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.

Community Event: Thurday, December 8Th at Lindale Mall

You're Invited to Resident Appreciation Night!


•Date: Thursday, December 8
•Time: 4:00 - 8:00 p.m.
•Place: Lindale Mall Food Court
City Manager Jeff Pomeranz will kick off the event with a special announcement at 4:00 p.m. to introduce a brand new City service debuting in December.

Free gift bag for the first 200 residents who stop by our booths in the Lindale Mall food court! Register to win a $50 gift certificate for recreation programs.

Join us to...

•Paint a snow plow blade
•Make an ornament craft with your friends from the Cedar Rapids Public Library
•See how a fire truck and police car work
•Meet a police K-9 dog
•Meet the firefighters and police officers that keep you safe every day
•Meet our favorite mascots: CURBY, YARDY and McGruff the Crime Dog
•Help us name the City's newest mascot, the river otter
•See photos of the newest animal to join the Bever Zoo in 2012
•Learn about the new fire station building projects, the new library and the new Amphitheater & Levee project
•Pick up a copy of winter sports locations and find out when they will be open
•See a City mapping demonstration
•Get your garbage and recycling questions answered
•Learn about bike safety and the metro trails network
•Find out how the Water Pollution Control Plant works
•Get the latest update on street improvement projects
•Find out which bus route you can take to get to work
•Provide input on the new welcome signs to be installed at the I-380 entrances to Cedar Rapids
•Participate in some community planning activities to help us build a greater community for the next generation
You'll get to know all of the services provided by the City of Cedar Rapids during this special event.

Tommy Tucker Realty Co. is not affiliated with this Community Event, but we wanted to pass the information onto residents who are interested in attending. We encourage residents to attend to learn more about our community.

Community Topic for June 4, 2011: Racial Profiling vs. Criminal Profiling Forum

The Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission is sponsoring an open forum/panel discussion entitled “Fostering an Understanding: Racial Profiling vs. Criminal Profiling”.

The forum is June 4 from 2:00 - 4:00pm at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church (1340 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA) and is free and open to the public.

Panel will consist of representatives from the following:

• Cedar Rapids Police Department


• Hiawatha Police Department


• Marion Police Department


• Linn County Sheriff’s Office


• NAACP


• Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission

Panel Moderator: Beth Malicki of KCRG

I have attached a flyer with details; please feel free to post in your office or pass on to anyone you think might be interested.

We hope you will plan to attend! Let me know if you have questions.

Information submitted by:

Stefanie Robinson
Investigator and Mediator, Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission
City of Cedar Rapids, 425 2Nd Street SE, Suite 960, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Office: 319-286-5036
Fax: 319-286-5136
E-mail: s.robinson@cedar-rapids.org

Website: http://www.cedar-rapids.org/government/departments/civil-rights/

Homeless is a situation - not a population.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Event at St. Paul's UMC on Monday, January 17, 2011 at 7 p.m.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - JANUARY 10, 2011

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church Hosts Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Service

Honoring the Legacy of Dr. King through a Humanitarian Award and the Voices, Talents, and Dreams of Children

Monday, January 17, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
1340 Third Avenue SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. dreamed that we would live in a world where his children would “not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” At the Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Service, we will Remember Dr. King’s words, Celebrate our dreams for the future, and Act to make these dreams a reality.

This year, a special message for children is included in this uplifting service as well as the formal recognition of members of the newly established “Civil Rights Youth Advisory Panel.”

Keynote Speaker, Karl Werner will share innovative approaches he uses in Cedar Rapids Schools to help students understand the importance of diversity in learning. His programs have garnered many accolades and awards around the country.

The Martin Luther King Planning Committee is proud to recognize this year’s Percy and Lileah Harris “Who Is My Neighbor” award recipient. This award is “In recognition of a lifelong faith commitment to living in harmony with others and to promoting equality and social justice in the community.”

Magnificent music has always been a component of this celebration service and this year is no different. Come enjoy the musical talents of The Chorale Midwest, Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church Men’s Choir, and the Gospel Choir from Johnson Elementary School of the Arts.

We invite you to Remember, Celebrate, and Act on the words and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Contact:
Jerry Matchett matchett.jerry@gmail.com

or Stefanie Robinson S.Robinson@cedar-rapids.org
St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
1340 Third Avenue SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
319-363-2058

http://stpaulsumc.org/

###

This is event is open to the entire community.

ttrco

Will the City Council close Second Avenue SE between 10Th and 12Th street for Medical Mall?

