DOJ Sues San Jacinto, CA, for Zoning Out Group Homes

See this article, which begins:

The U.S. Department of Justice has sued San Jacinto, claiming the city discriminates against disabled residents by restricting where group homes can operate. 

According to the complaint, which alleges violations of the federal Fair Housing Act and Americans with Disabilities Act, the city’s residential zoning does not allow group homes anywhere in the city, unless granted a special permit to be in areas zoned for multi-family housing. 

The complaint cited a November 2008 sweep in which city officials and armed sheriff’s deputies visited 19 group homes and interrogated the residents of those with mentally disabled inhabitants, but didn’t interrogate the residents of the other homes. 

Following that sweep, some group homes were shut down. Others that still operate have been visited repeatedly, up through this year, and have been fined from $100 to $1,000 a day.