Note that in fact, the Black population in the northern suburbs went down by 7.2% between 2000 and 2010. A PDF chart by suburb, tracking population by race for 1980, 1990, 2000, and 2010 is attached to this article. See also www.interfaithhousingcenter.org

Gail, have you nailed down the reasons for the relatively low percentage of African Americans or recent immigrants in Winnetka, Kenilworth, Wilmette or Glencoe? I doubt it is racial prejudice, as opposed to the high cost of property ownership. Do you have any examples of folks that can afford the mortgage and the property taxes, yet have been turned away simply because they're not native-born and Caucasian? I'm sure such a buyer would be welcome in my neighborhood.

In order for "community organizers" to organize, in order for "social justice" advocates to advocate they require one thing... a victim. The thing is, if they cannot find a victim, they will create one. The blunt fact is that many Caucasian-Americans cannot afford to live in the north-shore suburbs either. It has nothing to do with race or ethnicity and everything to do with economics. The problem is, for the advocates, if there are no victims, there is no justification for their existence since the only tool in their toolbox is the "race card". When the only tool you own is a hammer, every problem becomes a nail.

Let me see if I have this right. After being compelled by the federal government -- at the insistence of leftist "community organizers" like ACORN and this writer to lend to virtually anyone regardless of ability to pay -- spawning the "sub-prime" loan crisis, it becomes, in the words of Schecter:

"Fifteen years of predatory lending practices targeting African Americans and Latinos and the subsequent mortgage meltdown ... have erased the homeownership gains of these groups."

Seems there is no pleasing these social engineers.

I have a solution -- let's compel all communities that vote heavily for extreme left-liberal office holders like Schakowsky and Obama to embrace a form of government-subsidized housing so that Ms. Schecter's ideal race-based quotas can be met.

We can start with Highland Park, Evanston, Glencoe, Lincoln Park, the Gold Coast and Skokie. I'm sure they'll then be able to avoid the "boredom" that Ms. Schecter so abhors due to the lack of sufficient racial diversity.

In fact, they'll likely have never a dull moment.

Studies like this only document the obvious. Anyone with two eyes, a brain and a pulse is aware that while non-white populations are growing in the suburbs, African-Americans remain largely ghettoized and frozen out. As the Third World-level inequities between the Woodlawns and Winnetkas continue to intensify, reaching the crisis point, the one-percenters so well represented in this discussion avoid reality and responsibility by shutting down their compassion and heating up the paranoid rhetoric. In siding with abstract property values over real people, crooked lenders over vulnerable borrowers, they are battening the hatches against their own humanity, and I feel sorry for them. I see that one respondent singled out Highland Park, Evanston, Glencoe, Lincoln Park, the Gold Coast and Skokie -- all communities with substantial Jewish populations -- as areas deserving of the supposed curse of diversity. in the end, all hatred has an anti-Semitic as well as a racist component -- toxic attitudes cultivated in an atmosphere of artificial conformity. Segregation whether de jure or de facto is a symptom of an unhealthy community, one characterized by blinding ignorance and paralyzing fear. Weakness is rigid and seeks uniformity and stasis; strength is supple and embraces difference, development and growth. I hope these people and communities gain the strength to see themselves as others see them, and to turn away from the dead end of mindless and heartless reaction.

When all else fails, play the two same old cards, race and anti-Semitism... in this case dressed up in the cloak of class warfare. Same old, same old... nothing to see here... move along.

winnetka, wilmette, the northern burbs writ large. always solidly white, wealthy and those are not the parameters for inclusion... or did i miss something about capitalism along the blasted path it carved into the heart of this country, and elsewhere?

Gail's "statistic claim" was a sting operation run by her organization, in which people posed as persons looking for housing. If there were any controls or recognized statistical methods employed, the press release did not mention them.

