Mr. Eaton also favors voluntary compliance in the lodging industry, as an alternative to regulations prohibiting smoking.

He asked those who favored compliance to "look at the school system, where the number of white students is down from 60 percent to 40 percent."

Those who favor compliance say that legal appeals have been all but exhausted.

The two Democratic candidates favor compliance with the housing order.

Mr. Wasicsko said it established the existence of a "silent majority" favoring compliance with the housing order.

Mr. Spencer favors compliance, but with reservations.

The plan has been put forward more recently by Canopy, an organization of neighborhood groups that favor compliance.

Those favoring compliance with the housing plan say virtually all challenges have been exhausted and it is foolhardy to invest more money in legal costs.