Elected officials call for action following Newsday's report on home buying process on LI

Newsday just released its expose into the home-buying process on Long Island after a three-year investigation.

Over the course of three years, Newsday had both whites and minorities pose as home buyers.

In many cases, real estate agents warned white people about potential negative aspects of living in predominantly minority communities, such as inferior schools and high drug use. Minority people, in many cases, were not given the warnings.

Based on the results of the investigation, elected officials say they are now calling for action.

"I think one way of addressing it is on the enforcement side, making sure there's enough enforcement officials out there because they get complaints about housing discrimination action," said Suffolk County Presiding Officer DuWayne Gregory.

Two of Long Island's congressional members, Kathleen Rice and Tom Suozzi, are calling on the Department of Housing and Urban Development to investigate the allegations of racial steering.

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran is asking the county attorney to proactively enforce the county's open housing law.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone announced a four-point plan in response to the report, including the immediate hiring of an additional investigator for its Human Rights Commission. He also said the county will look to hire an outside agency to conduct housing discrimination tests.

The Long Island Board of Realtors says it takes reports of fair housing violations very seriously and that it's already started a thorough audit of its fair housing training program. The full statement can be read below.