Proof of discrimination on the North Shore? Here are sales testing results from one of our most recent audits, underwritten by HUD Fair Housing Initiatives Program funding. In 2009-10, the Interfaith Housing Center conducted 14 tests to research discrimination in the north suburban sales market based upon race. Testers are always matched exactly -- by family composition, income, and interest -- except for one variable factor, race in this case. 41%, or 9 tests, showed probable cause of discrimination. Here's a sampling of comments and actions that indicate differential treatment. Firm names are redacted.

1. Possible Steering
A matched pair of testers inquired with a real estate agent from a noted firm about an ad for a condo unit for sale in Evanston, found on Craigslist. The test was based on previous tests that indicated possible discrimination by this agent. Both testers asked to see units for sale in addition to the unit assigned. Both testers were able to see the unit; however, the control tester (Caucasian) was shown an additional unit in a primarily white section of Evanston that was not shown to the variable tester (African American).

2. Discouraging Comments
A matched pair of testers inquired with an agent from a noted firm about an ad for a single family home for sale in Highland Park, found on Craigslist. Both testers were able to view the unit. Both indicated interest in looking at homes in the Highland Park area; however, the variable (African American) tester was asked if he was sure he wanted to live “way out” in Highland Park even though both testers were equally relocating from out of town to jobs within 10 miles of the suburb.

3. Differential Treatment (more information given to control tester)
A matched pair of testers was assigned to inquire about a single family home for sale in Winnetka with a real estate agent from a noted firm. The home for sale was found online at the firm's website. Both testers indicated they would be interested in learning more about other homes for sale that were similar to the initial ad. The control (Caucasian) tester was shown the initial property assigned and given many listing sheets for other homes in the area. The variable (African American) tester was shown the initial property and given information for that property, but only a list of other properties in the area for sale, not listing sheets with information about each property.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer Housing Discrimination Investigator for the Interfaith Housing Center of the Northern Suburbs and helping to investigate a complaint or audit the housing market, please contact us. We provide training. Testing is a method of investigating discrimination that has been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court (Havens Realty Corp. v. Coleman: http://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/455/363/case.html). Thank you!

Gail, thanks for clarifying your methodology. The sample is too small, and there are too many variables unaccounted for, to support the belief that housing discrimination is rampant on the North Shore. The Havens case concerned testers' standing to sue a single landlord, and didn't address the community-wide discrimination that your article implies. I am confident that the vast majority of our community welcomes neighbors of all races, ethnicities and creeds, as long as they are reasonable with the leaf-blower, loud music and outdoor pets. Good luck with your work, but perhaps think twice before you paint entire communities as discriminatory.

The issue is so much more complicated than a simple analysis of housing statistics by race.

I was astounded to see the large numbers of big businesses and area bnks who are funding Schecter's outfit. What is even more outrageous is that our tax dollars are going to pay for Schecter's salary and by extension, her antics. Would someone please tell me why the Governments of Northfield, New Trier and Niles Townships are funding this outfit? If ever there was a decisive argument for eliminating the useless Township level of government, here it is.

It's sort of sad to see this sort of discussion here on Evanston Patch. The 9th Congressional District is overwhelmingly Democrat and leans far to the left. How can there be racial discrimination in such a district?

I thought it was the conservatives/Republicans that are the racists. At least that what Democrats constantly tell us. Perhaps, the Democrats are wrong. Perhaps, the Democrats are just pointing the finger at the other side to cover up their own racial animosity.

The unemployment rate among black folks is around 15 percent. I'd be more concerned about the unemployment rate for black folks than I would be about this housing discrimination thing. No job, no housing.

Where are the jobs? We were told by this Administration that the unemploymeent rate would be 6 percent right about now. What is the government doing to help the economy?

The Keystone XL pipe line would have created jobs immediately-something we desparately need, but the Administration said no to the jobs.

Amazing how leftists think-even with a black President elected by a majority white country-they still find racism all over the USA! Or maybe that is how they keep their jobs and grants with their "culture of complaint." They insist on equality of result, not equality of opportunity (which we should all want.) With the vast network of antidiscrimination laws and agencies with the goal to correct injustice, are they seeking to find a problem where none exists?

