Last week, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the largest
settlement ever obtained in a rental housing discrimination case. The
defendant: Los Angeles Clippers’ owner and mega-landlord Donald
Sterling.
According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Sterling “Engaged in a
pattern or practice of discriminating on the basis of race, national
origin, and family status.” The DOJ stated that Sterling “refused to
rent to African Americans” and that his conduct was "willful". This is
not the first time that Sterling has paid out millions to make housing
discrimination claims go away.
The National Basketball Association's response? No plans to investigate or comment.
Sign the petition to urge the NBA to condemn racist housing discrimination and discipline Donald Sterling now.
‘NBA, Show You Care’ Factsheet:
On November 2, 2009 Donald Sterling, owner of the Los Angeles Clippers
and LA-area mega landlord, agreed to pay the Department of Justice
$2.725 million to settle a housing discrimination lawsuit. This payout
adds yet another sordid chapter to Sterling‟s checkered past. Despite
its concerted effort to build a positive public image through its NBA
Cares Program, the National Basketball Association (“NBA”) has refused
to comment or investigate the matter.
Sterling, one of Los Angeles County‟s biggest landlords, owns and
manages about 119 apartment buildings with some 5,000 units through his
Beverly Hills Properties.
Department of Justice v. Donald Sterling: Largest Monetary Payment Ever
The Department of Justice announced on November 3, 2009, “Donald T.
Sterling has agreed to pay $2.725 million to settle allegations that he
discriminated against African-Americans, Hispanics and families with
children”, representing “the largest monetary payment ever obtained by
the department in the settlement of a case alleging housing
discrimination in the rental of apartments.”
Sterling’s Shameful Track Record
Sterling has been repeatedly taken to court for race-based discrimination:
In 2003, the Housing Rights Center in Los Angeles sued Sterling for a
pattern of housing discrimination. The case settled for an undisclosed
amount that included over $5 million in legal fees.
In 2006, the Department of Justice sued Sterling for engaging “in a
pattern or practice of discrimination on the basis of race, national
orientation, and family status” iii including “refusing to rent to
African Americans.”
In February 2009, NBA legend and former Clippers General Manager
Elgin Baylor sued Sterling for harassment and employment discrimination
based on race- the case is pending.
Sterling's former property supervisor, Summer Davenport has stated
under oath that Sterling told her he “wanted tenants to fit his image”
and that his African American tenants “smell, they‟re not clean” and
his Mexican American tenants “just sit around and smoke and drink all
day.” According to Elgin Baylor, Sterling prevented him from
negotiating a fair salary for the team‟s All-Star, Danny Manning,
complaining that he was “offering a lot of money for a poor black kid."
NBA’s Response: ‘Disappointing Silence’
According to the „NBA Cares‟ mission statement, “the NBA is dedicated
to demonstrating leadership in social responsibility.” However, when
sportswriters reacted to the Department of Justice‟s announcement by
asking the NBA what it plans to do in response, the NBA said it had no
plans to comment or investigate Sterling. As noted by Jemele Hill of
ESPN, “The Commissioner has offered only disappointing silence.” Dan
Wetzel of Yahoo Sports asks, “Where is the outrage?”
The NBA's inaction contrasts with how the National Football League and
Major League Baseball have handled allegations of racism by team
owners. In 1996, MLB suspended Marge Schott, owner and general manager
of the Cincinnati Reds, for over a year for racially insensitive
remarks. More recently, the NFL excluded talk show host Rush Limbaugh
from becoming a team owner after a firestorm of controversy over past
racist remarks. Clippers' owner Sterling was accused not only of making
racist remarks like Schott and Limbaugh, but also of engaging in a
pattern of illegal, racist housing discrimination against minority
tenants, yet the NBA has no plans to discipline Sterling.
‘NBA Show Us You Care’ Campaign Launched
Tenants Together, California‟s only statewide organization for renters'
rights, has launched a campaign to pressure the NBA to condemn racist
housing discrimination and discipline Sterling. Using the NBA's own
“NBA Cares” slogan, campaign organizers are demanding, “NBA: Show You
Care.” The campaign has set up the www.NBAshowyoucare.org website where an informational video can be viewed and an online petition can be signed.
Join the "NBA Show You Care" Facebook group.