The NAACP and the constitutional law clinic at Rutgers LawSchool Newark are suing six New Jersey towns over their hiringpractices, charging that because their populations areoverwhelmingly white, the strong preference given to residentshas the effect of excluding minorities from municipal jobs.
The towns Belleville, Garfield, Lodi, North Arlington,Parsippany-Troy Hills and Saddle Brook hire nonresidents forpublic jobs only if no qualified residents are available,according to the suits, filed in U.S. District Court in Newarkbetween June 17 and Aug. 20. All allege violations of Title VIIof the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