Skywalks an Alternative to Closing Second Avenue Won’t Work for PCI - KCRG-TV
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Closing a stretch of Second Avenue SE is necessary to facilitate patient flow through the Physicians’ Clinic of Iowa’s proposed new medical “mall” at 10th Street SE and Second Avenue SE, the physicians group has said ...

The group and other representatives of the new Cedar Rapids Medical District are holding open houses: to discuss the Medical District as well as PCI’s plans to build the mall inside the district.

• Wednesday, August 4Th from 4 to 7 p.m.
• Thursday, August 5Th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Open Houses are in The Ballroom at the Crowne Plaza Five Seasons Hotel

Our business will be impacted, since we are located at 613 Second Avenue SE. For example, driving from Daniels Park neighorhood down Central Point Road NE to 13Th Street SE, we often cut down Second Avenue SE to return to our offices.

The ideal of cutting off vehicle, walking and bike traffic should always be carefully discussed, since it often has negative impacts on quality of life and functionality of neighborhoods and the habits of people.

ttrco

We want to wish everyone a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend; Congratulations to area youth graduating from local High Schools

May 29Th through May 31St, 2010 ...

It's appears that the weather is going to make for a great Memorial Day weekend and graduation weekend for of us here in Cedar Rapids, Iowa USA!

Congratulations to our area youth graduating from local high schools this weekend. We will be attending the graduation ceremonies for George Washington High School, this weekend.



Other local high schools are conducting graduations as well. We want to wish everyone in the Class of 2010 congratulations and best wishes in the coming years ...

Cultural events going on around The Corridor today!

For information on houses for rent through Tommy Tucker Realty Co., please call 319.365.6956 and visit extension 106. Leave a message or E-mail us, if you have further questions. Our formal office hours are typically, Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 5 pm, or by appointment.

Our offices will be closed Monday, May 31St in observance of Memorial Day.

We wish everyone a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend. Thank you for visiting Tommy Tucker Realty Co. and we invite you back soon. We look forward to hopefully visiting with you in June 2010!

ttrco

Cedar Rapids and Carroll, Iowa will be part of Cancer Prevention Study -3 from the American Cancer Society ...

Are you interested in participating in the Cancer Prevention Study-3?

It's coming to Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Research today for a cancer-free tomorrow.

You help FUND the cure,

Now help FIND the cure

by personally participating in cancer research.

This year, the Relay in Cedar Rapids will be hosting enrollment for

CANCER PREVENTION STUDY-3.

Who is eligible to participate?

Anyone who:

• Is willing to make a long-term commitment to the study, which involves completing periodic follow-up surveys at home


• Is between 30 and 65 years old


• Has never been diagnosed with cancer (not including basal or squamous cell cancer)

I learned about the event at the Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids meeting on Monday, May 17Th. I am enrolling myself in CPS-3! ~ Robin Tucker, Realtor® with Tommy Tucker Realty Co.

Join us at the Relay For Life of Linn County!

Participate in CPS3

June 4Th from 6:30 pm - 10:30 pm

Kirkwood Community College - Main Tent

For a reminder of the event or more information

e-mail: CPS3CR@gmail.com

ttrco

Information is from handout materials from the American Cancer Society that we received as a person enrolling in the program.

January 18, 2010: Happy Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Holiday to All

Two events on Robin Tucker's calender today in our community.

The "Remembering Martin Luther King Jr. Luncheon" is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids and the United Way of East Central Iowa. This event will honor 20 area students at the annual Remembering Martin Luther King Luncheon. This event is at 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m on Monday, January 18, 2010.

A Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration Event will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, January 18, 2010 at St. Paul's UMC at 1340 Third Avenue SE in Cedar Rapids, IA 52403. We invite everyone to attend this community event of music, our keynote speakers from our community, the teachings of Jesus and the words of Dr. King.

Who is my Neighbor?

We should be thankful for our neighbors in our community and get to know them as we work, learn and play ...

tucker pole

Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission holding "Fair Housing Focus Groups" on January 12, 2010

The City of Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission is holding "Fair Housing Focus Groups" per a Facebook announcement.

• Date: Tuesday, January 12, 2010


• Time: 9:30am - 6:30pm


• Location: African American Museum at 55 12Th Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52403

ttrco

Flood Recovery Concert on Saturday, November 14 in Cedar Rapids

Update from CR Small Business Recovery on upcoming event in the community on Saturday, November 14!

