Iowans For Accountability (IFA) would like to remind folks that this month we celebrate four different, but very important days regarding our American heritage and history: Labor Day, Jury Rights Day, Patriot Day and Constitution Day. This year, two of the events, Labor Day and Jury Rights Day, happen to fall on the same day, and Constitution Day is technically proclaimed by law as an entire week instead of just a day. Patriot Day being the most recent addition of the four since the tragic attack on 9/11/2001. This IFA announcement includes both a brief historical summary and the local liberty movement's activities in respect to these special days in our American History.

Labor Day became a federal holiday back in 1894, following the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military and U.S. Marshals during the Pullman Strike, a nationwide conflict between labor unions and railroads. This holiday falls on the first Monday of September which was the 5th of September this year, which happens to also be Jury Rights Day this year.

Jury Rights Day is in commemoration of the William Penn case in1670 which firmly established protection for the jury, and firmly established the right of the jurors to refuse to accept bad government laws. In celebration of both Jury Rights Day and Labor Day, the Illinois Liberty Alliance of SuperLiberty.com walked in the East Moline Labor Day Parade last Monday promoting both Ron Paul for President in 2012 and The Fully Informed Jury Association.

Patriot Day occurs on September 11th of each year, designated in memory of the 2,977 killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks on the New York World Trade Center Twin Towers. In commemoration of Patriot Day, the Illinois Liberty Alliance (ILA) has adopted Veteran's Memorial Park in Moline on the north shore of the Rock River behind Blaine's Farm & Fleet off of 60th Street. There will be a sign in the park that ILA adopted the park along with the SuperLiberty.com link. There will be a park cleanup and picnic on September 24th at 10am at this location.

And finally, Constitution Day, September 17, 2011 marks the two hundred and twenty-fourth anniversary of the drafting of the Constitution of the United States of America by the Constitutional Convention. In Fact, public law 915 guarantees the issuing of a proclamation each year by the President of the United States of America designating September 17 through 23 as constitution week.

Iowans For Accountability, in conjunction with the local tea party movement, plan to hold a, "Are You Hearing Us Now?" Constitutional Counties March, Rally and News Conference that day. People of all parties and affiliates are invited to walk from the Scott County Courthouse/Jail to the Rock Island County Courthouse/Jail in solidarity and as an expression of hope that our local law enforcement leadership and rank and file deputies and officers will reflect upon the times we all live in and how important it is they honor their oaths of office to uphold the federal and state constitutions.

Certified mailers with constitutional educational material, produced by former law enforcement leaders who won a historic Supreme Court case over state sovereignty and the duty of LEO to protect individual rights will have been sent to all local law enforcement personnel earlier that week.

IFA hopes that our local communities public servants and members of the communities will join us in our celebration of our Month of Liberty by participating in the various events. These historical events should never be lost or forgotten, and these are great opportunities for folks to learn more about their own history and serving their fellow Americans.

East Moline's Labor Day Parade was a fun filled day for many folks on Monday, September the 5th. Among the many floats and walking groups in the parade, the Illinois Liberty Alliance of the SuperLiberty.com group sponsored entry of the Ron Paul 2012 Presidential grassroots volunteers teamed up with the Fully Informed Jury Association (FIJA) to also celebrate Jury Rights Day which happened to fall on the same day as Labor Day this year.

The Illinois Liberty Alliance entry rolled through the parade with 11 volunteers, A white Ron Paul 2012 decorated van playing Ron Paul supporting music, two FIJA banners which read, "Called for Jury Duty? Know your Rights. FIJA.ORG", over 3,500 pieces of literature, and bags of candy and balloons. The literature included Ron Paul newspapers made by an Iowa grassroots group and Jury Rights Day cards created by the Fully Informed Jury Association (FIJA).

 

Nancy Brandt of Henry County was the coordinator of this event. "We spent 5 1/2 hours stamping the literature with "Illinois Liberty Alliance. Find us at: SuperLiberty.com". We enjoyed walking with the banners, and we distributed 1600-1700 Jury Rights Day cards at East Moline, Illinois' Labor Day Parade. One man I gave a card to said, 'I better look at this. I've got jury duty coming up.' I told him to go to the FIJA website."

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced that it is charging John and Nancy Meany, owners of an apartment building in Traer, Iowa, with violating the Fair Housing Act for refusing to accommodate a request from a family with a child with cerebral palsy.  HUD brings the charge on behalf of the child and her mother, claiming the owners refused to allow the seven-year-old girl to have a medically-prescribed emotional support animal. Additionally, the owners allegedly told the mother that if she got the animal, she would have to either move or pay more money to stay.

