US Laws, Codes, Statutes & Cases

 
    §  8-401 Legislative declaration. The council finds that certain forms
  of  unlawful  discrimination  are  systemic  in  nature  rooted  in  the
  operating  conditions or policies of a business or industry. The council
  finds that the existence of systemic discrimination poses a  substantial
  threat  to,  and  inflicts  significant  injury  upon,  the city that is
  economic, social and moral in character, and is distinct from the injury
  sustained by individuals as an  incident  of  such  discrimination.  The
  council  finds  that the potential for systemic discrimination exists in
  all areas of  public  life  and  that  employment,  housing  and  public
  accommodations  are  among  the  areas  in which the economic effects of
  systemic discrimination  are  exemplified.  The  existence  of  systemic
  discrimination  impedes  the  optimal efficiency of the labor market by,
  among other things, causing decisions to employ,  promote  or  discharge
  persons   to  be  based  upon  reasons  other  than  qualifications  and
  competence. Such discrimination impedes the optimal  efficiency  of  the
  housing  market and retards private investments in certain neighborhoods
  by causing decisions to lease or sell housing accommodations to be based
  upon discriminatory factors and not  upon  ability  and  willingness  to
  lease  or purchase property. The council finds that the reduction in the
  efficiency  of  the  labor,  housing  and  commercial  markets   has   a
  detrimental  effect on the city's economy, thereby reducing revenues and
  increasing costs to the city.  The  council  finds  that  such  economic
  injury to the city severely diminishes its capacity to meet the needs of
  those persons living and working in, and visiting, the city. The council
  finds  further  that  the  social  and  moral  consequences  of systemic
  discrimination are similarly injurious to  the  city  in  that  systemic
  discrimination   polarizes   the  city's  communities,  demoralizes  its
  inhabitants and creates disrespect for the law, thereby frustrating  the
  city's  efforts  to  foster  mutual  respect  and  tolerance  among  its
  inhabitants and to promote a safe and secure  environment.  The  council
  finds  that  the  potential  consequences  to  the  city of this form of
  discrimination requires that the corporation counsel be expressly  given
  the  authority  to  institute a civil action to enforce the city's human
  rights law so as to supplement administrative means to prevent or remedy
  injury to the city.