Make O.C. a Great Place--for Everybody

You want to think that it couldn’t happen here.

We’re the gold coast image of windsurfers, neighborhood barbecues and diners sipping nonfat double lattes at outdoor cafes.

In many ways, we’re one big community--scores of diverse races and religious backgrounds-- enjoying sea and sand and sunny times.

But yet, there it was: a cadre of employees at the Flowertree Apartments in Buena Park, ready to testify that the owners ordered them to find ways to discourage African Americans who wanted to become tenants.

Right here in American heartland Orange County.

Just as ugly as the “colored” sign on those old, rusting water fountains in Alabama. As chilling as the creed of the Midwest I witnessed in my youth: If you’re black, stay back.

I can imagine the indignity of facing such discrimination. I’d have to imagine it, because it wouldn’t happen to me. You know by my picture with this column that I’m white.

Takisha Spears didn’t have to imagine it. He’s African American. And the affidavits show the Flowertree didn’t want his family around.

To the benefit of all of us, Spears made his complaint to the local chapter of the National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People. The NAACP in turn brought it to the attention of the Fair Housing Council of Orange County.

This week, Fair Housing stuck it to the Flowertree owners. Stuck it to them good.

The owners, Herbert and Rose Wysard, agreed to pay $250,000 in all, including $100,000 to Spears and his living partner, Deana Silva, who is African American and Mexican.

Under the terms of the court settlement, the Wysards agreed to give up management of all their rental properties for the next five years and hire a professional property manager. (Since then, the couple have sold the 186-unit Flowertree, leaving them only a few scattered properties.) They’ve agreed to make their records available to Fair Housing.

Pay Heed or Pay the Price

And how’s this for a little reverse indignity: The Wysards had to agree to attend fair housing training once a year for five years. Bring notebooks and sharpened pencils. No-shows are in contempt of court.

Even so, I’d say this is a pretty good kick in the teeth to local bigotry. Here’s one law they’d better learn to obey--or pay the price.

For the record, the Wysards’ attorney is emphatic that they admit no discrimination, that they settled only to ward off higher court costs. But Elizabeth Martin, executive director of the Fair Housing Council, says the lineup of ex-Wysard employees--11 in all--willing to testify otherwise is the most her office has ever seen in one case.

“All of them told us that they’d been instructed to discourage African Americans from becoming tenants,” she said.

What makes the Wysard case stand out is the way the employees said they were told to discriminate. Smile at the applicants, be friendly. Just wait until they’re out of sight to stab them in the back. Jack up the deposit on them, delay their application in hopes they’ll go elsewhere, stall the check on their credit.

White applicants were handed applications, the employees said, while black applicants had to ask for them.

“People who want to discriminate can be very savvy,” Martin said. “And subtle things are always very difficult to prove.”

The Orange County Fair Housing Council office handles about 800 complaints a year, dealing with a variety of discrimination cases based on race, religion, sexual preference and some cases of sexual harassment.

“We’ve had landlords who were willing to shave off part of the rent in exchange for sex,” Martin said. “That’s illegal.”

Many complaints turn out not to be legitimate, of course. Some complain they are discriminated against because they have bad credit. Yes, that is discrimination, but it’s the kind that’s meant to be legal.

Few cases result in the kind of evidence compiled in the Flowertree case, an eight-month investigation that wound up in U.S. District Court. But that doesn’t mean you should give up if you feel you’ve got a legitimate complaint of illegal discrimination.

Martin says that even though her staff is small, she wants to hear from you. Don’t hesitate to take advantage of her office’s willingness to take on your cause.

You can call the Fair Housing Council at (714) 569-0823.

Orange County is indeed a great place to live. But it needs to be that way for everybody.

Jerry Hicks’ column appears Monday and Thursday. Readers may reach Hicks by calling (714) 966-7789 or e-mail to jerry.hicks@latimes.com