Election Day: November 6th: Don't Forget to Vote!

2012 Election Guide Dear Mr Robin B Tucker, Following is your 2012 Election Guide. We here at NWYC hope you find this helpful and please remember every vote counts! Keys to the 2012 Presidential Election Election Outlook Presidential Race Find a Candidate My Races Members Leaving Office Key Dates for the 2012 Presidential Election State and Territorial Election Offices If you have any questions about the election process or voting, contact your state or territorial election office: Alabama Kentucky Oklahoma Additional Resources: Voting Federal Election Commission (FEC) National Association of State Election Directors (NASED) (PDF document) The Democratic Party ( Platform ) The Republican Party ( Platform ) Alaska Louisiana Oregon American Samoa Maine Pennsylvania Arizona Maryland Puerto Rico Arkansas Massachusetts Rhode Island California Michigan South Carolina Colorado Minnesota South Dakota Connecticut Mississippi Tennessee District of Columbia Missouri Texas Delaware Montana Utah Florida Nebraska Vermont Georgia Nevada Virgin Islands Guam New Hampshire Virginia Hawaii New Jersey Washington Idaho New Mexico West Virginia Illinois New York Wisconsin Indiana North Carolina Wyoming Iowa North Dakota   Kansas Ohio NOTE: NWYC does not financially support nor endorse any candidate or Political Party

We welcome November here at Tommy Tucker Realty Co.

We welcome the month of November!

Can we interest you in a 2, 3 or 4 bedroom house in Cedar Rapids, Iowa?

Visit our web site

Well, the first ten months are now in the books for 2012.  We welcome the eleventh month of November.  Happy All Saints Day, which is traditionally the day after Halloween.

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  Daylight Savings Time Ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 4th
• Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids meets on November 5th, 12th and 19th of November - news
• Election Day is Tuesday is on November 6th - Find you poll in Linn County, Iowa
• Fair Housing Conference in Cedar Rapids/Marion on Thursday, November 8th
• Iowa vs. Purdue at Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City on Saturday, November 10th
• Veterans Day is Sunday, November 11th
• Worlds Orphans Day is November 12th
• CRAAR November Real Estate Today Show is on Wednesday, November 14th
• CRAAR Inaugural 2012 is on Thursday, November 15th
• International Day for Tolerance is November 16th

Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 22nd

Our offices are traditionally closed for our staff to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday and Black Friday with family - Call us, if you need a REALTOR?

 November 23rd

Small Business Saturday is November 24th

Iowa vs. Iowa State for Heroes Game at Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City on November 24th

We invite all call or e-mail from you this month or throughout the year.  Happy November and have a great day.  Thank you for visiting us. - Robin Tucker

Public Invited: Fair Housing Discussion coming to Cedar Rapids/Marion on November 8th

Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission Fair Housing Conference

Current Fair Housing Issues

Thursday, November 8, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Kirkwood Training & Outreach Services (KTOS)

3375 Armar Drive, Marion

Registration: $25 (includes continental breakfast and lunch)
*Register by 5pm October 31 to receive lunch.
Late registrations and same day registrants will be accepted - Lunch will not be included for late registrants

This Conference is designed to give housing professionals, attorneys, social service staff, and community members, a strong understanding of Fair Housing laws, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Credit. Come learn about your rights and your responsibilities!

REGISTER: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/4550536778/eivtefrnd#

This event has been approved for 1.75 hours of Continuing Legal Education activity credit.
Please notify us at Registration if you are requesting CLE credit.
Members of the Cedar Rapids Area Association of Realtors should contact the CRAAR for more information.  Scholarships are availabe for CRAAR members.

PROGRAM
8:00 Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:45 Welcome

• Karl Cassell, Executive Director, Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission
• Ron Corbett, Mayor, City of Cedar Rapids
• Snooks Bouska, Mayor, City of Marion

9:00 Keynote

• Betty Bottiger, Region VII Director, Housing and Urban Development

10:00 An Overview of Fair Housing Law.

• A discussion of recent court and administrative decisions. Areas of emphasis will include prohibited practices, protected classes and issues relating to persons with disabilities and families.
• Professor Allison Bethel, Clinical Professor, Director, Fair Housing Clinic, The John Marshall Law School

11:00 The Fair Housing Act, Persons with Disabilities, Animals and Pets.

1. This session will examine and compare federal, state and local laws that govern the rights of persons with disabilities to live with or be accompanied in public by animals who provide service, support, assistance or companionship. The workshop will focus on how to apply the federal Fair Housing Act, Iowa Civil Rights Act, Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Ordinance, Iowa's Rights of Persons with Disabilities law, and Dangerous Wild Animals law. Parrots and pooches and pigs, oh my!
2. Professor Len Sandler, Clinical Professor of Law, University of Iowa College of Law

12:00 Lunch

• Accessibility to and within Housing: Applicable Laws and Regulations for Dwellings and Common Areas.
• This session will cover The Americans with Disabilities Act and Amendments and The Fair Housing Act and Amendments, including purpose and overview, specific regulations to housing, common and public area regulations, and animals for companionship and service. We will also talk about the influence and confluence of related laws for persons with disabilities.
• Jim de Jong, Executive Director and Principal Investigator, Great Plains ADA Center

1:00 Credit Reports: The Good, the Bad, the Bottom Line.

• We will discuss information contained in a credit report, credit scoring, interpreting credit history – what’s important, what’s not, reading between the lines, and improving credit – creating opportunities.
• Scott Shook, Director of Consumer Credit Counseling Services, Horizons

LUNCH OPTIONS

• Turkey Sandwich on French Baguette
• Walnut Chicken Salad on Croissant
• Vegetarian Sandwich on Sourdough Bread

Lunch includes sandwich, fresh fruit, chips, and a cookie

If you have questions about this event, please contact the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission at 319-286-5036.  I, Robin Tucker, am one of the eleven local residents that currently serves on the City's Civil Rights Commission.  My father, I.L. "Tommy" Tucker had the pleasure of being one of the original commissioners, when Cedar Rapids began to promote equal opportunity and civil rights in our community.  He served the Commission as a volunteer Commissioner for 32 years.

