Revised housing law cuts wait time for legal action

“We have come some of the way, not near all of it. There is much yet to do.”

So spoke President Lyndon B. Johnson on April 11, 1968, as he signed the Federal Fair Housing Act (FFHA). Four years after the Civil Rights Act, the president urged Congress to act to prevent further discrimination against minorities. While the Civil Rights Act had specifics regarding housing, the FFHA provided federal enforcement, banning discrimination on sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, religion, national origin, sex, handicap and family status.

The Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR) is the state agency responsible for enforcing the Florida Fair Housing Act, and through our partnership with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the FFHA. In the last two years, the commission resolved 169 housing discrimination cases.

During the 2020 legislative session, an important change was made to the Florida Fair Housing Act. To maintain substantial equivalency with federal law and preserve its federal partnership with HUD, the commission’s legislation, SB 374/HB 175, provides that state claimants will no longer have to wait before seeking civil action. The commission has been working on this legislation for seven years, and we are thankful for Sen. Darryl Rouson and Rep. Tracie Davis for their work in sponsoring and passing this crucial legislation.

Every April we take time to celebrate the passage of the FFHA. The FCHR aims to educate not only those who are seeking housing, but those who are providing housing and financing. Please take the time to learn about the Federal

Fair Housing Act and your rights.

– Michelle Wilson, executive director, Florida Commission on Human Relations

DOMESTIC WORKERS

It was sad to read the April 2 article “‘We’re in crisis.’ Domestic workers in Miami suffer economic blow from virus.”

These workers, upon whom many of us depend day in and day out to keep our households running, are in dire financial straits. They will get no help from the federal government, especially if they are undocumented.

Only one family mentioned in the article canceled their help but volunteered to pay the salary. Kudos to this family.

Shame on those who do not do this. There is no reason those who can afford to pay cooks or housekeepers in normal times, cannot pay their salaries during this crisis.

Have we no compassion? – Carolyn Segall,

Coral Gables

PALE BLUE DOT

This deadly virus doesn’t care if we are rich or poor. It doesn’t care if we live in what President Trump called a rat-infested city or in a castle in England. It doesn’t care if we live in a red state or blue state.

It doesn’t care if you are on the most powerful ship on the high seas or in a dugout canoe. It doesn’t care if you kneel or stand for the flag. It doesn’t care if you wear a red MAGA cap or a turban, and it doesn’t care if you live in Norway or a Third World country.

After this terrible plague is over, I hope the whole world realizes we are all in it together.

– Charles Orr Sr., Miami

DOSE OF REALITY

The April 1 letter “Flu vs. coronavirus” fails to mention that there are vaccines for the flu, all of which may not be effective for every person. However, they are generally effective. There is not yet a vaccine for COVID-19.

Would anyone rather take a chance on a virus that has a reasonable assumption of recovery, provided they are immunized against it or simply allow COVID-19 to proliferate unchecked while millions die agonizing deaths, never having had the chance to be immunized?

– Alex Jimenez,

Sunrise

DAMAGED WINGS

I have been in the aviation industry since 1999. After 9/11, people were scared to fly because of a possible terrorist attack. But the current crisis is different. Nobody wants to fly anymore. Even after COVID-19, people may fear contracting other viruses and continue to refrain from flying.

Often, after a flight, I would have a cold or flu, which I would attribute to recycled air inside the plane. Many have had the same experience. Airlines have been using HEPA filters to minimize this, but it is not 100 percent effective. So what’s the solution to boost confidence in flying again?

Perhaps new filters could catch and kill viruses in the air before blowing it back to other passengers. Filter manufacturers should focus on this immediately.

As the country with the highest amount of air passenger traffic in the world, America needs a fully functional and robust airline industry.

– Mehmet Ulutas, Hialeah Heights

HALT CONSTRUCTION

It was disappointing to read the April 1 front-page story and learn that construction sites for homes and apartments are still operating, while hotels, restaurants, retail stores, etc. were ordered closed. It is great that these workers continue to have an income, but now is the time for everyone (without exceptions) to share in the sacrifice.

How can we expect to suppress the spread of the coronavirus when construction workers are in close proximity? Either we implement the same rules for all or we resign ourselves to a prolonged period of the status quo, with 25 percent to 30 percent unemployment and its social and economic costs.

Essential businesses should be those that serve everyone, not just a small portion of the population.

We will survive even if apartments get completed a few months later. After all, nobody can move in now because of the stay-athome orders.

– Harald Bindeus,

Aventura

KILL THE VIRUS

Ineffective elected and appointed official wasted weeks and perhaps months in denial. Now we face unfathomable health and economic consequences from the coronavirus pandemic. Now, in the tried-andtrue American tradition, these same ineffective folks have attempted to fix our economic downturn with trillions of dollars. I’m sure this sounds good to many of us, but will it work? Probably not.

The proximate cause of our economic downturn is COVID-19, and once we get a handle on this virus, our economic recovery will follow. No COVID-19 fix, no economic fix.

– Frank J. Sioli Sr.,

Miami

ON DUTY

As a patrol car went by our house recently, I realized that, more than ever, we all owe our thanks to dedicated police officers who make up the “thin blue line.” They continue to put themselves at risk for us in this time of concern and fear over the coronavirus.

God bless them for doing so.

– Robert E. Panoff, Pinecrest

WHERE’S THE CAPTAIN?

With all the bad news about cruise lines, and especially with the two Holland America ships, where is the honcho of Carnival Corporation expressing his desire to help Broward County, passengers and crew, and the community resolve this terrible situation?

He should have attended the Broward County Commission meeting this week instead of delegating it to an executive.

– Harry P. Thal,

– Aventura

GOING NORTH?

What is the Florida governor’s plan to protect Americans who live in northern states (and Canada) from the snowbirds who will be streaming back north in the next six weeks? Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine closed the state at least three weeks ago. We are doing better than Florida in cases by population.

I suggest Florida implement a stringent 14-day quarantine for each person returning north.

– Janet Ricchetti, Mayfield Heights, Ohio

WORSHIP ONLINE

I understand and admire Gov. DeSantis’ thoughts about keeping places of worship open for services. Ideally, attendees would sit six feet apart.

But, this is not realistic. People will congregate — just entering and leaving the building.

People will somehow come closer than they should and, perhaps, they will even touch the door handles and pews.

Many of us haven’t left our homes in weeks. My concern is that worship services will become the weak link that breaks our chain of “stay safe, stay home.”

My place of worship is online — there shouldn’t be any exceptions. I have a daughter who is immunocompromised and my husband is over 60.

We are doing everything in our control, but where worship services are conducted is in the governor’s control.

– Gail B. Blyden, Miami