It's all comes down to liberals and progressives vs haters ... When someone drops out of high school, overeats, or fails to exercise, you tell us that their behavior is only "human."  But if a conservative or libertarian objects to paying taxes to help people who make these choices, you get angry.  Question: Why are you so forgiving of people with irresponsible lifestyles, but so outraged by people who don't want to pay taxes to help people with irresponsible lifestyles?  This seems morally perverse.  If you're going to single anyone out for condemnation, it should be the person who behaves irresponsibly in the first place, not the complete stranger who asks, "How is this my fault?"

It is amazing that Obama's HUD just gave a grant of $235k to Schechter's Alinsky-styled outfit -- and dimwit Dold praised the grant, and then after someone clued him in, apologized. A new administration will have to make a priority of defunding the Left, just as was done during the 1st Reagan administration.

To see a lampoon of Schechter's above maunderings, go here: http://bit.ly/wFLLjT

Without an opressed african american communtiy that votes 95% democrat.......there would be no democractic party in america. Sorry its the facts jack.

Anyone with an iota of understanding of what is going on in Illinois, Chicago, Cook County and the north suburbs should leave the state if they can. There is no future there for anyone rich, poor, black or white.

It's interesting that Ms. Schechter hasn't chimed in to comment about the effects of our (poor) public schools on minorities, particularly since she is a teacher. It's been more than a half century since Brown v. Board of Education and still the education that children of color receive is miserable.

I'd like to hear from Ms. Schechter the reason why the education in minorities, particularly in portions of the country that are controlled by Democrats, is so poor.

I just read a few days ago that public school teachers in Chicago are asking for a 30 percent raise in salary over the next two years, in part to compensate the CPS teachers for longer days. It would seem that if the CPS teachers were really interested in their students that they would gladly put in the extra time (without compensation) to make sure that the students in their charge are successfully educated. "It's for the children", don't you know.

Given the failure rate of students in the CPS, it would seem that the teachers should be having their salaries cut, instead of increased. With the failure rate of students in the CPS, one has to wonder why Ms. Schechter isn't investigating the public education system in Chicago and other large cities controlled by Democrats.

One certainly can say with 100 percent certainty that the Republicans in Chicago have nothing to do with the failure of the CPS to educate Chicago's children-there are no Republicans ("the haters") in Chicago government.

Responses in these forums could be ideas for improvement or personal experiences rather than angry rants and character bashing. In a public forum such as this, lets try to make our voices agents for positive change and creative problem solving and use other venues to release our hatred and anger please. The issues are valid and get lost in the side-taking. It's as if some people think the published data threatens them personally. Why it that? Why can't affordable housing and economic improvements be a non partisan effort? Think of what we could accomplish if we just respond to one idea at a time instead of bringing in so many other issues at once? Yes, there is injustice and inequality in the Chicago area and it is for all of us to try to help overcome it somehow, even if only to listen and talk reasonably with each other. Wouldn't that be a start to making a change?

In the great reckoning these poverty warriors will be called to account. Woe be unto those who pave a road to ruin with fools' gold. Let me aks you something, how shall we treat the guilty who have profiteered on the backs of the poor. the rainbo coalition has enslaved the poor.
"after it rains there's a rainbow
and all of the colors are black'
its not that the color's not there,
its just imagine they lack.
and nothing ever changes.

Liberals unfortunately are largely folks who do not believe in the lessons of history and who wish to impress that disbelief on those who disagree by force if necessary. Diversity to them is a goal in itself without regard to the divisions it causes if there is not cultural unity of purpose. Consider the history of Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America etc. There is no more certain way to destroy a country than to have divided culture, language, religion or political values. While diversity for the sake of may satisfy some perverse sense of morality, it can be very destructive if there is no underlying sense of unity of purpose accepted by the entire community.

