Rochester, N.Y. (WHAM) — Local leaders are calling on the New York State Senate to pass a bill that could fully get rid of racial language on home deeds, which previously restricted who could buy property based on race.
What are known as "racial covenants" were banned by the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Fair Housing Act of 1968, but experts say this harmful language still exists on many home deeds in Monroe County and across New York state.
"This legislation would provide homeowners two different paths of getting this language amended and removed from their property deeds," Monroe County Clerk Jamie Romeo said.
In 2019, 13WHAM interviewed Irondequoit homeowner Christopher Brandt, who found racist language in his original home deed.
“It’s right there, item number 7: ‘The premises cannot be owned or occupied by a colored person,'" Brandt said during that interview.
Democratic Monroe County Legislator Dave Long said racial covenants are illegal, but the restrictive language still remains.
"All of these covenants are banned with the Civil Rights Act," Long said. "The act did not require restrictive language to be eliminated from existing real property deeds."
According to Romeo, that is where this bill can come into play if it's passed.
"It would be similar to an antiracist covenant that they would be putting on their property that would say, 'We repudiate this language. This is not language we want affiliated with our property, Please remove it,'" Romeo said.
Romeo added that the bill also forces a modification to be included with each transfer of the deed.
People who live in Monroe County can file for free at the Monroe County Clerk's Office, and it would have no impact on taxpayers.
The town supervisors for Brighton and Irondequoit are also in support of the bill.
"The great diversity that we have in Brighton was impacted severely by this hateful language that was in their deeds," Brighton Town Supervisor Bill Moehle said.
"31 years ago, when I moved into my community, I was told that wasn't my place," Irondequoit Town Supervisor Andraé Evans said. "That feeling that I didn’t belong came from these racial and restrictive deeds that were embedded in the town I now lead."
The New York State Assembly passed the bill in March. The legislature meets next Monday through Thursday in Albany before the 2024 regular session ends, and could be called back for special sessions if needed.
State Sen. Jeremy Cooney provided the following statement:
For decades, restrictive covenants were used as a way to discriminate against minority groups, contributing to today’s inequities in homeownership across Monroe County. This bill is a chance to remove these painful reminders of the inhumane policies of the past, but also an opportunity to learn about our history and help us move forward towards a more equitable community. I am proud to co-sponsor this legislation and hope to see it passed before the legislative session ends.
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