Assemblywoman Kimberly Jean-Pierre (D-Wheatley Heights) announced that she passed a legislative package, including several bills she sponsored, cracking down on housing discrimination and promoting fair access statewide.

“Every New Yorker has the right to choose where they want to live and build a future for their family,” said Jean-Pierre. “It is absolutely unacceptable that here on Long Island, or anywhere, prospective homeowners are facing housing discrimination because of the color of their skin. In the year 2021, we are far past looking the other way and allowing any form of racism, hate or bigotry to exist in New York. That’s why I authored and passed several measures to help ensure true equality is achieved in all our communities, and I’ll continue fighting for fair access to housing.”

One of the bills that Jean-Pierre sponsored would establish a hotline for New Yorkers to report housing discrimination and require realtors to post the number publicly (A.2300-C). She also passed legislation that would increase penalties for discrimination and direct a portion of those funds to the Anti-discrimination in Housing Fund (A.6866), implement statewide fair housing testing through a surcharge on broker and agent licensing fees (A.5363), require realtors to undergo additional training on fair housing and discrimination (A.1760) and requires real estate brokers to receive training in cultural competency (A.844).

In addition to her five bills, Jean-Pierre helped pass legislation that would create statewide standards on the prerequisites that prospective buyers must meet to receive real estate services (A.6186) and require the modification of illegal restrictive covenants – discriminatory conditions that are invalid under federal law – before the sale of property (A.6152-A).

Jean-Pierre championed these measures to address housing discrimination after Newsday’s 2019 investigative reporting revealed evidence of widespread separate and unequal treatment of potential minority homebuyers and minority communities.[1] She will continue working with fellow state lawmakers and local leaders to ensure potential homebuyers do not face discrimination and bad actors are held accountable.

[1] http://projects.newsday.com/long-island/real-estate-agents-investigation