PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The state ACLU and three other organizations are asking Mayor Angel Taveras to veto an ordinance created to help neighborhoods with houses that repeatedly have unruly parties or illegal drug activities, or need police intervention.
The owners, people living there and others could be fined $100 for the first offense, and $500 each additional offense. Owners of a house deemed a "chronic nuisance" could get a daily $500 fine and civil penalty up to $25,000.
The groups say the ordinance may encourage discrimination and racial profiling by landlords who may now have to pay for their tenants' bad behavior and activities.
The City Council approved it 12-to-1 this week. Taveras' press secretary said Sunday he has not decided whether to sign it.
The original version of this story was posted at 1:43 p.m.