Schechter's outfit has a little subgroup to deal with education. Among other things, they welcomed Rev. Meeks' protest at New Trier HS. They also say they are committed to "a good public (government school) education" for every child.

I thought this was an "Interfaith" group. So they aren't interested in advocating free choice in education whereby parents chould choose with a tax voucher a non-governmental school? Funny position for an ostensibly religious "Interfaith" group. Are there no Catholics involved in Schechter's outfit? How about Orthodox Jews who send their kids to Yeshivas?

Fact is, most of the urban planners and other social engineers on Schechter's fat government subsidized payroll have probably not seen the inside of a house of worship in decades. The "Interfaith" appelation was just to keep with Saul Alinsky's recommendation that his radical activists should try to bamboozle the public with phoney religious affiliations. What frauds these leftists are!

Hey, no one is opposed to private education, as long as the public isn't billed for it, which would seem to be the definition of "private." The fact that religious institutions are tax exempt is already a generous subsidy, and to increase government support would be to invite government control of a pillar of civil society. The founding fathers understood this, and that is why we do not have an established church in the US -- to protect both religion and state from a mutually compromising entanglement. It is the mark of a wingnut to want it both ways -- i.e., less government "interference," more ideological control.

The Interfaith Housing Center is not a seminary, it is a group dedicated to enforcing the fair housing laws passed almost 50 years ago, which are still routinely flouted. It is allied with several dozen congregations in the area that do not share the last respondent's tribal view of religion. They understand that faith without a hunger for justice is just selfish superstition, akin to whistling gaily past the homeless shelter, knowing that one's own soul is saved. By supporting Interfaith over the last several decades, these congregants are attempting to make their faith real. They know that the organization does good work, and is committed to making this corner of the world a better place. That does not strike me as fraudulent or phony -- which, by the way, is not spelled with an "e," as most public school students and graduates would know.

I guess the increase in violent crime has nothing to do with added diversity in Skokie, and the roving bands of black teenagers attacking white people

RB (aka code pink guy): "Richard was proud to point out the Bobby Jidall Louisiana method. They voucher there."

Governor Jindal's proposal to allow vouchers for private schools introduces competition into education. Like most everything else in America where government is involved, our public schools are a mess. (Our public schools have become politicized by teachers and teachers unions.)

We know that religious schools have done a better job educating our children than the public schools. Why not allow religous schools to participate in a voucher system?

As an aside, Governor Jindal would make an excellent vice-presidential candidate, but hopefully Governor Romney will not choose him. Louisiana needs Governor Jindal. Governor Jindal will make an excellent president someday.

RB (aka code pink guy): "The Governor is providing 'education' vouchers to windowless 'schools' without libraries, and few 'teachers'. They 'teach' by DVD. No advanced math theory. If its not in their Bible, they get no lernin."

RB, the more you write, the less intelligent I think you are.

Schools in Louisana are licensed by the State. The Louisiana State Fire Marshal's Office requires all classrooms to be provided with windows, except in buildings protected throughout by a (fire) sprinkler system. But, you probably didn't know that.

The internet is an electronic libary at everyone's fingertips. Libraries as we have thought of them for the last hundred years are obsolete.

Few teachers and electronic learning is the future of education. Webinars as a means of instruction are commonplace in both the public and private sectors today.

Our public schools are a "miserable failure". It only makes sense to look for other ways to educate our children. Bravo Governor Jindal.

The left in America has no interest in educating our children, only indoctrinating our children. Public school teachers and teachers' unions are part of the indoctrination of our children. Using technology to educate our children will put teachers out of work and end the indoctrination.

God forbid our children stumble across the American Thinkler or Townhall websites or maybe listen to Rush Limbaugh in their own. Censorship of diverse opinion is what the left is all about.

