Madison, WI Header
File #: 32312    Version: 1 Name: Recognizing the 50th Anniversary of the adoptin of the City's Equal Opportunities Ordinance.
Type: Resolution Status: Passed
File created: 11/25/2013 In control: COMMON COUNCIL
On agenda: 12/3/2013 Final action: 12/3/2013
Enactment date: 12/5/2013 Enactment #: RES-13-00866
Title: Recognizing the 50th Anniversary of the Adoption of the City's Equal Opportunities Ordinance.
Sponsors: Paul R. Soglin, Chris Schmidt, Scott J. Resnick, David Ahrens, Shiva Bidar, Maurice S. Cheeks, Joseph R. Clausius, Mark Clear, Lauren Cnare, Denise DeMarb, Sue Ellingson, Steve King, Larry Palm, Matthew J. Phair, Marsha A. Rummel, Paul E. Skidmore, John Strasser, Lisa Subeck, Michael E. Verveer, Anita Weier, Ledell Zellers
Date Ver.Action ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsWatch
12/3/20131 COMMON COUNCIL Adopt Under Suspension of Rules 2.04, 2.05, 2.24, and 2.25Pass Action details Meeting details Not available
11/25/20131 Civil Rights Department RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL TO ADOPT UNDER SUSPENSION OF RULES 2.04, 2.05, 2.24, & 2.25 - MISC. ITEMS  Action details Meeting details Not available
Fiscal Note
No appropriation is required.
Title
Recognizing the 50th Anniversary of the Adoption of the City's Equal Opportunities Ordinance.
Body
WHEREAS, during the 1960's African Americans all over the United States were fighting for equality in all aspects of society, including education, housing, employment and voting. Civil rights groups demanded the end of segregation and racism; and

WHEREAS, African Americans and other minorities in the City of Madison were facing the same issues of segregation and severe discrimination, especially in the area of housing. Various studies and reports published between 1959 and 1962 indicated that Madison had a severe housing discrimination problem and that African American families were restricted to two areas of the City; and

WHEREAS, many individuals and organizations such as Madison Citizens for Fair Housing, the Madison Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Coordinating Committee for Social Concerns, the Governor's Commission of Human Rights, the League of Women Voters, the Special Committee on Minority Housing, the Madison Area Council for Churches, the Madison Jewish Welfare Council, the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom and the National Association of Social Workers came together to work on the discrimination issue in Madison and wrote the draft of the Equal Opportunities Ordinance; and

WHEREAS, the Madison Board of Realtors was the major opposition of an Equal Opportunities Ordinance claiming that such an ordinance would restrict the rights and freedoms of the individual American property owner and would restrict them of their right to sell or rent to the person of their choice. The Madison Board of Realtors printed a full page advertisement on December 2, 1963 where they indicated they were "opposed to any so called 'Fair Housing' ordinance" because it was inconceivable that they lose their "basic rights of property ownership in an attempt t...

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