Title
Ordinance amending Pittsburgh Code, Title Six: Conduct, Article V: Discrimination, Chapter 659.03 Unlawful Housing Practices enforced by the Commission on Human Relations to add language clarifying protections against retaliation.
Body
WHEREAS, Discrimination in housing results in overcrowded, segregated areas with substandard, unsafe and unsanitary living conditions, which cause increased mortality , disease, crime, vice and juvenile delinquency, intergroup tensions and other evils, all of which increase the cost of government and reduce public revenues and result in injury to the public safety, health and welfare of the city (PCC 659.01); and
WHEREAS, the Commission on Human Relations enforces the City's anti-discrimination ordinance and works to remedy unlawful practices; and
WHEREAS, the Commission on Human Relations has a duty to recommend legislation to promote and insure equal rights and opportunities for all persons; and
WHEREAS, there is a need to ensure that persons who file complaints, serve as witnesses or otherwise cooperate with proceedings before the Commission shall not be retaliated against; and
THEREFORE LET IT BE RESOLVED, that the Pittsburgh Code, Article V: Discrimination, Chapter 659.03 Unlawful Housing Practices enforced by the Commission on Human Relations be amended as follows:
? 659.03 - UNLAWFUL HOUSING PRACTICES.
It shall be an unlawful housing practice, except as otherwise provided in this section:
(a) For any owner, real estate broker or any other person to refuse to sell, lease, sublease, rent, assign or otherwise transfer, or to refuse to negotiate for the sale, lease, sublease, rental, assignment or other transfer of, the title, leasehold or other interest in any dwelling to any person, or to represent that any dwelling is not available for inspection, sale, lease, sublease, rental, assignment or other transfer when in fact it is so available, or otherwise to deny or withhold any dwelling from any person becau...
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