U.S. sues Baltimore over group homes

BALTIMORE, April 25 (UPI) -- The U.S. Attorney's Office says the city of Baltimore must stop discriminating against group homes for drug treatment patients in its city ordinances.

Federal prosecutors filed suit against the city Friday, following through on longstanding threats to force Baltimore to alter ordinances that allegedly prevent the establishment of drug treatment group homes there, The (Baltimore) Sun reported.

In the suit, U.S. officials target city codes requiring group home owners to gain special permission from the City Council, unlike other types of disabled housing, the newspaper said.

"Persons with disabilities must not be subject to different, and more burdensome, zoning standards because of unfounded stereotypes," Loretta King, acting assistant attorney general for the civil rights division, told The Sun in an e-mailed statement. "Drug treatment programs are vital to our nation's health. We must not allow discrimination to prevent such programs from opening."

City Solicitor George Nilson told the newspaper he was disappointed with the suit, especially because Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon was nearing a compromise with City Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake on proposed changes to the city code.