© 2024 Lakeshore Public Media
8625 Indiana Place
Merrillville, IN 46410
(219)756-5656
Public Broadcasting for Northwest Indiana & Chicagoland since 1987
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Gary HRC may Protect Age Class

GARY.GOV

GARY -

The Gary Human Rights Commission may start hearing cases dealing with age-based complaints, if the Gary Common Council approves a proposed amendment to the city’s civil rights ordinance.

The Public Safety Committee discussed the amendment on Tuesday that would give the Gary Human Rights Commission the ability to hear any case referred from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

HRC executive director Haneefah Khaaliq told the "Times" that one of the major changes the HRC is putting toward the ordinance is adding age as a protected class.

The Human Rights Commission currently can hear complaints from the city. The second amendment would allow it to hear complaints that also come from outside the city if they are referred by the EEOC or HUD.

The Gary Common Council will address the matter Tuesday at its regular meeting.

Sharon Jackson is the local host of "All Things Considered" and a reporter for Lakeshore Public Radio. She has been with 89.1 FM since its launch in 2009. Sharon is also a radio DJ in Chicago, and has been since 2004. In her previous job at Metro Networks/Westwood One, she was heard on am 890 WLS, WGN radio 720 am and am 560 WIND. She has also delivered news and traffic reports on radio stations all over Chicago and the suburbs including 95.9 The River, 98.3 WCCQ and Star 96.7.