ACORN vindicated? Op-ed to SB Sun (as yet unpublished)
March 7, 2010
I received a phone call Saturday from a
Vindication? No. We knew the truth from the beginning. In a fair and just world the Brooklyn DA’s report that the video was a “heavily edited splice job” would begin an honest discussion of ACORN by politicians and mainstream media of how the reactionary frenzied hype helped serve a political agenda against low-income and working families.
In the real world that means retracting, reconsidering, and dismissing the political agendas for an examination of the truth and we know that isn’t going to happen.
Fontana council member Frank Scialdone when asked about ACORN in
Mayor Mark Nuaimi in an e-mail to me wrote that “ACORN has attacked the very democratic process that has brought PEACE and FREEDOM to … our nation.” And Representative Darrel Issa’s (R-CA-49) office released a report that John Atlas, President of the National Housing Institute noted, “contained numerous factual errors and no evidence for its assertion that ACORN is a criminal organization.” Rep. Issa’s spokesperson stated his office is continuing to pursue an investigation at the federal level.
Not surprising is that none of these elected officials have weighed in on the very systemic corruption of their own party here locally and the very real allegations that have resulted in real criminal charges and real indictments including voter registration fraud (Young Political Majors), misappropriating public funds, bribes, and pay-offs (the current Colonies settlement investigation), and using taxpayer resources for partisan activities (former County Assessor Bill Postmus, who at the time of his arrest was also the Chair of the San Bernardino Republican Party).
Who paid the price?
Thousands of ACORN members across the country who were vilified by strangers, friends and family that believed the sensationalized lies, along with hundreds of organizers and support staff who received threatening phone calls and e-mails from all over the country and ultimately who lost their jobs, myself included.
Tens of thousands of homeowners who lost their homes and sometimes even worse were swindled by the same predatory and suspicious practices of brokers and banks yet again in the process of trying to save their homes. Why? Because one of the largest organizations that was providing free, non-profit loan counseling and assistance to homeowners was no longer there. In fact, banks were incredibly eager to stop working with ACORN Housing Corporation (AHC) immediately and left homeowners in our communities out to dry.
The truth was evident and available to those who would listen and look for it; vindication, however, is a long way off.
Sincerely,
Bobbi Jo Chavarria, Organizing Committee Member
Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE)
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