Zoning As A Segregation Tool

Court ruling that suburb's laws are discriminatory will reverberate across US.

1 minute read

August 14, 2000, 9:00 AM PDT

A federal court has ordered the town of Sunnyvale, Texas to halt its "racist" zoning practices and told town leaders to encourage more low-income housing. According to the court, the city's zoning process didn't allow apartments and other low-income housing. This zoning policy had the effect of excluding people of modest means, especially blacks and Hispanics. The fiscal zoning rules found in Sunnyvale are quite common, but difficult to challenge in court unless the motive for the zoning is overtly racist.

Thanks to Chris Steins

Read the full story: When zoning becomes segregation tool

Sunday, August 13, 2000 in The Christian Science Monitor

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