Feds: City Of Joliet Is Displacing African-American Residents

August 5, 2011 5:36 AM

(Credit: CBS)

Filed under

Heard on WBBM 780, Local, News, Syndicated Local

Don't Miss This

Fall Out Boy’s Sold Out Chicago Homecoming Show Rocks Intimate Venue Tour

Best Mini Golf In The Chicagoland Area

Best Spring Lines At Boutiques

Best Burgers In Chicago: Paradise Pup

Don't Miss This

Fall Out Boy’s Sold Out Chicago Homecoming Show Rocks Intimate Venue Tour

Best Mini Golf In The Chicagoland Area

Best Spring Lines At Boutiques

Best Burgers In Chicago: Paradise Pup

JOLIET, Ill. (CBS) — The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a civil rights lawsuit against the City of Joliet, alleging it is violating fair housing laws by moving to condemn a 1960s era federally-subsidized affordable housing development.

As WBBM Newsradio 780′s Mike Krauser reports, the suit says Joliet is planning to displace approximately 764 low-income residents of Evergreen Terrace.

LISTEN: Newsradio 780′s Mike Krauser reports

It says the effect of the city’s actions is “to limit or reduce the number of black residents.”

But Joliet City Manager Tom Thanas says the city “vehemently disagrees” with the federal government.

“Joliet is a very diverse community with a large African American population, a large Hispanic population,” Thanas said. “We welcome diversity and have a very diverse city council. We have diversity throughout the city in employment. We’re actually very surprised by the federal government’s position on the matter.”

Thanas says Joliet can house all of the residents who would be displaced.

The government says it doesn’t have a realistic plan to make that happen.

Feds: City Of Joliet Is Displacing African American Residents

Just Axin

How else can Joliet control crime? Besides, this is a local issue, so stay out of it Fed Govt. Residents: if you don’t like it, leave!

NWA

Isn’t Joliet in Will and Kendall counties in the state of Illinois, United States of America? So, they are under the jurisdiction of the United States of America so, the feds can order them or they can move to Canada.

S.O.S.

GO Southside

If these residents cannot afford the rents to live in Joliet then good-bye.
A Section 8 person receives half of their rent paid for by the Feds (This why the FEDs are involved @ JUST AXIN). Once an owner receives/accepts Section 8 money, it is very tough for you to evict the tenants(and especially with children for get it) cause you are receiving half of their rent.
Andrew Richards

This is a non-story. Free loaders living on the backs of tax payers shouldn’t complain. I’m sure they will still get all the free handouts they are used to receiving. Joliet is probably trying to lower their crime rate and what better way to do that, than lowering the amount of blacks in the community. If the lazy complainers don’t like it, they can just leave!
Bill S.

The real story here is that the local casino is most likely behind this. The Evergreen Terrace is property they want to get rid of because of the gang infestation. The project is located a mere 500 feet from the casino and people are afraid to go there because of the crime. What the folks from Vegas want .. they will get. It’s all about money, not black people.

Jerome

Not about black people? You just said gang infestation is hurting the business at a multi-million dollar business. That is a very legitimate problem. Get rid of the blacks, you get rid of the gang infestation. This is very much about the blacks that live there!!

Bill S.

Here, here!!
Linda

Let them stay there, then when the building falls down, the Feds will have to answer for it and of course the tenants will file all kinds of lawsuits.
JB

blacks complain, but don’t contribute. Of course the justice department is suing. holder is black and was appointed by obama.
OLD VET

IF THESE WERE BUILT IN THE 1960 S FOR LOW INCOME HOUSING PEOPLOE THEN I TRULY BELIEVE THEY ARE REAL RUN DOWN RAT HOLES TODAY !! THOSE THAT LIVE IN THEM DO NOT TAKE CARE OF THEM ,BUT JUST DESTROY THEM !! I WAS DELIVERING A PACKAGE TO ONE IN NORTH CHICAGO, AND THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE WALL BY THE DOOR ! WHILE THE RESIDENT WAS SIGNING FOR THE PACKAGE A ARM CAME THROUGH THE HOLE HOLDING A PHONE AND A VOICE SAID “DIS ONE BE FO YOU” !! YOU WOULD’NT HAVE TO MOVE OUT IF YOU DONT DESTROY SOMETHING YOU GET FREE !!