City of Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission is awarded $100,000

For Immediate Release

Harkin Announces $420,000 for Fair Housing in Iowa

WASHINGTON D.C.-Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) has awarded $422,622 to seven Iowa cities. FHAP aims to assist state and local agencies that administer fair housing laws. The assistance includes support for complaint processing, training, technical assistance, data and information systems, and other fair housing projects. The program is also designed to provide incentives for states and localities to assume a greater share of the responsibility for administering fair housing laws. Senator Harkin is a senior member of the Appropriations subcommittee that funds HUD.

“Quality, affordable housing is one of our most basic needs,” said Harkin. “I am pleased the federal government is providing funding to Iowa cities that will allow each of them to take responsibility for fair housing laws and projects in their communities.”

Details of the funding are as followings:
Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission-$100,000
Davenport Civil Rights Commission-$64,285
Des Moines Human Rights Department-$44,680
Iowa Civil Rights Commission-$37,200
Mason City Human Rights Commission-$86,802
Sioux City Human Rights Commission-$23,655
Waterloo Commission on Human Rights-$66,000

Note: Robin Tucker, Realtor with Tommy Tucker Realty Co. serves on the 11-member Civil Rights Commission for the City of Cedar Rapids.

Section 8 and Lawful Sources of Income

As a Realtor and Property Manager for Tommy Tucker Realty Co., we consider all lawful sources of income from customers in the application process for houses we operate for rent. Not all properties or property owners are suited for use of Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program. In talking to a prospective customer (applicant) today, we discovered that the property they seeked was above the price guidelines for the prospective tenant's voucher.

City to Offer Free Section 8 Landlord Orientation Sessions

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – January 25, 2012 – The City of Cedar Rapids Housing Services/Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program will be offering free landlord orientation sessions for all landlords, leasing agents, rental managers and maintenance personnel.

The two hour presentation will include an overview of the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program, tenant demographics, common forms and leases, evictions/program violations, and Section 8 inspections and common repairs.
Individuals can register to attend one of the four sessions scheduled for the following dates:

• Wednesday, February 8, 2012 from 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.


• Wednesday, May 2, 2012 from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.


• Wednesday, August 8, 2012 from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.


• Wednesday, November 7, 2012 from 5:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m.
  

The February 8 and May 2 sessions will be held at the Housing Services Office Conference Room, located at 1211 6Th Street SW. Locations for the August 8 and November 7 sessions are yet to be determined. Future updates and more information can be found at the following website under Landlord Resources:

www.cedar-rapids.org/government/departments/community-development/section8rentassistance. To find out more the Section 8 landlord orientation sessions, please contact Jim Borschel at (319) 286-5181 or j.borschel@cedar-rapids.org.

Neighborhood Safety Forum in Cedar Rapids at 7 p.m. on Monday, January 23

We begin the fourth week of 2012 in Cedar Rapids today.

This morning, Realtor Robin Tucker attended a Realtor Government Affairs committee meeting at the Cedar Rapids Area Association of Realtors. An Noon, the Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids had a program from the University of Iowa College of Public Health. Tonight, there will be a Neighborhood Safety Forum at St. Paul's UMC at 7 p.m.

Council Member Pat Shey is hosting the Neighborhood Safety Forum. Pat Shey represents District 3 on the City Council for Cedar Rapids.

The purpose of this forum is to provide information to help residents make their homes and neighborhoods safer. We will discuss current crime statistics, what you can do to protect your home, how you can make your neighborhood safer, and what you should do if you experience a crime or witness suspicious activity.

Robin Tucker, as one of the new Commissioners on the Civil Rights Commission, said he plans to attend. At last week's first Commission meeting, he decided to join the Outreach Committee for the Commission for 2012. Tucker is one of two new members of the 11 member citizen Commission.

Pat Shey to Host Neighborhood Safety Forum on Jan. 23
City Council Member Pat Shey will host a Neighborhood Safety Forum on Monday, January 23, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, located at 1340 3rd Ave SE, especially for residents of District 3.

“The purpose of this forum is to provide the citizens of Cedar Rapids with information that will help them make their homes and neighborhoods safer,” said Shey. “We will discuss current crime statistics, what you can do to protect your home, how you can make your neighborhood safer, and what you should do if you experience a crime or witness suspicious activity.”

The forum will feature a panel discussion, moderated by Shey, which will include the following experts from the Cedar Rapids Police Department: Lt. Jerry Potter, Sgt. Matthew Welsh, Investigator Michael Bailey and Crime Analyst Dawn Stanford. There will be an opportunity to ask questions and share concerns during the forum.

Residents with personal experiences to share are encouraged to submit a written narrative or statement before the forum and send them to Pat.Shey@cedar-rapids.org. All statements will be compiled, scanned and share with all who are interested.