RB (code pink guy): "Rich (aka oxyMORON). The fire Marshall in you is coming out. The American in me is coming out. Windowless? That's what you focus on? Well, I focus on the impact of taking impressionable children and interspersing Bible verses with everything they attempt to indoctrinate them with. Some of these schools teach by DVD, few 'teachers'. The reporter toured the 'school' and the room was windowless. And they was not teaching any advanced science. This is not a Catholic or other reasonable private education some of these schools are attempting. It's a Taliban type indoctrination of ideology and Jindall passed it. Public education is not going away. Jindall is assuring it gets worse, that's all. Censorship? Romney won't answer questions about exactly when he left Bain. Was it 2002 like he testified years ago or was it 1999 like he filed on Federal forms and has been campaigning about? Since he can't get his story straight, he's just not talking to anyone but Faux and a few other right leaning reporters. He and his staff have decided the press is the enemy....a self fulfilling prophecy. Nixon felt the same way, until the press hung in there and showed what a liar he was...."

Looks like the code pink guy is all over the road. When somebody is all over the road, I'd say he's lost the argument. You really don't know much about the State of Louisiana or the health/safety standards which apply to schools. Best that you just shut your mouth.

There seems to be general agreement that economics (high property costs in particular) keep African Americans, with their "on average" lower economic status, out of the north suburbs. Why hasn't anyone commented on the zoning and other municipal actions that keep those economic barriers high? When you have minimum lot sizes, rules against density and other restrictions, housing for lower income fellow Americans will not be built. Thus, municipal action (read, "state action" for my fellow section 1983 enthusiasts) contributes directly to a lack of diversity (racial and economic). Why do these suburbs feel they have the right to build economic moats? Combined with a school funding scheme that provides grossly indadequate resources from school system to school system, is it any wonder why America now lags the rest of the world in socio-economic mobilty? America used to be the land of opportunity. No more. Now it is the land of "I got mine and I will buy as many politicians as it takes to keep it and keep you off it."

RB (aka code pink guy): "Nixon felt the same way, until the press hung in there and showed what a liar he was...."

"I did not have sex with that woman, Ms. Lewinsky." President BJ Clinton

Yes, let's go back all of the way back to the Nixon Administration (40 years ago) to find an example of a President lying. Why not just go back to last week and point out the lying of the current President?

RB (code pink guy): Rich, aka oxyMORON, if you had a TV, you could see Willard this afternoon. He is giving a few interviews. FAUX of course, no MSNBC, CNN will have a lightweight interview him. He'll say nothing, but they must be really worried to parade him out in from of some microphones. Imagine, Offshore bank accounts, offshore companies, outsourcing, and not working for Bain when he really was.....he's got some splainin to do! He also has released a grand total of 1 tax return (from 2010). That's pathetic. Maybe he did not pay taxes? That would look bad....but, very Republican, so why worry?"

RB (code pink guy), you've been off topic all day. It looks like you're cracking up under pressure. "It's the economy stupid." All that other stuff you're talking about is just trying to distract us from the Obama economy and Obamacare.

RB, aka code pink guy, since you have wandered off-topic, I will take the opportunity to do the same. The following may be of interest:

"A group called the Voter Participation Center has touted the distribution of some 5 million registration forms in recent weeks, targeting Democratic-leaning voting blocs such as unmarried women, blacks, Latinos and young adults.

But residents and election administrators around the country also have reported a series of bizarre and questionable mailings addressed to animals, dead people, noncitizens and people already registered to vote.

Brenda Charlston wasn't the only person to get documents for her pet: A Virginia man said similar documents arrived for his dead dog, Mozart, while a woman in the state got forms for her cat, Scampers.

"On a serious note, I think it's tampering with our voting system," Charlston said. "They're fishing for votes: That's how I view it." "

Source: http://www.gopusa.com/news/2012/07/13/why-voter-id-is-needed-dogs-and-dead-people-recruited-to-vote/?subscriber=1

Clearly, there is an effort underway by Democrats to undermine the validity of our election system in America.

"The ends justifies the means." I know, it doesn't matter who votes, but rather who counts the votes. Lenin and Stalin ascribed to these methods. Chicago Democrats too.