Ehrlich Attacks Proposed Race-Based Housing Policy; Questions HUD Secretary Cisneros" press release, October 13, 1995

mews том Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Second Congressional District of Maryland 1407 York Road, Suite 304 Lutherville, Maryland 21093 315 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Richard Cross October 13, 1995 202-225-3061 EHRLICH ATTACKS PROPOSED RACE-BASED HOUSING POLICY; QUESTIONS HUD SECRETARY CISNEROS Brandishing a copy of the Baltimore Sun, an angry Congressman Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. (R-2nd., MD) today questioned U. S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Henry Cisneros about a proposed plan to require public housing residents in the Baltimore area to relocate only to “areas of low minority and poverty concentration.” The questioning occurred during Secretary Cisneros’ appearance before a hearing of the House Banking Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity, one of the panels charged with oversight of HUD. Secretary Cisneros assured Congressman Ehrlich that he had not yet approved the plan, and that he and other interested parties would have an opportunity to convey their concerns to HUD officials. The plan is part of a far-reaching agreement between Baltimore City and the American Civil Liberties Union, which had filed a class action lawsuit charging the city and federal governments with segregation in public housing. Under the plan, 1,342 families would receive federal housing certificates allowing them to rent private apartments and homes—but are expressly prohibited from doing so in poor or minority neighborhoods. Despite published reports that Maryland’s Congressional delegation had been informed of