"Flood Them With Love" Concert Fundraiser This Saturday

Aeroroot will perform to benefit local flood affected families

This Saturday, November 14, the group "Flood Them With Love" will hold a concert fundraiser for flood-affected families. This concert will feature Aeroroot, a local corporate band made up of Frontier Natural Products employees--100% of the proceeds from this event will go directly to families who have survived the flood of 2008. Every $5, $10 and $20 donation will help these families meet some of their immediate needs.

Concert Details:

When: Saturday, November 14 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm (or come early and watch the Iowa game!)

Where: Third Street Saloon (1202 Third St. SE in Cedar Rapids)

Cost: Admission to the concert is a free-will donation or a gift card from Target, K-Mart, Wal-Mart, Hy-Vee, Fareway, Home Depot or Menards Note:

Must be 21 and over to attend.

About Aeroroot:

After a world-wide search, Aeroroot was selected and competed in the finals of Fortune Magazine's 9Th Annual Corporate Battle of the Bands at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH on October 3, 2009. Aeroroot was established nearly 5 years ago when the four band members decided to form a band for the company Christmas party at Frontier Natural Products in Norway, IA.

About "Flood Them With Love":
Flood Them With Love was established to help flood survivors with immediate needs. The group has raised over $80,000 plus over $100,000 through its partner, Horizons. The group is made up of volunteers with 100% of donations going directly to flood survivors.

ttrco

City of Marion to conduct community Visioning workshop ...

Tommy Tucker Realty Co. has served a variety of customers and clients over the years in Marion, Iowa. As a part of the greater Cedar Rapids area, a healthy Cedar Rapids and a healthy Marion go hand and hand. We received the following release today regarding the update in the City of Marion Comprehensive Plan.

The public is encouraged to participate in the Visioning process ...

The City of Marion is in the process of developing a new/updated Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan is intended to serve as a “road map” to help guide community policy and decision making for issues ranging from community character and aesthetics to targeted redevelopment and open space. The Comprehensive Plan will establish a long-range vision for the community, define community goals and objectives, and provide guidance for implementing programs and policies to assist in making positive change for the City of Marion.

We need your input…Building on a comprehensive inventory and assessment of existing market conditions, existing physical conditions and community input, the comprehensive planning process has identified several planning issues the community is currently facing or will likely face in the future. Having completed this initial assessment of the local planning context, we have reached a critical juncture in the planning process and need your input. The next step in the creation of a new Comprehensive Plan is to establish the community’s vision for the future that will address the identified issues and define the direction of development in and around Marion for the next 10 to 15 years. To accomplish this, a Community Visioning Workshop will be held at the Art for Living Center (Lowe Park), located at 4500 10Th Street, Marion, at 6:00 P.M. Tuesday, June 23rd.

The Visioning Workshop will begin with a brief overview of the comprehensive planning process and the results of the existing conditions and market analysis. The workshop participants will then be broken up into small focus groups where individuals will have the opportunity to express their opinion regarding specific issues and concerns. The groups will draw and visualize draw on large maps of the community highlighting improvements, ideas and concepts for future consideration. This creative exercise will give participants the opportunity to literally sketch their own plans for the future. The results of the individual focus groups will then be used to establish a collective community vision statement. The vision statement will be a narrative description of Marion in 10 to 15 years and will be used to form the goals, objectives, and, ultimately, the recommendations of the Comprehensive Plan.

The new Comprehensive Plan is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2009. Please visit the Comprehensive Plan Project website, which can be reached via a link on the City’s web page (http://www.cityofmarion.org/) for regular updates. For any questions or comments related to the Comprehensive Plan, please contact the City of Marion Planning and Development Department.

Remember, if you are interested, you are welcome to attend this event on June 23rd at 6 PM at Lowe Park, located at 4500 10Th street, in Marion.

ttrco

Cedar Rapids Juneteenth observance scheduled for June 19-20, 2009 on SE side

2009 Theme:

Iowa Families: Guardians of Freedom, Liberty & Citizenship

From Iowa's official Juneteenth web site:

Nationally, there are 29 states (and the District of Columbia) that have
made Juneteenth an official holiday or observance. There is a national campaign
to make Juneteenth official in all 50 states.
Juneteenth is authentic
American history and the Iowa Juneteenth Observance is authentic Iowa history!
Appreciate your history and participate in Juneteenth activities across
Iowa! - Iowa Juneteenth site

In Cedar Rapids, Juneteenth events are planned June 19 and 20, 2009 for this year's observance. On June 19, 2009, a dinner and dance is scheduled at the Celebration Hall African American Museum of Iowa. On June 20, 2009, a free Celebration Day event is scheduled at Viola Gibson Park at 12Th Ave. and 10Th St. SE from 9:00 am-5:00 pm.

ttrco