HomeMy WebLinkAbout6/7/2000 - STAFF REPORTS (19) 6/8/00 (D 4.49 AM D 112
Rodger Garrett
a modem marketing&communications consultant
255 north el cielo road 452 . palm springs,ca 92262
760 325 7520 . 760 285 7520 . rg3250earthlink.net
To: Tricla Sanders Re: Pnbiic Comments- PSCC- 06/07/00- for file
Rodger Garrett, a resident at the Villa Serena Apartments at 900 East
Satumino Road, Palm Springs, authorized to represent a group of seven tenants at
the complex on Section 14 between Calle El Segundo and Avenida Caballeros with
regard to their claims of reverse discrimination based on sexual orientation.
I want to bring the Council up to date on recent activities on this matter.
Item One: For background: We are alleging that the manager at Villa Serena
has made statements to the effect that he intends to convert the property into an all-
gay complex and that he --with knowledge of and approval by the Villa Serena
Apartments LLC—is both raising the rents of heterosexual tenants as much as 32
percent and refusing to provide a level of accommodations equal to those afforded
to male homosexuals. Such actions are illegal under provisions of a number of state
and federal statutes
Item Two: Several residents of the Villa Serena Apartments filed complaints
with the City's Htmtan Rights Commission alleging discrimination on the basis of
sexual preference May 24th. A man characterized by at least three tenants as being
"rude,intrusive and aggressive," who identified himself as HRC member Marvin
Goldberg called most of the original filers making inquiries, insisting among other
things that the tenants had already riled with the State of California's Department of
Fair Employment and Housing,when in fact, they had not.
Item Three: Representing general partner Michael Heathman of Villa Serena
Apartments LLC, Palm Springs Realtor® Mary Ellen Hill -- who is herself one of
the owners the complex --told Palm Springs Human Rights Commission vice chair
Gloria Hill that Villa Serena Apartments LLC will not be a party to mediation with
the tenants conducted by the commission.
Item Four. The original filers to the City have filed their forms with the state
this week upon advice of HRC vice chair Gloria Hill, who told me Monday that the
city's hands are tied in the matter by virtue of Villa Serena Apartments'
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unwillingness to join mediation efforts by the HRC. "We have no power to force
them to mediate," Hill told Villa Serena told me, though she would not discuss
Goldberg's behavior.
Item Five: Several other tenants at Villa Serena Apartmcnts have not as yet
filed their forms with the State of California's Department of Fair Employment and
Housing because they are afraid of reprisals on the part of the owners and managers
of Villa Serena Apartments. We believe they might do so if they had assurances
from this Council that it will lend the weight of its authority to the statutory
authority of the State of California to see that reprisals do not occur.
Item Six: We are, therefore, requesting that the Council issue a letter to the
State of California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing at its offices here
in Palm Springs, requesting complete and immediate attention to the matters at Villa
Serena Apartments and provision of all legally mandated resources to the tenants
who have filed complaints against the owners and manager of Villa Serena
Apartments.
Thank you for your prompt consideration of this matter.
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