Cyprusauction|LA to pay more than $38M for failing to make affordable housing accessible

2025-05-06 02:13:01source:Flipido Trading Centercategory:Finance

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Cyprusauctioncity of Los Angeles will pay $38.2 million to settle a 2017 lawsuit after “falsely” stating on federal documents that its multifamily affordable housing units built with federal funds were accessible for people with disabilities.

The complaint was filed by the U.S. Department of Justice on behalf of a Los Angeles resident, Mei Ling, who uses a wheelchair and the Fair Housing Council of San Fernando Valley, a disability rights advocacy group. Their share of the settlement has not been determined.

Ling, 57, has used a wheelchair since January 2006— and has either been homeless or in housing without the accessibility features, the lawsuit said.

It alleged that the city of LA did not make its multifamily affordable housing options accessible to those with disabilities for at least six years. Some issues were slopes that were too steep, counters that were too high, and entryways that did not permit wheelchair access, officials said.

The lawsuit also stated the city failed to maintain a publicly available list of accessible units and their accessibility features, and that it “knowingly and falsely certified” to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that it complied with these requirements.

RELATED COVERAGE Officials clear homeless encampment at California state beachHunter Biden’s lawyer accuses prosecutors of trying to smear him with salacious details at tax trialJennifer Lopez files for divorce from Ben Affleck after 2 years of marriage

A representative for the LA city attorney’s office did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

When the Housing and Urban Development department provides grant funds to local governments to build and rehabilitate affordable multifamily housing units, they must comply with federal accessibility laws, officials said. This includes a mandate that 5% of all units in certain types of federally assisted housing be accessible for people with mobility impairments, and another 2% be accessible for people with visual and auditory impairments.

They also must maintain a publicly available list of accessible units with a description of their accessibility features, among other housing-related accessibility requirements.

In the six years prior to the lawsuit filing in 2017, LA received nearly a billion dollars in various funds from the federal housing agency that went toward at least 28 multifamily housing projects, according to the plaintiffs. None of them contained the minimum number of accessible units required by law.

Meanwhile, the city “caused HUD and the public to believe that it was in compliance with all federal obligations relating to the receipt of federal housing and community development funds,” the lawsuit said.

Previously, the city settled a similar suit in 2016.

More:Finance

Recommend

Violinist Esther Abrami uncovers 'hidden treasure' of music by women

The first time Esther Abrami saw a violin, she was just three years old. Little did she know at the

Why Chinese Aluminum Producers Emit So Much of Some of the World’s Most Damaging Greenhouse Gases

This article was published in partnership with Grid. Historically, the global aluminum industry curb

Can't Fall Asleep? This Cooling Body Pillow With 16,600+ 5-Star Amazon Reviews is $38 for Prime Day 2023

We independently selected these products because we love them, and we hope you do too at these price