Title
Opposing Senate Bill 107 and the provisions that eliminate the authority of cities to enact equal opportunity and non-discrimination ordinances with respect to landlord-tenant relations.
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Madison is proud of its many actions to ensure equality and promote fairness; and
WHEREAS, City of Madison policy initiatives have been borrowed and replicated in other cities and communities throughout the state and across the nation; and
WHEREAS, many City of Madison initiatives provided innovative approaches that often led to new statewide or federal policy; and
WHEREAS, municipalities having the authority and the capacity to advance issues of interest and importance to the citizenry is an essential component of representative democracy; and
WHEREAS, cities are closest to the needs and interests of the people, many areas of public policy are best addressed at the municipal level; and
WHEREAS, the SB 107 legislation effectively precludes, prevents and pre-empts municipalities from enacting ordinances addressing issues associated with non-discrimination and equal opportunity practices in landlord-tenant relations; and
WHEREAS, this legislation will have a negative impact on the character and quality of life in the City of Madison and would have the effect of undoing more than forty years of city-based policy initiatives; and
WHEREAS, the following city ordinances that would be pre-empted should this legislation be enacted into law:
1. MGO 39.03(4)(a) and 32.12(7)(b): Prohibits landlords from requiring disclosure of social security numbers.
2. MGO 32.12(8): Prohibits landlords from showing apartment for re-rental until one-fourth of the lease term has passed.
3. MGO 32.12(7)(a): Prohibits landlords from denying an application for housing based solely on minimum income requirements.
4. MGO 39.03(4)(d): Prohibits landlords from denying housing on the basis of the tenant’s conviction record, and limiting the time limit on c...
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