Life is ironic. A noted Trenton, New Jersey pediatrician has been accused of discrimination because he would not rent an apartment above his office to families with children. Is it because the doctor dislikes children? Not on your life.

The doctor has spent his life taking care of children. He also knows that the apartment is located on a busy street where there is no access to recreation for the children and in his opinion it is an unsafe place to raise children. But common sense in the face of an overzealous bureaucracy is no match.

The internet ad the doctor took out was picked up by the New Jersey Division of Civil Rights and now the doctor is facing a 10,000 fine, all because he used common sense and wanted to protect children from living in a place that was not conducive to the health.

And lets flip the coin. Say the doctor had rented to a family and one of the children were hurt in front of his building? Would he be liable? Would the city back him up by telling the parents that the doctor was unable not to rent to them? The poor pediatrician, he never had a chance in the face of mindless bureacracy. Read their press release here, kind of one sided, eh?

Such a restriction is a violation of anti-discrimination laws, according to the state Division of Civil Rights, which on Thursday said it would pursue action against Badawy and two real estate agents — Elizabeth Romero and Fausto Diaz — who helped him rent the space using an Internet ad.
“New Jersey law prohibits housing discrimination on the basis of familial status, and we will not tolerate discrimination against parents with children — whether it happens in person or through online advertising,” Division on Civil Rights Director Vespa-Papaleo said.
In its written response to the state, On the River Realty said that its agents attempted to honor the wishes of the owner without recognizing the ramifications of the ultimate conduct.
Now that the state has established what’s called a “finding of probable cause,” the case will be transferred to a judge for conciliation — a process designed to resolve cases without trial. If conciliation fails, the judge will conduct a nonjury trial or hearing. If found guilty of discrimination, Badawy and the real-estate agents each face up to a $10,000 fine. via the Home News Tribune Online

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