Title
Ordinance amending and supplementing the Pittsburgh City Code, Title Six Conduct, Article V Discrimination, Chapter 659 Unlawful Practices, Section ?659.03 Unlawful Housing Practices and Section ?659.04 Unlawful Public Accommodation Practices to prohibit housing and public accommodation discrimination based on perceived or actual citizenship or immigration status and perceived or actual preferred language.
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WHEREAS, immigrants, refugees, those with Limited English Proficiency, those who utilize sign language and non-spoken languages, and individuals of differing abilities have been subjected to discrimination in purchasing and renting homes and patronizing businesses in the City of Pittsburgh, as documented in cases and instances brought reported to the City's Commission on Human Relations; and,
WHEREAS, the duty of landlords, realtors, and other housing professionals is to ensure prospective tenants and buyers, regardless of their background, can live in healthy and safe conditions and to carry out a professional, amicable, and financially responsible business relationship between parties; and,
WHEREAS, the duty of business owners is to provide services offered to everyone, regardless of citizenship, immigration status, perceived immigration status, languages spoken, perceived languages spoken, and ability, level and to carry out a professional, amicable, and financially responsible business relationship between parties; and,
WHEREAS, housing discrimination based upon citizenship and immigration status and languages spoken, or perceived immigration status and languages spoken, can lead to segregation by race and ethnic origin or and/or unsafe housing conditions for those impacted by said discrimination; and,
WHEREAS the City of Pittsburgh believes that all residents and visitors to our city should be afforded the same treatment and experience regardless of their immigration status, language spoken, or ability; and,
WHEREAS, the C...
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