HomeMy WebLinkAbout22-012 - ADMIN Resolution - City Council - 2022/01/03Resolution No. 22-012
Resolution approving participation in the Just Deeds Project
Whereas, discriminatory covenants were used from the early 1900s to the 1960s to
prevent people of color and non-Christian individuals from buying or occupying property in
certain areas, including in the City of St. Louis Park; and
Whereas, discriminatory covenants promoted and established residential racial
segregation, which historically and currently has impacted property ownership, accumulation of
wealth, property transfers, mortgage eligibility, rental eligibility, property values, property tax
base, internet access and more; and
Whereas, discriminatory covenants fortified systemic racism and compounded economic
divestment in specific communities within Hennepin Cou nty, benefiting those in power while
restricting housing options for people of color and non-Christian individuals; and
Whereas, properties with racial covenants were classified, without basis in fact, as more
desirable by the Federal Housing Authority and Home Ownership Loan Corporation, resulting in
more favorable mortgage rates and more public and private investment; and
Whereas, restrictive covenants are no longer enforceable. According to the Mapping
Prejudice website, “The NAACP recognized covenants as a fundamental threat to racial
equality. The legendary civil rights organization launched a sustained legal campaign against
covenants in the 1940s, prompting the Supreme Court to rule in the landmark 1948 Shelley v
Kramer case that covenants were unenforceable.” While the Minnesota legislature in 1953
prohibited new covenants, existing covenants remained legal in Minnesota until 1962.
Covenants remained common in much of the nation until 1968 when the Fair Housing Act made
them illegal; and
Whereas, because of these judicial and legislative actions, Minnesota law and federal law
now prohibits discrimination in the sale or lease of housing based on race, color, creed, religion,
national origin, sex, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, disability, sexual
orientation, or familial status. Those state and federal prohibitions extend to the refusal to sell
or circulate, post or cause to be printed, circulated, or posted, any limitation, specification or
discrimination as to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, status with
regard to public assistance, disability, sexual orientation, or familial status; and
Whereas, in 2016 the University of Minnesota founded Mapping Prejudice to expose the
racist housing practices that shaped the landscape of the metro area, mapping 24,131
discriminatory covenants in Hennepin County that include more than 1,800 in St. Louis Park;
and
Whereas, in 2019 the Minnesota Legislature passed a law authorizing property owners to
individually discharge or renounce discriminatory covenants by recording a discharge form in
the county property records; and
Whereas, the City of St. Louis Park recognizes the harm that discriminatory covenants –
and the racial, religious and other discriminatory practices that they represent – cause to
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Resolution No. 22-012 2
society in general and to the individuals who are adversely affected by racial, religious and
other discrimination through the presence of discriminatory covenants in the public land
records; and
Whereas, the Just Deeds Project provides free legal and title services to help property
owners find discriminatory covenants and discharge them from their property titles, and
provides education opportunities to help communities acknowledge this racist history and
pursue reconciliation and anti-racist solutions.
Now therefore be it resolved that the City of St. Louis Park joins the Just Deeds Project as
a member organization to provide free legal and title services to help St. Louis Park property
owners find discriminatory covenants and discharge them from their property titles.
It is further resolved that the City of St. Louis Park will participate in the work of the Just
Deeds Project to educate the community about this and other historically discriminatory
practices; to identify contemporary discriminatory systems, policies and practices; and to take
action in dismantling racist systems, practices and policies, in accordance with city’s strategic
priority of being a leader in racial equity and inclusion in order to create a more just and
inclusive community for all.
Reviewed for administration: Adopted by the City Council January 3, 2022
Kim Keller, city manager Jake Spano, mayor
Attest:
Melissa Kennedy, city clerk
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