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In the wake of the latest chapter in its decade-long investigation of
exclusion and wrongdoing on Buffalo’s waterfront, Housing Opportunities
Made Equal was the target of a series of letters threatening legal action
if HOME continued efforts to remedy on-going discrimination. This tactic
has a name: strategic litigation against public participation.
Across the
nation, SLAPP suits have been used by developers whose projects are the
targets of public opposition. Generally targeting citizens exercising
their First Amendment rights, SLAPP suits involve allegations of
defamation, business injury and sometimes even emotional distress. Just
defending such an action can be devastating to an individual citizen or a
fragile not-for-profit.
SLAPP suits
are all about intimidation, and here is where the letter writers misjudge
their target.
HOME is a
civil rights organization whose primary purpose is to combat the crime of
housing discrimination. Silence in the face of discrimination would be an
abandonment of our mission the legacy of four decades’ work by HOME
volunteers and staff. It simply is not an option.
HOME does
not cavalierly raise the specter of discrimination. Our investigations
are meticulous and charges are brought only when, in our judgment, we have
sufficient evidence to prevail. That is one reason our rate of success
has been so high.
HOME will
not be cowed.
Welcome additions
Three
months ago in this space I wrote of the loss of Leah Mervine, who had left
HOME to enroll in the University at Buffalo’s School of Law. In her
place, we are pleased to welcome Shannon M. Koehn.
An MBA student at
Medaille College, Shannon comes to HOME from Women for Human Rights &
Dignity where Constance Eve and Barbara Jemmott provided excellent
training. We have high expectations for our new coordinator of
development.
Also
joining the staff is Tom Fuller-Rowell, a recent graduate of the
University of Colorado (Bolder), who will work with Anne Huiner in the
title outreach specialist. A young man committed to social justice, Tom
is a participant in the Diocesan Service Corps. I want to acknowledge
support provided by DSC Director Amy Fleischauer and the Roman Catholic
Diocese of Buffalo which has made possible Tom’s work with HOME.
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