Condo Residents Get Shabbat Elevator, Ending Discrimination Complaints

Today's Baltimore Jewish Times reports that efforts by Orthodox Jewish residents of the Strathmore Tower condominium in Baltimore (MD) to obtain a "Shabbat elevator" have finally been successful. The 6-3 vote by the condominium board to start work on the changes resolves a two-year dispute in which the Maryland Commission on Human Relations issued a report finding probable cause for charges of religious discrimination. The condominium builder will cover the $3000 cost of modifying the elevator so it can be set to automatically stop at every floor on Saturdays. The Human Relations Commission is monitoring the situation and also wants the condo's bylaws changed to assure religious accommodation and a ban on religious discrimination. (See prior related posting.)