Too Much Complaining, or Not Enough? The Dakota Sued for Racism

The Dakota, seen above, is perhaps the world's most famous apartment complex. Image via Wikipedia

 

One of the world’s most famous apartment buildings is being sued by one of its longtime tenants for racial discrimination.

The Dakota, an apartment complex in Manhattan which has housed celebrities for decades and is best known as the final residence of John Lennon before he was gunned down in front of the building in 1980, is being sued by Wall Street money manager and philanthropist Alphonse Fletcher. Fletcher, a former Board President, alleges the Co-Op Board refused to sell him an adjacent unit to accommodate his family because of his race.

The Board claims that it rejected Fletcher’s application based on financial documents he provided.

The lawsuit also alleges that the Board has made racial and ethnic slurs in reference to prospective tenants, including referring to one applicant as a member of “the Jewish mafia” and stating that another, a Hispanic applicant, wanted a first-floor apartment so that he could “buy drugs on the street.”

The latter is thought to be Antonio Banderas, who applied for an apartment with wife Melanie Griffith but was denied at the time the suit alleges the slurs were made.

It almost seems ludicrous to consider the possibility, particularly since Fletcher and singer Roberta Flack are longtime residents of the complex. We do need to keep in mind, however, that racism comes in various forms and is a sliding scale. It is rarely an all-consuming or extreme practice.

There also exists the possibility of tokenism. Presence of a handful of minority tenants may not necessarily indicate that race doesn’t play a factor.

Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith. Image via Wikipedia

The incredible wealth of both the plaintiff and defendants makes this an interesting case. Lawsuits alleging racial discrimination are a tough pill for a lot of Americans to swallow, since many would prefer to think that the bias doesn’t exist in practice. Add millionaires to the mix and you’re apt to be received with even more apprehension.

I will say this: we have an extra room in my apartment to rent out should Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith still need or desire an apartment in the Empire State. The rent’s a lot cheaper, too, and there’s no shortage of things to do in the area.

Know what? I’ll throw in the dresser we have, too. It’s a bit scuffed, but it’s free.

ALBANY FOR ANTONIO. Catchy, no?