The Fair Housing Act makes it unlawful for landlords to refuse a reasonable accommodation in their rules, policies, practices, or services when needed to provide persons with disabilities an equal opportunity to use or enjoy a dwelling. It is also against the law to impose different rules and restrictions on those who make such request, including charging them extra.

"Threatening parents with eviction for requesting an emotional support animal for a child with disabilities or charging more for having one is against the law," said John Trasviña, HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. "HUD is committed to ensuring that landlords comply with fair housing laws and provide the accommodations that may be necessary for tenants with disabilities to have the same opportunities to enjoy their homes."

According to HUD's charge, the mother and her daughter were aware of the housing provider's "no-pet policy" when they moved in and did not contest it at that time.  Later, recalling that the Labrador retriever who previously lived with them had alleviated stress for her daughter, the mother asked the owners to permit the daughter to have a dog live with them, and provided documentation of the need for the animal from the daughter's pediatrician and therapist.  The owners denied the request, stating, "We are not intending to modify the 'no pet policy' on our property." The owners further stated that if the mother insisted on bringing the dog in to help her daughter to better cope with her condition, they would collect a $200 deposit and charge an extra $25 per month more for rent.

The mother and child eventually moved out of the building to another apartment, which cost more and was much farther from the child's school. 

HUD's charge will be heard by a United States Administrative Law Judge unless any party to the charge elects to have the case heard in federal district court. If an administrative law judge finds after a hearing that discrimination has occurred, he may award damages to aggrieved persons for the discrimination.

The judge may also order injunctive relief and other equitable relief to deter further discrimination, as well as payment of attorney fees. In addition, the judge may impose fines in order to vindicate the public interest. If the matter is decided in federal court, the judge may also award punitive damages to aggrieved persons.

FHEO and its partners in the Fair Housing Assistance Program investigate more than 10,000 housing discrimination complaints annually. People who believe they are the victims of housing discrimination should contact HUD at 1-800-669-9777 (voice), (800) 927-9275 (TTY).

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CHARLES CITY, Iowa - July 26, 2011 - USDA Rural Utilities Service Administrator Jonathan Adelstein met with businesses leaders from north central Iowa today to discuss ways local communities and businesses can collaborate with state and federal agencies to help improve economic conditions and create jobs. The meeting today was part of a series of roundtables that are being held across the country this summer with senior Administration officials on behalf of the White House Business Council and White House Rural Council. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is the chair of the White House Rural Council.

"Today's roundtable was a tremendous opportunity for me to learn about the challenges local businesses owners are facing and what type of opportunities they see ahead," said Adelstein. "It was clear that creating new job opportunities is extremely important for rural Iowans. The federal government, through its various programs, is committed to helping improve economic opportunities in rural America."

In the last 10 years 66 of Iowa's 99 counties saw a population decline, with counties in north central Iowa facing some of the largest population losses of any area of the state. Floyd County, which includes Charles City, recorded a 3.5 percent population loss in the 2010 Census compared to 2000 figures. Of the eight counties surrounding Floyd County only one has managed to gain population since 2000.

White House Business Council members plan to host roundtables in at least 100 communities across the country by year-end. The purpose of these roundtables is to listen to local businesses and get feedback on how the Administration can best support their growth. It is also to make sure that local business leaders are taking advantage of the Administration resources and programs designed to help them create jobs and compete.

The meetings give an opportunity for government leaders to hear directly from business leaders around the country about their ideas on how to grow the economy. This exchange also is intended to educate business and community leaders about USDA programs and other the resources within the federal government to help them compete and expand.

In June, President Obama signed an Executive Order establishing the first White House Rural Council, chaired by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. The White House Rural Council will work throughout government to create policies to promote economic prosperity and a high quality of life in our rural communities.

Since taking office, President Obama's Administration has taken significant steps to improve the lives of rural Americans and has provided broad support for rural communities. The Obama Administration has set goals of modernizing infrastructure by providing broadband access to 10 million Americans, expanding educational opportunities for students in rural areas, and providing affordable health care. In the long term, these unparalleled rural investments will help ensure that America's rural communities are repopulating, self-sustaining and thriving economically.

USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, administers and manages housing, business and community infrastructure and facility programs through a national network of state and local offices. Rural Development has an existing portfolio of more than $150 billion in loans and loan guarantees. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America.

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