Town won't let unmarried parents live together

[AlwayzMarel]

BLACK JACK, Missouri (AP) -- The City Council has rejected a measure allowing unmarried couples with multiple children to live together, and the mayor said those who fall into that category could soon face eviction.

Olivia Shelltrack and Fondrey Loving were denied an occupancy permit after moving into a home in this St. Louis suburb because they have three children and are not married.

The town's Planning and Zoning Commission proposed a change in the law, but the measure was rejected Tuesday by the City Council in a 5-3 vote.

"I'm just shocked," Shelltrack said. "I really thought this would all be over, and we could go on with our lives."

The current ordinance prohibits more than three people from living together unless they are related by "blood, marriage or adoption." The defeated measure would have changed the definition of a family to include unmarried couples with two or more children.

Mayor Norman McCourt declined to be interviewed but said in a statement that those who do not meet the town's definition of family could soon face eviction.

Black Jack's special counsel, Sheldon Stock, declined to say whether the city will seek to remove Loving and Shelltrack from their home.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/05/17/unmarried.ap/index.html

[MJordanash]

Thought there was a post similar to this awhile ago. I still agree its just small town johnny law's with too much time on their hands.

[InfiniteNothing]

Not to get the thread locked or anything but this is another good reason why I support gay marriage.

[Airencracken]

WTF?! Now, the other thread about the ACLU had me shaking my head, but this is someplace that needs them badly. That's just bull****.

[jstreet]

They were talking about doing that in Virginia too. Kill two birds with one stone, the birds being gays and immigrants cohabiting.

[InfiniteNothing]

So much for renting out rooms to college students.

[mcs328]

I had a co-worker with this issue. She rented a room in a house with other females but because she had all female non-blood related roommates, the house was considered a brothel. They found a male roommate and all was well I think.

[Airencracken]

So much for renting out rooms to college students.


Seriously, I'm going through this problem right now. It's a crock of ****. (I don't have kids but, I would like to co-habitate with my S.O.)

[InfiniteNothing]

I had a co-worker with this issue. She rented a room in a house with other females but because she had all female non-blood related roommates, the house was considered a brothel. They found a male roommate and all was well I think.Dude! I pitty da fool.

[gwilks98]

The funny thing about this ruling is that only 2 people of the group are not blood related. The dad is related to the 3 kids, as is the mom.
Re-read the interpretation and you'll see that it's the towns stance on gay marriage that's forcing the issue. They just wanted a scapegoat. I'd be suing the city right about now and running up the lawyer bill. Then when I got my way, I'd thumb my nose at them and move to a better part of the city for spite.

Update... I take that back, one kid is from a previous relationship, so the dad is only blood related to 2 people.

[Burzhui]

it's sad is what it is

[jstreet]

WTF?! Now, the other thread about the ACLU had me shaking my head, but this is someplace that needs them badly.Ask and ye shall receive (http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20060518/a_blackjack18.art.htm).

[Hiro]

What ever happened to, "Live and let live"?

[RoniMan]

I had a co-worker with this issue. She rented a room in a house with other females but because she had all female non-blood related roommates, the house was considered a brothel. They found a male roommate and all was well I think.
WT?!?! who considered the house a brothel?

and when does a brothel stop becoming a brothel when there's a male presence in the house?

[VTGreg]

The funny thing about this ruling is that only 2 people of the group are not blood related. The dad is related to the 3 kids, as is the mom.
Re-read the interpretation and you'll see that it's the towns stance on gay marriage that's forcing the issue. They just wanted a scapegoat. I'd be suing the city right about now and running up the lawyer bill. Then when I got my way, I'd thumb my nose at them and move to a better part of the city for spite.

Update... I take that back, one kid is from a previous relationship, so the dad is only blood related to 2 people.

Actually, that isn't true. The whole article wasn't included. The two adults are not related and one of the children is not a blood relative of either of the parents(not sure if it was the father or the mother since I read this on Monday or Tuesday). The child was the child of a spouse in a previous marriage.

I believe the argument for the law was to prevent overcrowding. The right parties are getting involved to see if this violates the fair housing laws.

The law isn't necessarily a bad one as long as it is used with some common sense to prohibit large groups of people (typically illegal immigrants) cramming themselves under one roof because they can't afford anything else.

Edit: I went back and reread the article and my previous statement was incorrect. One of the children was the mother's from a previous relationship, but it was a blood relative to her.

[Kim]

I'm fairly sure familial status is a protected class in the fair housing act.

Edit: I didn't see VTGreg's response...My city only allows 3 unrelated people per unit as well, but we count children as related whether they are from another marriage. I can't imagine why they would even ask how the children were related.

[Airencracken]

Ask and ye shall receive (http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20060518/a_blackjack18.art.htm).

Good.

[gwilks98]

I can't imagine why they would even ask how the children were related.

Then you aren't familiar with the area....it's not the best part of town. It's not terrible, but it's certainly not the best.