Certain cases in American legal history stand out as societal touchstones. They reshape the legal landscape, set precedents, and alter the communities they impact in remarkable ways. In 1980, one such case unfolded in the heart of Yonkers—a battle against housing and education discrimination. Like many of the nation’s cities at the time, Yonkers was deeply divided along racial lines. The City’s housing policies, particularly its practice of concentrating public housing in largely minority neighborhoods, came under fire for enabling segregation. The historic United States vs. Yonkers case not only challenged long-standing segregation practices but also sparked social change and urban renewal.
Case Against City Unfolds
The legal battle began when the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the City of Yonkers, alleging that its housing and education policies violated the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The lawsuit specifically targeted the City’s resistance to desegregating public housing and schools, alleging that Yonkers officials had ensured nearly complete segregation in schools by restricting public housing to minority neighborhoods.
In 1981, the Yonkers branch of the NAACP stepped in to assist a young student. The intervention spurred two class-action lawsuits—one for housing desegregation and another for schools. The school lawsuit involved all Hispanic or Black students in the Yonkers Public Schools system. The housing lawsuit involved any Yonkers resident living in or eligible for public housing. Judge Leonard B. Sand presided over the case, and as the controversy and costs escalated, he appointed a Special Master of settlement negotiations in 1982.
Yonkers and Education Board on Trial
From 1983 to 1984, Judge Sand presided over the trial. After 14 months of legal proceedings and negotiations, the landmark case reached a pivotal point in March 1984 when the Special Master entered a consent decree. The agreement outlined a requirement for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to make Section 8 housing certificates available in East Yonkers. The certificates would allow 175 individuals to apply for housing in that sector of the city for 120 days, after which they could apply anywhere in the rest of Yonkers. In June 1985, HUD faced criticism for not acting on the City’s application for Section 8 housing certificates, despite the decree.
On November 20th, Judge Sand issued a 278-page opinion that Yonkers had deliberately segregated public housing and schools along racial lines. He called the behavior, “remarkably consistent and extreme”. Despite the Yonkers Board of Education being a separate entity, the City was held accountable for school segregation due to the mayor’s discretionary appointments to the Board. The court found that the City’s actions consistently and extremely segregated neighborhoods, suggesting racial motives.
Progress for Housing and Schools
In April 1986, Judge Sand proposed a school desegregation order for Yonkers, emphasizing voluntary magnet schools. By May, Yonkers was mandated to close eight schools, set up the magnet schools, and create student transfer programs. With a goal of 100% desegregation, the court also mandated the construction of public housing units and established a Fair Housing Office. The following year, Yonkers City Council submitted an alternative housing plan, while the Yonkers NAACP sought state funding for school desegregation.
In January 1988, the City Council initially agreed to the housing consent decree but later rescinded, leading to contempt charges. By September, fines against the City had soared to $1 million per day. In response, the City took drastic measures, including closing libraries, halting garbage pickups, and preparing to lay off more than 500 City employees. But before the City reached the point of declaring bankruptcy, the Council reversed its position. On September 10, 1988, they voted 5-2 to approve the housing plan.
Decades-Long Battle for Equality
After numerous legal proceedings and appeals throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, the struggle for equality in Yonkers reached a critical point. In 2007, a landmark settlement between the Yonkers NAACP and the City was reached. With terms extending through 2037, the agreement detailed measures to maintain affordable housing and ensure the City’s compliance with desegregation efforts. The settlement was a significant milestone in the enduring fight for equality in Yonkers. The case remains a decisive step towards fostering inclusive communities throughout the city and across America.
