes medical marijuana cultivation for licensed patients in the city of Jackson, MI.
Housing discrimination is usually disguised and more often than not, it is done with a smile and a handshake. Mrs. Schlecte’s media and open session comments suggested blockbusting, a no-no for the real estate field and a clear violation of the Civil Rights Act and Persons With Disabilities Civil Rights Act.
“Having medical marijuana in a neighborhood also decreases property values” stated the councilwoman despite the fact that all Jackson communities have experienced appreciation since passage of the MMMA (source Jackson County Board of Realtors).
Laura Schlecte said “The statistics out there are 52% of our properties in the city of Jackson are non-owner occupied.” This fact explained by Mrs. Schlecte leads to property value declines, not the presence of a protected-class of people (marijuana patients).
Mrs. Schlecte’s several disparaging and grossly misleading remarks to the members of the Jackson city council and listeners to her weekly “Thinking Real Estate” radio program may have no consequence, especially in the court of public opinion, but her violations of the Civil Rights Act and State Real Estate Codes of Conduct will be investigated formally.
Blockbusting: (“PANIC-PEDDLING”)The unlawful practice of blockbusting is defined as intentionally trying to induce another person to transfer an interest in real estate or discourage that person from purchasing by referring to persons of any particular race, color, sex, religion or national origin, or in any way suggest that the presence of such persons will lower property values, change the racial, religious, or ethnic character of the block, neighborhood or area where the property is located, increase criminal or antisocial behavior in the area or cause a decline in the quality of the local schools.
Congress has declared that blockbusting “cheats homeowners, increases interracial tensions, promotes neighborhood instability and creates ghettos, which do harm to the citizens of Michigan and that it promotes panic, fear and hate for purposes of financial profit.” Blockbusting is always illegal, whether or not the blockbuster is acting for monetary gain. A person who violates the provisions of this law can be found guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction subject to fine and/or imprisonment.
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES CIVIL RIGHTS ACT
P.A. 220 of 1976, as amended
37.1506 Prohibited representations.
Sec. 506. A person shall not represent, for the purpose of inducing a real estate transaction from which he or she may benefit financially or otherwise, that a change has occurred or will or may occur in the composition with respect to persons with disabilities of the owners or occupants in the block, neighborhood, or area in which the real property is located, or represent that this change will or may result in the lowering of property values, an increase in criminal or antisocial behavior, or a decline in the quality of schools in the block, neighborhood, or area in which the real property is located.
History: 1976, Act 220, Eff. Mar. 31, 1977 ;–Am. 1998, Act 20, Imd. Eff. Mar. 12, 1998 .
37.1502 Owners, persons engaging in real estate transactions, real estate brokers, and real estate salesmen; prohibited conduct.
(f) Make, print, circulate, post, or mail or cause to be made or published a statement, advertisement, or sign, or use a form of application for a real estate transaction, or make a record of inquiry in connection with a prospective real estate transaction, which indicates, directly or indirectly, an intent to make a limitation, specification, or discrimination with respect to a real estate transaction.
37.1102 Opportunity guaranteed; civil right; accommodation of person with disability; undue hardship.
Sec. 102. (1) The opportunity to obtain employment, housing, and other real estate and full and equal utilization of public accommodations, public services, and educational facilities without discrimination because of a disability is guaranteed by this act and is a civil right.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in article 2, a person shall accommodate a person with a disability for purposes of employment, public accommodation, public service, education, or housing unless the person demonstrates that the accommodation would impose an undue hardship.
History: 1976, Act 220, Eff. Mar. 31, 1977 ;–Am. 1980, Act 478, Imd. Eff. Jan. 20, 1981;- Am. 1990, Act 121, Imd. Eff. June 25, 1990 ;–Am. 1998, Act 20, Imd. Eff. Mar. 12, 1998.
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FILE A COMPLAINT. YOUR RIGHTS MAY HAVE BEEN VIOLATED BY MRS SCHLECTE more>>
http://www.lauradwyerschlecte.com/
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dleg/redbook_217577_7.pdf
http://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,4601,7-154-35299_61343_35395_35396-139958–,00.html
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