National Ass'n for the Advancement of Colored People, Boston Chapter v. Boston Housing Authority

723 F. Supp. 1554, 1989 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16417, 1989 WL 133973
CourtDistrict Court, D. Massachusetts
DecidedOctober 4, 1989
DocketCiv. A. 88-1155-T
StatusPublished

This text of 723 F. Supp. 1554 (National Ass'n for the Advancement of Colored People, Boston Chapter v. Boston Housing Authority) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Massachusetts primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
National Ass'n for the Advancement of Colored People, Boston Chapter v. Boston Housing Authority, 723 F. Supp. 1554, 1989 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16417, 1989 WL 133973 (D. Mass. 1989).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM

TAURO, District Judge.

The attached documents memorialize a step of significant social progress — a firm and unwaivering commitment to the objective of providing equal housing opportunity *1555 for persons of all races in the city of Boston.

It took only a few minutes for the parties to sign the consent decree I have just approved. But let no one misunderstand that the relative ease of this ceremonial act was made possible only by more than a year of extremely difficult and challenging negotiations.

Of course, being involved in a federal lawsuit is never as pleasant as a day at the beach. And when the issues underlying a federal ease involve fundamental matters of constitutional magnitude the potential for protracted and divisive litigation is enormous.

To their credit, the plaintiffs and the defendants here recognized that, if this case were to be tried fully, the costs would be incalculable — not only in terms of time and money, but more important, in terms of the potential negative impact on the morale of this great city.

Some of you may remember that, on the first day scheduled for trial, the lawyers for both sides requested a private conference with me here at the bench. Lead counsel, Barbara Arnwine for the plaintiffs and Albert Wallis for the defendants, asked me to help them settle the ease. We adjourned to my lobby and I spent most of the next three hours listening and asking questions, as the lawyers outlined the factors that divided them and led to this lawsuit.

It was clear to me that emotions were high, feelings were strong, and the gap between the parties was as wide and deep as the grandest of canyons.

But what also came through to me was that, despite their adversarial spirit and tone, these lawyers were willing to dedicate themselves to the task of bringing about a remedial solution, rather than subject the city to the almost inevitable volatility that would accompany highly charged litigation.

There seemed to be an unstated determination on the part of everyone in the room that Boston would not become a Yonkers.

At that lobby conference, I outlined an agenda under which I would work with the lawyers in an effort to achieve a settlement agreement satisfactory to all concerned. When we came out of that meeting, I reported in open court that the litigation process was now on the back burner, and that a serious negotiation effort would be undertaken.

And that’s where we’ve been for more than a year. Dozens of tough and often confrontational working sessions. Draft after redraft of proposals and counter-proposals. On many occasions it seemed we were- at a dead end. And then, somehow, perhaps because of some divine guidance or inspiration, a thought would emerge that provided a crack of light in what had been a seemingly impenetrable wall. One step back, but two steps forward. A frustrating process, but somehow we knew we were making progress.

The documents we signed today are the product of that effort. They aren’t perfect. No settlement is perfect. But they do manifest an enlightened commitment and dedication to the concept that all persons in this city will be assured of equal housing opportunities — and that never again will race or ethnic background be permitted to affect the housing choice of any man, woman, or child.

Some might say that it’s unfortunate that it took a federal lawsuit to bring us where we are today. And that may be so. But, in another sense, it is important to understand that we live in an imperfect world. Recognition of that reality is undoubtedly one of the reasons why the Founders had the foresight to set up the Judiciary, as an independent and equal Third Branch of government — to be truly responsive when, for some reason, a member of the community suffers apparent constitutional deprivation.

But, the courts cannot function alone in matters like this. The process works best when the underlying case is in the hands of able, dedicated, and hardworking lawyers. And that’s what we had here:

Barbara R. Arnwine and Nadine Cohen— Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (for NAACP)
Everald F. Thompson — NAACP
*1556 Laura Steinberg, William P. Stimson and Lynn Peterson Read — Sullivan & Worcester (for NAACP)
Albert W. Wallis — City of Boston/BHA/Doris Bunte/Mayor Flynn
Rod Solomon — BHA, et al.
Richard M. Bluestein and Janet Steckel Lundberg — Krokidas & Bluestein (for BHA, et al.)
Douglas H. Wilkins — Massachusetts Executive Office of Communities and Development
Judith Yogman and Christine M. Roach— U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Each of these fine lawyers met their enormous responsibilities with the highest degree of professionalism as they represented the interests of their various clients, and I congratulate them for the. great job they have done in bringing us to where we are today.

And I want to close these remarks by making clear my firm feeling that the tone which made possible the substantive and symbolic achievement we recognize today had to come from the top. Dr. Benjamin Hooks, the executive director of NAACP, and Ray Flynn, the mayor of Boston, provided the patience and guidance that enabled those on the front lines of negotiation to hammer out and finalize this consent decree. I commend both Dr. Hooks and Mayor Flynn for the critically important leadership they have provided.

SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

I.

This Settlement Agreement is in furtherance of the Parties’ mutual objective of providing equal housing opportunity for persons of all races in the City of Boston.

II.

By entering into this Settlement Agreement the parties to this agreement have resolved the issues raised by plaintiffs' complaint, as amended, thereby avoiding potentially divisive and protracted litigation.

III.

Consistent with the provisions of City of Richmond v. J.A. Croson Co., 488 U.S. -, 109 S.Ct. 706, 102 L.Ed.2d 854 (1989), this Settlement Agreement is made in recognition of, and in consideration of, the Preliminary Findings of Non-Compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 contained in the Investigative Report of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) and all the pleadings, memoranda and other papers which have been submitted to the court in connection with this litigation.

IV.

This Settlement Agreement incorporates by reference the terms of the Stipulation approved by the court on August 26, 1988, and the amendments thereto approved by the court on September 30, 1988. Said Stipulation and amendments are attached hereto as Appendix A.

V.

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Related

City of Richmond v. J. A. Croson Co.
488 U.S. 469 (Supreme Court, 1989)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
723 F. Supp. 1554, 1989 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16417, 1989 WL 133973, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/national-assn-for-the-advancement-of-colored-people-boston-chapter-v-mad-1989.