Mayor Tim Keller Announces Office of Civil Rights
October 26, 2018
As part of his efforts to build an inclusive Albuquerque, Mayor Tim Keller announced the opening of a new Office of Civil Rights to promote equality, investigate civil rights complaints, and prevent discrimination in Albuquerque. Specifically, the office will inform individuals of their rights in the areas of housing, employment, and public accommodations and will support them following the submission of complaints to the office by conducting investigations, providing processes for resolution, and making referrals as appropriate.
The new office will also offer non-discrimination technical assistance and training for employers and landlords/tenants. Services will be free of charge to individuals impacted by alleged discriminatory acts occurring within the City of Albuquerque.
The office, housed in the first-ever Office of Equity and Inclusion, will be staffed by Managing Assistant City Attorney Torri Jacobus. Ms. Jacobus previously worked at the Second Judicial District Court.
“As a city, we know that discrimination is an issue people in our community face, but we also know that there are proven methods and services we can offer to combat discrimination,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “We created the office of Civil rights to make sure members of our community have access to the resources they need to address injustice, while also offering education and training to prevent discrimination from happening in the first place.”
The Albuquerque Human Rights Ordinance prohibits discrimination in:
Employment
- Hiring/Firing
- Wages
- Promotion/Demotion
- Terms/Conditions of the Job
Housing
- Rental Opportunities
- Home Buying Opportunities
- Credit Related to Housing
- Advertising of Housing
- Disability accommodations or modifications
Public Accommodations
- Access to Goods and Services
- Access to Facilities
- Hotels
- Restaurants and Shops
- Recreational Facilities
- Theaters
Individuals may have been discriminated against if they are treated differently from others in a similar situation because of their race, ethnicity, age, religion, sex, national origin or ancestry, disability, or sexual orientation and were harmed by the treatment.
Those who feel they have been discriminated against and would like to know more about how the Office of Civil Rights can help them can call 505-768-4595, email [email protected], or visit the Office in person at 1 Civic Plaza, Ste. 201, Albuquerque NM 87102.