Condo's Decision To Ban Boy From Bike Riding Upheld: Ruling

WEST BABYLON, NY — A state agency recently ruled that a West Babylon condo board did not discriminate against a little boy after his parents were warned against having the 4-year-old ride his tricycle in the area, according to multiple reports.

Last year, Robert and Angelica Parker reported to several news outlets that they received a warning letter from the vice president of South Shore Villas Condo, Marie Dellafranca, in response to their son, Liam, riding his tricycle and scooter in a common area located in front of their condo on Route 109. The letter warned the couple that they could face a $150 fine.

Dellafranca told the couple the letter was sent out after receiving complaints from three families in the complex regarding kids playing in the area, which was allegedly against the condo association's by-laws. The letter stated that the rule was that kids were not allowed to play on common area, but the couple claims after reading through, they could not find where this rule was written anywhere in the condominium's by-laws, the New York Post reports.

The Parkers thought this could be a possible act of discrimination after speaking to the other two families who told them they did not receive any letters, so they claimed 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 in 2019. "He also happens to be the only Latino child. So that raises questions about the possible motive for something like that."

In response, the couple then filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which was then sent to the New York State Division of Human Rights who ruled last month that the evidence "does not support that respondents harassed complainant because of his familial status, his child’s race/color or national origin," according to Newsday.

The agency stated the reason for the ruling was because they found the complaint was made due to the fact that the Parkers' son was making excessive noise while playing, not due to his race. Division director William LaMot told the New York Post that the Parker family wasn't the only one to receive the warning, and that two others were sent to at least two other tenants.