With their backs against the wall, county legislators are advancing source of income legislation.
County legislators approved a May 6 public hearing at 7:30 p.m. to discuss the issue after County Executive Robert P. Astorino submitted legislation last week. The law would ban discrimination against potential homeowners and renters based on their source of income, such as Section 8 housing vouchers.
Approving source of income legislation is part of the county”™s 2009 anti-discrimination lawsuit with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD has threatened to withhold $7.3 million in block grants if the legislation is not approved.
The county and HUD are at odds over the terms of the settlement that required the county to build 750 units of affordable housing by August 2016.
HUD officials are upset that the county has yet to enact the legislation that Astorino vetoed in 2010.
Recently, the New York-based U.S. Court of Appeals ruled against Astorino, claiming that he did violate terms of the settlement by vetoing the legislation. Astorino was recently threatened with contempt of court by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara.
The court rejected Astorino”™s argument that the legislation would violate home rule and could come into conflict with the zoning codes of Westchester municipalities.
A similar decision was made by a U.S. District Court.
