They can't be serious...

[declansdad]

Only in some states. Marriage is regulated by the states, not the federal government. They may live in a state that doesn't allow for common law marriage.

Thanks.

 

[binny]

sounds like a familial status appeal to me

http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/housing/title8.htm

Sec. 804. [42 U.S.C. 3604] Discrimination in sale or rental of housing and other prohibited practices


As made applicable by section 803 of this title and except as exempted by sections 803(b) and 807 of this title, it shall be unlawful--

(a) To refuse to sell or rent after the making of a bona fide offer, or to refuse to negotiate for the sale or rental of, or otherwise make unavailable or deny, a dwelling to any person because of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, or national origin.
(b) To discriminate against any person in the terms, conditions, or privileges of sale or rental of a dwelling, or in the provision of services or facilities in connection therewith, because of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, or national origin.

(c) To make, print, or publish, or cause to be made, printed, or published any notice, statement, or advertisement, with respect to the sale or rental of a dwelling that indicates any preference, limitation, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.


(d) To represent to any person because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin that any dwelling is not available for inspection, sale, or rental when such dwelling is in fact so available.

(e) For profit, to induce or attempt to induce any person to sell or rent any dwelling by representations regarding the entry or prospective entry into the neighborhood of a person or persons of a particular race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.





It sounds like their definition of familial status is definitely skewed and needs a serious update.

 

[brerrabbit]

This ordinance will never stand up to any legal review. As binny pointed out above it clearly violates the Federal Housing Act and if you were to strictly adhere to the rule then it could also be discriminatory towards Gays and Lesbians as well. A committeed couple who adopted a child would not meet the standards and face eviction as well. I think it would not be hard to create a law to provide for over occupying a house without making it discriminatory against unmarried or Gay couples. They need to rethink this one all together.

 

[Iggipolka]

This ordinance will never stand up to any legal review. As binny pointed out above it clearly violates the Federal Housing Act and if you were to strictly adhere to the rule then it could also be discriminatory towards Gays and Lesbians as well. A committeed couple who adopted a child would not meet the standards and face eviction as well. I think it would not be hard to create a law to provide for over occupying a house without making it discriminatory against unmarried or Gay couples. They need to rethink this one all together.

I'm so glad that you said this. It's exactly what I was thinking. As a lesbian, I cannot be legally married to my wife (we had a religious ceremony a couple years ago) and we're in the process of having kids. Ironically, we were "married" in St. Louis and have been considering moving there. However, if we move there and have children, we could be denied housing because we are not legally married! That's insaine!

 

[disykat]

IMO there's more to this than is being said. They are probably trying to enforce a poorly written code because the people are undesirable for other reasons.

 

[zagafi]

I'm so glad that you said this. It's exactly what I was thinking. As a lesbian, I cannot be legally married to my wife (we had a religious ceremony a couple years ago) and we're in the process of having kids. Ironically, we were "married" in St. Louis and have been considering moving there. However, if we move there and have children, we could be denied housing because we are not legally married! That's insaine!

This isn't "St. Louis" with this ordinance. It's Black Jack, which is a tiny town in north St. Louis county. I have dear friends (in St. Louis) who are a lesbian couple and they most certainly own a home together with their 5 children.

 

[zagafi]

IMO there's more to this than is being said. They are probably trying to enforce a poorly written code because the people are undesirable for other reasons.

LOL! Never been to Black Jack, MO, have you? Um, yeah. I don't think it's because they are "undesirable". Black Jack is a freaking armpit--the issue presented really *is* the issue. It's been on the local news here for weeks now.

 

[disykat]

LOL! Never been to Black Jack, MO, have you? Um, yeah. I don't think it's because they are "undesirable". Black Jack is a freaking armpit--the issue presented really *is* the issue. It's been on the local news here for weeks now.

Well, there goes my "they have a couch on the porch, dead cars on the lawn, and chickens living in their kitchen" theory.

 

[zagafi]

Well, there goes my "they have a couch on the porch, dead cars on the lawn, and chickens living in their kitchen" theory.

Oh, you HAVE been to Black Jack. LOL!!

 

[wvrevy]

Just more of the same type of ignorance that claims marriage must be between a man and a woman.olleyes: Big Brother government trying to tell people how to live their lives. Frankly, it's disgusting, as are the councilmen that voted to uphold the idiotic ordinance in the first place.

Why can't the busybodies just butt out and let people live their lives as they wish ?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Well, there goes my "they have a couch on the porch, dead cars on the lawn, and chickens living in their kitchen" theory.

From my recollection Black Jack has recently, last few years, been severly enforcing everything due to drugs and violence.
That is probably the crux of where this all started.

They are trying to keep the crack houses, stabbings, and Meth Labs at bay.

...from a former North County resident, who lived across from Castle Point growing up.

 

[babytrees]

This has been on the news a lot, the only problem I have is that this isn't the first case (the first wasn't there but somewhere else) and the city's ruling was upheld in court! I am afraid that may be where this one is going too!