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Recognizing and honoring Rue Landau for her incredibly impactful work as Executive Director of both the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations and Fair Housing Commission, and congratulating her on her new career in academia as the “Beck Professor” at Temple University Beasley School of Law.
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WHEREAS, For the past 12 years, Rue Landau, Esquire has served as the Executive Director of both the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations (PCHR) and the Fair Housing Commission (FHC); and
WHEREAS, Landau was first appointed to lead the PCHR and FHC by Mayor Michael Nutter in 2008. Landau was reappointed and remained serving as Executive Director of both Commissions under Mayor Jim Kenney. Prior to her appointment in these roles, Landau served as a senior attorney in the Housing Unit of Community Legal Services; and
WHEREAS, PCHR is Philadelphia’s civil rights agency and is tasked with enforcing the City’s Fair Practices Ordinance. The agency also investigates complaints of discrimination and violations of civil rights law, in addition to resolving community conflicts. The FHC is Philadelphia’s agency charged with enforcing the Philadelphia Fair Housing Ordinance, and also addressing unfair rental practices in housing and other landlord-tenant related disputes; and
WHEREAS, Under Landau’s leadership, both agencies worked tirelessly at expanding Philadelphia’s Fair Practices Ordinance and Fair Housing Ordinance to add protections that improved the lives of Philadelphians, including wage equity, fair chance hiring for individuals with criminal records, and “good cause” eviction protections; and
WHEREAS, Landau’s career and service to the Philadelphia community has been marked with numerous awards, including the Equal Justice Award from Community Legal Services (2020), the Cheryl Ingram Advocate for Justice Award from the Philadelphia Bar Association’s LGBT Rights Division (2019), the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award on behalf of the PCHR (2016), the Building Bridges, Opening Doors Award from HIAS PA (2010), and “Lawyer on the Fast Track” by The Legal Intelligencer (2006); and
WHEREAS, Landau will leave City government effective Friday, December 18, 2020. She will go on to serve as the new “Beck Professor” at Temple University Beasley School of Law. The Beck Chair in Law at Temple University Beasley School of Law was established through the Independence Foundation for the purpose of adding notable leaders and outstanding scholars in law to the faculty of the law school. In her new role, Landau will teach housing law to Temple Law students; and
WHEREAS, One of Landau’s last projects with the city was working on an update to Philadelphia’s Fair Criminal Records Screening law, to ensure that current employees of businesses receive the same protections as applicants under the law and are not disqualified for new opportunities, such as promotions, based on old convictions; and
WHEREAS, Landau will forever be regarded by those who had the opportunity to work with her within the city as a “rock star” and one of Philadelphia’s fiercest advocates for civil rights and social justice; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby recognizes and honors Rue Landau for her incredibly impactful work as Executive Director of both the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations and Fair Housing Commission, and congratulating her on her new career in academia as the “Beck Professor” at Temple University Beasley School of Law.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Rue Landau as evidence of the sincere appreciation and respect of this legislative body.
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