Kansas City Landlords Challenge New Ordinance, Claiming Unconstitutional Overreach in Discrimination Protection Law

Kansas City, Mo. – Amidst rising concerns over housing discrimination, two local landlords have initiated legal action against Kansas City’s newly enacted housing ordinance, which aims to safeguard tenants against discrimination based on their income sources. The ordinance, approved by the city council in January, has generated significant discussion on the balance between tenant protection and landlords’ rights. The legal challenge, brought forth by landlords Kennedy F. Jones and Stephen J. Vogel, contends that the ordinance represents an “unconstitutional overreach.” Specifically, their concern lies with the requirement to accept various non-traditional income sources, including federal … Read more

Newport Beach Approves Stricter Anti-Camping Ordinance, Expands Police Presence and Cuts Mobile Health Services amid Homelessness Crisis

Newport Beach, Calif. — In a move aimed at addressing the growing homelessness crisis, the Newport Beach City Council has fortified its ordinances against public camping, significantly increased its police presence focused on homelessness-related issues, and made the decision to discontinue a mobile health service that was once heralded as an innovative solution. The council’s recent actions underscore a changing strategy towards handling homelessness, reflecting a broader trend in many California cities grappling with similar issues. Newport Beach, known for its affluent neighborhoods and picturesque coastlines, has seen an uptick in its homeless population, which … Read more

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita Sues East Chicago Over Sanctuary City Ordinance, Claims Violation of State and Federal Immigration Laws

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has initiated legal action against the East Chicago Common Council, asserting a failure to comply with federal immigration regulations. The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday, marks the first instance Rokita has targeted any of the four entities he warned in May, including Gary, West Lafayette, and Monroe County, after they were asked to rescind local immigration ordinances or face litigation. The legal challenge arose from a 2017 ordinance passed by the East Chicago Common Council, which Rokita claims obstructs local officials from cooperating fully with federal immigration authorities. Stating … Read more

City of Chicago Fights Back: Mayor’s Administration Seeks Dismissal of Lawsuit Targeting Migrants’ Bus Ordinance

Chicago, Illinois – The City of Chicago is seeking the dismissal of a lawsuit brought against it by Wynne Transportation, a Texas bus company. Wynne Transportation had previously sued the city, claiming that its bus ordinance was unconstitutional and unfairly targeted buses transporting migrants. In response, the city made changes to its ordinance in December, requiring bus companies to obtain permission before dropping off migrants at designated zones. Wynne Transportation filed its federal lawsuit in January, after the city had already filed multiple lawsuits in state court against bus companies accused of violating the new … Read more