The first half of January is now in the books: Real Estate, Taxes and More

We hope your New Year is off to a good start. It certainly seems like a fast start. If you have questions, regarding property management or real estate services throughout the year, we hope you will call on us at Tommy Tucker Realty Co.

We are marketing a couple of two bedroom bungalows for rent in NE Cedar Rapids at the present time. Rents start at $550.00 per month.

We have an executive four bedroom home for rent in SE Cedar Rapids at 290 Indiandale Road SE. This property is an over 3,000 square foot home and is currently being updated with new fixtures and decorating. Rent is listed at $1,600 per month and with the updates, this will be a great value. Two story house, fenced rear yard, with garage for three and many features on a quiet dead-end street.

On Wednesday, two meetings are already scheduled for the New Year. Our first monthly Realtor luncheon and in the evening, the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission will hold the first monthly meeting of 2012 at 5:30 pm.

We invite you to stop by and read our newsletter during the year. If you would ever like to talk about your business needs, please give us a call or set up an appointment.

Realtor® Robin Tucker is one of two appointed by City to serve on Civil Rights Commission

On January 10Th, Mayor Ron Corbett with the consent of the City Council appointed Robin Tucker, a Realtor® with Tommy Tucker Realty Co., and Anne Pham, an Alliant Energy employee, to the eleven member Civil Rights Commission for the City of Cedar Rapids. Tucker and Pham will fill two vacancies on the Commission through June 30, 2013.

The Commission is made up of eleven volunteer members, who are appointed by the Mayor for three-year terms, comprise the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission. Each member may serve two consecutive three-year terms. This is a policy-making body which directs the Commission staff. Commissioners are also involved in revising the local civil rights ordinance and assist staff members in their efforts to enforce these laws. The Commission annually elects a Chair and a Vice-Chair. Regularly scheduled meetings take place on the 3rd Wednesday of each month.

Robin Tucker's father, I.L. 'Tommy' Tucker, proudly served on the original Commission or Committee on Human/Civil Rights for the City of Cedar Rapids. He served for approximately 32 years and was recognized by the Commission for his past service on July 15, 2011 at a Cedar Rapids Kernals game, where he was asked to throw out the first pitch. Tommy Tucker Realty Co. is a contributor to the Friends of the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission Foundation, as is the Cedar Rapids Area Association of Realtors. (Pictured are LaVerne and Tommy Tucker, Robin's parents, with our City's Civil Rights Director Karl Cassell, along with Tommy Tucker, founder of our company throwing out the first pitch).

We believe strongly in the tradition of Equal Opportunity in employment, housing, education, public accommodations and credit in our community. "Like my father, I look forward to paying my civic rent in service to the Commission for the next 18 months," said Robin Tucker.

This Monday, January 16Th, our Nation and community will celebrate the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Holiday. Robin Tucker is scheduled to attend both the 26Th Annual Remembering Martin Luncheon at the Hotel at Kirkwood at 11 a.m., as well as the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration on Monday evening at St. Paul's UMC at 7 p.m. The evening event is open to the public and there is no charge attend, though a free will offering is taken.

Cedar Rapids Community Schools board to discuss the Closing of Schools at Tonight's Board Meeting

Two east side schools and a variety of west side schools are being considered for closure or reassignment at tonight's Cedar Rapids Community School Board meeting at 5 p.m. The meeting has been moved per The Gazette to the AEA Conference Center at 4401 Sixth Street SW to accommodate a larger audience.

New council member Olson pushes plan for west-side rec center at Harrison
Plan would benefit both rec center and school - The Gazette

Cedar Rapids school board members to hear enrollment study report Monday
Public meeting begins at 5 p.m. Monday at Grant Wood AEA - The Gazette

The enrollment study report has two proposals. For more information on each proposal, Detailed information on the Enrollment and Facilities Study Process.

C.R. schools panel turns options over to community - The Gazette 12/20 article

Wishing you and yours a Happy New Year in 2012

Our offices at Tommy Tucker Realty Co. will be closing at 2 p.m. on Friday, December 30Th, so our staff can enjoy time in ringing in the New Year with friends and family. Our offices will reopen for normal business on Tuesday, January 2, 2012 at 8:30 a.m.

Further, we want to wish both our Iowa Regent institutions in the FBS level the very best in today's Pinstripe and Insight bowl games, where Iowa State University and University of Iowa, respectively, are playing on December 30Th. Congratulations on their seasons, respectively.

If you have a service call need, please call and leave a message at 319.365.6956. We appreciate your business and want wish you and yours a Happy New Year in 2012. Robin Tucker's E-mail address is also an option at rtucker@TTRCO.com.