Beautiful Sunday for an Open House on September 16th

We hope all is going well.

Tommy Tucker Realty Co. is hosting an Open House 2-4 p.m. at 290 Indiandale Road SE on nice, spacious, redecorated 4 bedroom, 3 stall two-story with many nice characteristics...

$237,200 list price and also available for lease. Call Robin Tucker today at 319.431.6930 to discuss.

Open House on Sunday, September 16, 2012

We will host a 2 to 4 p.m. Open House on Sunday at 290 Indiandale Road SE.  House is for sale and/or rent.  This a spacious
bedroom, four bath two-story with three stall garage.

List Price: $237,200
Rental Price: $1,600 per month (prefer 12 month lease)

Your Host: Robin Tucker, REALTOR 319.431.6930

TOMMY TUCKER REALTY CO.
http://www.ttrco.com

Should the Federal Government raise the Minimum Wage?

National Action Alert



Increase Minimum Wage


to $10 Per Hour

We received the following e-mail today: from National Write Your Congressman.

Mr Robin B Tucker,


Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL) introduced legislation "The Catching Up To 1968 Act of 2012" that will raise the minimum wage to $10 an hour and index it to inflation. "That may sound like a hefty wage increase but it doesn't fully equal the purchasing power of the minimum wage in 1968 - which today would be closer to $11 per hour, stated Rep. Jackson. "The bill is really only allowing American workers a degree of 'catch-up.' Thus the name and theme around the bill: 'Catching Up To 1968.' Of course, the current federal minimum wage has been $7.25 per hour since 2007."


The Catching Up To 1968 Act of 2012 contains four basic elements:


It raises the minimum wage to $10 per hour


The minimum wage is raised immediately - not gradually as in the past - beginning 60 days after the date of enactment


Beginning one year after the $10 per hour minimum wage takes effect, and each year thereafter, the minimum wage will be indexed in proportion to the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI)


For workers earning their living on the basis of tips, the cash wage paid to such an employee is to be 70% of the minimum wage when the law takes effect, but in no case less than $5.50 an hour, adjusted annually as necessary thereafter


While running for office, President Barack Obama promised to raise the minimum wage to $9.50 an hour by 2011. Both the president and his 2012 campaign opponent Republican Mitt Romney have supported the idea of adjusting the minimum wage to keep up with inflation.


Opponents argue that increases in the minimum wage fall disproportionately on small businesses who are the least able to absorb such a dramatic increase in their labor costs, and that supporters aren’t factoring in the cost to the employer who’s paying it. The Nation is currently in difficult economic times, and the focus needs to be getting unemployment down. The increase would force employers to cut other payroll costs, such as limiting overtime or laying off part-time help, squeezing employers who already are under pressure.


Do you think the minimum wage should be increased to $10 an hour and indexed to inflation? (Click Here)


Take action and voice your opinion now!


Do you think the minimum wage should be increased to $10 an hour and indexed to inflation? (Click Here)


Personally, we view the Federal Minimum Wage should be eliminated, on the basis it is matter for the States.  The late Tip O'Neill said the following phrase "All politics is local" and when it comes to the minimum wage... we believe this matter should be left up to the States and local markets.  The minimum wage in Iowa certainly has no relationship with the economies of urban Chicago, Los Angeles or New York.
 
The increase will cost $5,725.00 over the first year of implementation for any employee currently on the Federal minimum wage at $7.25.  What impact will that have on first-time employees and people with disabilities, who are limited to how many hours they can work? 
 
Why isn' the alternative minimum tax adjusted annually for inflation? 
 
Look at unemployment numbers today?  Is this a good idea for America and getting people stable and confident in America's economic future?

City of Cedar Rapids Public Meeting: Stormwater Utility Improvement Process

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 8, 2012, 9:25 a.m.

Public Meeting for Discussion of the Stormwater Utility Improvement Process

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – June 8, 2012 – The Cedar Rapids Public Works Department will have a feedback opportunity for residents, business and industry representatives and all other interested groups on the possible changes to the Stormwater Utility. This will be the first meeting in a series of meetings to discuss the Stormwater Utility. The City of Cedar Rapids has had a Stormwater Utility since 1979. The funds generated from this utility have gone toward the upkeep of storm sewer. With changing regulations, increase miles of storm sewer/intakes and increase number of publically owned detention basins the City felt it was time to look at the level of service provide by the Stormwater Utility. The City of Cedar Rapids has concluded a study of how other Cities in Iowa have set up their Stormwater Utilities. We have entered into a six month process to discuss the Stormwater Utility Program.

Meeting: Date: June 14, 2012

Time: 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.

Location: Public Works, 1201 6th Street SW

Traffic Training Room

This public meeting will discuss the six month process the City of Cedar Rapids is starting as well as discuss the Stormwater Improvement Program – Service Analysis. At the end of this six month process the City of Cedar Rapids will decide whether there are reasons to change the Stormwater Utility Program and what those changes may be for Fiscal Year 2014 budget (July 2013). David Scanlan, Stormwater Manager, Cedar Rapids Public Works will give a 10 – 20 minute presentation at 4:30 to explain the process and the Service Analysis spread sheet. Then there will be question and answer until 5:30. All of the material can be found at the following web site: http://tinyurl.com/cwon5nn

If you are unable to attend and would still like to submit comments please send them to the following email address: SWUIP@cedar-rapids.org.