by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, Paul Perez, paid a visit to the Jacksonville Chapter of the Federal Bar Wednesday. Perez, who took office in March of 2002, talked about operation “Home Sweet Home” — a federal initiative created by U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales designed to test for discrimination in real estate. Specifically, Perez explained, in the Gulf Coast region that was ravaged by Hurricane Katrina last August.
Perez said the idea behind “Home Sweet Home” is to determine whether African-Americans are being denied the ability to rent or purchase apartments or homes in the Gulf Coast region.
“We will send in a white person and see if they are able to rent an apartment or house, then send in a black tester,” said Perez, adding that if the African-American encounters problems after the white person didn’t, the property owner will be charged.