Federal attorneys seek to intervene in Haymarket lawsuit against Itasca
Federal attorneys are seeking to join a lawsuit against Itasca over the village’s rejection of plans for an addiction treatment and recovery facility.
Haymarket Center filed the original complaint in January 2022, arguing that Itasca officials violated civil rights laws by denying a proposed 240-bed treatment center at the site of a vacant hotel.
The federal lawsuit came months after Itasca trustees in November 2021 unanimously voted against the proposal.
Now, the U.S. attorney’s office in Chicago has filed a motion to intervene as a plaintiff in the pending lawsuit.
Itasca Mayor Jeff Pruyn reacted on Friday by saying the village “will continue to pursue every avenue available to us to ensure that justice prevails and the truth is upheld.”
According to documents filed Thursday, federal attorneys contend that the village “engaged in disparate treatment by employing a host of unprecedented and highly anomalous tactics to frustrate Haymarket’s treatment center proposal.”
The complaint alleges that village officials concocted a pretextual narrative that the treatment center would impose severe economic harm on the region, while also fanning the flames of residents’ fears by issuing numerous public statements disparaging Haymarket and its supporters.
The complaint contends that the village also failed to fulfill its accommodation obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act before denying Haymarket’s zoning request.
In a letter to residents Friday, Pruyn said the evidence supporting the village’s case is “overwhelming.”
“We are offended by their unfair and inaccurate conclusions, which we firmly believe do not reflect the truth of our situation. The DOJ has been wrong before, and we believe they are wrong again in this instance,” Pruyn wrote. “Let me assure you: We will not settle for mere words on paper.”
Haymarket Center leaders issued a statement saying they are heartened by the Department of Justice’s finding that the nonprofit provider “faced a ‘discriminatory’ and ‘onerous’ zoning application process” in their effort to open a treatment center in the village.
“By filing to intervene in this case, the DOJ joins Haymarket Center in our efforts to reinforce equality and fairness in healthcare, address discrimination and inequities against those with substance abuse disorder and protect vulnerable populations by ensuring access to life-saving treatment,” Haymarket President and CEO Dan Lustig said in the statement. “As always, we welcome the opportunity to find a resolution with Itasca leaders and hope the DOJ filing moves us closer to opening Haymarket DuPage.”
Haymarket’s lawsuit alleged officials violated the Fair Housing Act and other laws that prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities, including individuals in treatment for substance use and mental health disorders.
Village officials, however, have maintained that Itasca, a town of less than 10,000, lacks the infrastructure to support a treatment center that would serve thousands of patients a year.
“The Village of Itasca has always stood for integrity, fairness, and what is right for our community. I believe we have diligently followed all legal procedures and regulations when making decisions that impact our village,” Pruyn wrote. “Rest assured, we will not stop fighting for what is right for Itasca. Our commitment to upholding the values and best interests of our community remains unwavering.”
Trustees voted against the project after two years and more than 35 public hearings. Throughout the process, Haymarket faced stiff opposition from many residents, who insisted the facility would cost the town tax revenue, hurt property values and strain emergency medical services.
Residents rallied before public hearings, posted yard signs, wore matching “small town proud” T-shirts and created a “No Haymarket Itasca” Facebook page.