Housing Discrimination Bill Is Considered

Landlords would become legally restricted from turning away tenants who pay rent with housing vouchers or other public assistance under a bill being considered by the City Council.

The bill would amend City Code to state that in addition to a potential tenant's race, creed, color, national origin, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, and marital, parental, and citizenship status, landlords cannot discriminate based on the source of a tenant's income, so long as it is earned legally.

"We're hearing that landlords are telling tenants or potential tenants that they do not take Section 8 vouchers," Jean Weinberg, a spokeswoman for Council Member William De Blasio, the bill's lead sponsor, said.

A hearing on the bill will be held today following the release of a housing discrimination study, Ms. Weinberg said.

The director of government affairs for the Rent Stabilization Association, which represents apartment building owners, Frank Ricci, said landlords can get mired in bureaucratic red tape when they have Section 8 tenants. He plans to testify against the bill at today's hearing.

"A lot of owners don't find it very desirable to deal with these agencies," Mr. Ricci said.