Boy Banned From Riding Bike Outside; Parents Claim Discrimination

WEST BABYLON, NY - A 4-year-old boy riding his tricycle outside his home led to complaints, two warning letters and the threat of a $150 fine for his parents.

Robert and Angelica Parker told several news outlets that they first received a warning letter from the vice president of South Shore Villas Condo, Marie Dellafranca, back in May. The letter was in response to their son, Liam, riding his tricycle and scooter in a common area located in front of their condo on Route 109 in West Babylon.

Dellafranca told the couple the letter was sent out after complaints have been received regarding kids from three families were seen playing in the area, which was allegedly not allowed according to the condo association's by-laws. According to the letter, the rule was that kids were not allowed to play on common area, despite the fact that the couple could not find where this rule was written anywhere in the condominium's by-laws, the New York Post reports. Afterwards, a second warning letter was sent to the family about three months later, stating that if the Parkers did not keep their son from playing in that area, the couple would be fined.

However, the Parkers are stating they believe this is a possible act of discrimination. After speaking to the other two families who told them they did not receive any letters, they believe they were targeted due to the fact that Angelica is from the Dominican Republic, PIX11 reports.

"It makes us question why he’s the only one, considering other children play outside here all the time," Robert told Pix11. "He also happens to be the only Latino child. So that raises questions about the possible motive for something like that."

However, both Marie Dellafranca and her husband, Vincent Dellafranca, the owner of the Dellafranca development company which built the complex, say this isn't true. In fact, according to Vincent, they didn't even make the rules.

"Because of rules and regulations that the [New York State Attorney General] came up with. We just follow the rules." he told Pix11.

The couple still believes this is a violation of the Fair Housing Act and have filed a discrimination complaint, Newsday reports.

The Fair Housing Act was created to "protects people from discrimination when they are renting or buying a home, getting a mortgage, seeking housing assistance, or engaging in other housing-related activities," according to the US Department of Housing Urban Development.

Vincent says that while he has a "heart for kids," it becomes a liability issue when kids play in areas around the condos such as the sidewalk and the parking lot.

"...unfortunately there are people in that complex who, whether they want to admit it or not, do not have a heart for kids. They don’t want to hear kids screaming and playing in front of their door or riding on the sidewalks," he told the NY Post.