EVERETT, Wash. — The state attorney general is forcing an Everett landlord to make big changes after a tenant accused him of discrimination.
Among other things, Tina Lewis says her car was towed because she is black.
Now he and his employees have to take fair housing training, make repairs, and pay her back.
Tina Lewis knows life isn’t fair.
She survived an abusive relationship—and she was forced to live in her car.
But she’s finally back on her feet and in her own place, and she knows housing is legally required to be fair.
“It’s just a clear case of discrimination with me,” Tina told KIRO 7 from inside the apartment she is desperate to leave but can’t afford to yet.
Just days after moving in, she watched her fully operational cars towed out of the Glacier View apartment parking lot, because the manager said they were unsightly.
“It just gave me a complete flashback of my kids’ dad,” she said, tears running down her face. “You’re just going to take my stuff, and there’s nothing I could do; this man took my stuff. The cop was like, ‘It’s a civil matter.’”
Tina had to pawn all of her jewelry and electronics to get her vehicles back.
She says she was targeted because of her race. Neighbors agree.
“That was flat out rude and crude,” Tina’s neighbor, Roslynn Brantner, said of the towing incident.
Many of them have maintenance problems from holes in the ceiling to sewage in the parking lot, but Tina’s are the worst.
“It still leaks, because there’s a hole in there, and it needs to be replaced,” Tina explained, pulling her refrigerator away from the wall.
It didn’t work for three months.
The state attorney general’s office looked at her pictures as well as the numerous text messages she had with DSB Investments, and issued what’s called an assurance of discontinuance.
It requires the company, in part, to reimburse Tina nearly $700 for the towing, make repairs, and adopt a non-discrimination policy.
Tina says that’s only fair.
“I can’t even tell you. Just happy baby, happy,” she said.
KIRO 7 called DSB investments and their attorney.
They didn’t want to do an interview but did release a statement that reads: “DSB Investments prides itself on providing quality housing and a positive experience for its residents. With respect to the matter you are asking about, DSB Investments entered into a settlement with the complaining party and the Attorney General, known as an Assurance of Discontinuance, in which DSB reiterated its commitment to comply with all federal, state, and local fair housing regulations. The Assurance of Discontinuance also makes it clear that DSB did not admit any wrongdoing in this matter, and that DSB will continue to evaluate how best to demonstrate our commitment to providing equal housing opportunities for our tenants.”
KIRO
