Politics & Government

Fair Housing Workshop

The Santa Monica City Attorney’s Consumer Protection Unit has announced a comprehensive campaign for the month of April to improve community awareness of the fair housing laws and to help eliminate housing discrimination in the city. April is National Fair Housing Month and the 44th Anniversary of the 1968 Fair Housing Act.

The City’s fair housing awareness campaign includes the following:

Fair Housing Poster Contest: 241 elementary and junior high students from across Santa Monica participated in the City’s annual Fair Housing Poster Contest, creating colorful works that featured the 2012 theme, “Fair Housing For You and Me.” Diane Varady from the City Attorney’s office said that a panel of six judges had the tough but enjoyable task of selecting nine finalists from the 241. The nine finalists’ posters will be on display in the lobby of City Hall during the week of April 16. Four of the posters will also be published as calendars for 2013 and will be part of the City’s fair housing ad campaign. The 2012 Fair Housing Calendars are already available and free to the public.

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Fair Housing Ad Campaign: The city will place community awareness advertisements in local newspapers beginning the week of April 23. The ads will also notify residents where they can learn more about the fair housing laws such as fairhousing.com as well as the Consumer Unit's website at smconsumer.org.

Fair Housing Workshop: The City's Attorney's office is sponsoring a fair housing workshop on rental issues on Monday, April 23, 2012 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (8:30 a.m. registration) at the Santa Monica Library. The workshop is part of the City's efforts to increase awareness in Santa Monica of the fair housing laws. The workshop's presenters will explain federal and state fair housing laws that prohibit housing discrimination in the rental of housing. They will also discuss smoking bans, medical marijuana, and alternatives to litigation such as mediation. The presenters include Kathy Bellville, Law Firm of Kimball, Tirey, & St. John; Chancela Al Mansour, Housing Rights Center; Denise McGranahan, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles; Adam Radinsky, Deputy City Attorney; and Gary Rhoades, Deputy City Attorney.

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Gary Rhoades, who specializes in fair housing projects and cases for the office, said: “The workshops and poster contests are annual events that underscore the importance of fair housing to the City. Not only does fair housing help Santa Monica families get and keep keys to housing, it’s also crucial for the healthy development of our community and businesses.”

All owners, property managers, tenants, advocates, and attorneys are invited to RSVP and attend free of charge. A continental breakfast will be provided and library parking will be validated. Please reserve your spot before April 19 by going to Santa Monica Library to the middle-right of the front page and clicking on the link entitled, “Fair Housing Workshop."


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