Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. press release, October 27, 1995

GOVERNMENT REFORM AND OVERSIGHT BANKING AND FINANCIAL SERVICES Congress of tfje llniteb States Jfiouat of iRtprMentattoes 22Ia£ff)mgton, 20515-2002 Dundalk, MD 21222 (410) 284-6828 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Richard Cross October 27, 1995 410-337-7222 EHRLICH EXPRESSES “ ABSOLUTE OPPOSITION ’ PROPOSED HOUSING SETTLEMENT TO HUD SECRETARY CISNEROS TO In a letter to U. S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Henry Cisneros, Congressman Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. expressed “deep concern and absolute opposition” to a proposal to require approximately 1,300 families in Baltimore City public housing to relocate to areas of “low minority and poverty concentration.” In the letter Ehrlich objected to HUD’s unwillingness to disclose the actual proposal, and criticized HUD for failing to provide Baltimore County and other impacted jursidictions “with the time necessary to properly review and comment” on the plan. The Congressman characterized the proposal as a “constitutionally-suspect social experiment.” He pledged to halt the proposal “by any administrative or legislative means available, including the appropriations process” before it can be realized. The full text of the letter is attached. The proposal is a partial settlement to a housing suit filed by the ACLU against Baltimore City and the federal government regarding public housing practices. Under the settlement, poor families living in public housing in Baltimore City would be given vouchers allowing them to relocate elsewhere. However, it forbids them from doing so in poor or minority neighborhoods.