County Executive Steve Levy & LIBOR Announce New Fair Housing Law in Suffolk County

West Babylon, NY - November 10, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — The Long Island Board of REALTORS® (LIBOR) is proud to announce that County Executive Steve Levy has signed ground breaking fair housing legislation for Co-ops into law.

The new law, IR 1545-2009 and its amendment IR 1763, which clarifies the amendment provisions, are now in effect.

These bills require that a Co-op Board accept or reject a potential buyer within 45 days; and if they are denied – a written reason must be disclosed.LIBOR President Buddy Hoosein stated, “Co-op discrimination is one of the biggest challenges facing owners and REALTORS® when selling Co-ops.  Co-op boards have virtually unlimited power to do as they please.  Co-op discrimination is known to be very blatant and out in the open.  In this day and age that cannot be tolerated.”

Hoosein continues, “This law will certainly prevent discrimination which can occur because of many factors. The protected classes are:  race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, familial status, creed, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, age, military status, presence of children, pregnancy and gender identity.

LIBOR spearheaded this legislation because for far too long Co-op boards have been able to discriminate against people at will. 

REALTORS® have been pursuing similar legislation for many years at the state level. LIBOR’s Common Interest Ownership, Legislative, Fair Housing and Cultural Diversity Committees have been intimately involved in the process.

LIBOR began their quest for a local law in Suffolk County because Suffolk has led the way with other reform efforts in the past such as the cell phone law which prevented drivers from using cell phones while operating motor vehicles.  When Suffolk passed this law – it eventually went on to become state law.

LIBOR plans to pursue a similar Co-op bill in the Nassau County Legislature and then in New York City. REALTORS® are optimistic that the passage of this bill in Suffolk County will create momentum for this bill to possibly become law statewide.

Landmark Day for Cooperative Home Ownership. Suffolk County Executive Levy, flanked by members of the Long Island Board of Realtors, signed landmark legislation Monday which provides protection for prospective cooperative home buyers against discrimination. The new Suffolk law, the first in New York State, requires cooperative boards to provide a written explanation for denial within 45 days, and provides enforcement powers to the Human Rights Commission. Pictured (l-r): Gail Bishop, LIBOR Fair Housing and Cultural Diversity Committee Chair; Marian Fraker-Gutin, LIBOR Legislative Committee Chair; Joseph E. Mottola, LIBOR/MLS Chief Executive Officer; Buddy Hoosein, LIBOR President; County Executive Steve Levy; Peter Caruso, LIBOR Housing Opportunities Committee Chair; Barbara Ford, LIBOR Common Interest Ownership Committee Chair; Seibert Robinson, LIBOR Housing Opportunities Vice Chair and Kathy Engel, LIBOR President-Elect.

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Press Release Contact:
Christina DeFalco
Public Relations and Communications Specialist
631-661-4800 Ext. 358

LIBOR is the largest local Realtor® Board in the Country with ten Chapters covering the North and South Shores of Nassau, Suffolk and Queens Counties.

Tagged as: Suffolk County