STATEMENT BY HOUSING SECRETARY ANDREW CUOMO ON SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY LAWSUIT

WASHINGTON - Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo today issued the following statement in response to the $1.5 million settlement of a lawsuit against the Boston Housing Authority, in which 13 minority tenants said they were racially harassed:

"In May of this year, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development issued a report that made 53 recommendations for improvements in Boston Housing Authority (BHA) operations. At that time the BHA and the City of Boston agreed to implement each and every recommendation within the year, including most importantly the settlement of the lawsuit. In announcing the settlement, they have taken a significant step: the law has been enforced, dignity has been restored.

I want to applaud Mayor Thomas Menino, U.S Attorney Donald Stern, Sandra Henriquez, the Boston Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and everyone who helped bring about this landmark civil rights settlement. It is a victory not only for every tenant in Boston's public housing, but for everyone who believes in our nation's founding premise - 'opportunity for all.' "

Content Archived: January 20, 2009