When Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced Friday that eviction notices
sent to about 20 developmentally and physically disabled residents of a
Monrovia apartment complex were "terminated," some tenants and
advocates were cautiously optimistic.
But on Monday, a letter
from the attorney representing the owners and property management of
Regency Court made believers of those who were notified last month that
the complex was always meant to be a senior citizens' apartment
community and that anyone younger than 62 would have to leave.
Michelle
Uzeta, litigation director for the Housing Rights Center, which filed a
complaint with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing
alleging discrimination based on age and disability, received a fax
this morning from Craig Diamond on behalf of Star-Holdings of Illinois,
the owner of Regency Court.
The letter resolved that disabled
tenants' leases will be renewed and will not be terminated in the
future based on age. It also said disabled applicants whose names had
been purged from the waiting list would be reinstated.
"Housing
discrimination is so pervasive still in California," Uzeta said. "It
would be great if we had someone like the governor get involved in
every one of our cases. We're really glad that he chose to step in."
Schwarzenegger
visited Regency Court on Friday and said he had been inspired to reach
out to Star-Holdings after reading The Times' story about the plight of
the complex's disabled tenants that was published Thursday.
He
also said he heard the voice of his late mother-in-law, Eunice Kennedy
Shriver, urging him to take action. Shriver founded the Special
Olympics and was an advocate for people with disabilities.
The
complaint challenging the complex's senior citizen status will be
pursued so that people with disabilities may be allowed there in the
future, Uzeta said.
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