CHARLES CITY – Many in Charles City have questioned a long-rumored practice by city government of attempting to entice big city dwellers to move to town.
Like many small communities, Charles City has seen populations dwindle, school enrollments level off or decline, and vitality grind to a standstill (See: Mason City, Iowa).
Charles City has seen an influx of folks come to town from the Chicago area and other major metro areas. Many say they bring their big-city problems with them. Most of these folks end up in cheap housing units, somewhat congregated together. Police sometimes have their hands full dealing with the issues that come with the culture clash.
The section 8 program in Charles City is described as “designed to provide low-income individuals and families with rental assistance to enable them to secure decent, safe, and sanitary housing.”
In Charles City, a resident recently posted to social media a legal notice from the local newspaper about ads paid for in the Chicago Tribune by the city of Charles City. The payment from the city was for $225.26.
The post – and accompanying scanned legal notice with it – brought several comments from local citizens. Most notably, Floyd County Sheriff Rick Lynch expounded on the issue of section 8 housing.
“I’ve heard our government runs ads about coming to Charles City, Ia to live. If this is TRUE it’s wrong. Section “8” has a PURPOSE and a REASON which I support, but recruiting section “8” people to our city is very wrong! Why, because they can ran all the backgrounds they want on the applicants, but they don’t take into account the “TAG” along people who follow them here. The “TAG” along people are the ones who are causing the problems and they have long violent/drug criminal histories and basically serve no creditable purpose in society, because all they know is the criminal culture. [sic]”
Another person – Anne Marie Kuehn Sherman, who claims to work in the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office – remarked that “The other day a Guy and his babies Momma came into the office and both wanted Permits to Buy Guns. The Guy took off and said he needed to get money. “He Ran” Turns out he was Wanted in Chicago and is considered Armed and Dangerous. Well, he can get a Gun now…. because his Girlfriend passed the Criminal History Check and walked out with the permit. This happens more often than people know!!! This Scares me. [sic]”
Sheriff Lynch also said that “Ya I’ve been told by several in my jail that they had saw the advertisement in Chicago from C.C., Iowa. Now wouldn’t a business be a better way to entice people to come to C.C. then section “8” people from Illinois. Don’t get me wrong there is a purpose for Section “8” but to spend tax payers money in this way is not right. Sorry just my opinion. [sic]”
I think it’s bullshit that these ppl moving into our community is tolerated. When do we as the community members stand up for ourselves? Not ALL the ppl that have moved here from Chicago are bad ppl but a decent sized percentage of them bring drugs, violence, and big city ways with them. Take the recent shooting into account. Why did it happen here? The victim lived in Mason City and the murderer lived in Chicago. So, why was this young man shot and killed in our small town? The answers are obvious to those of that know how the world works these days, but the majority of our community can’t wrap their heads around it. I used to feel safe in CC, but not anymore. I worry about whose guna steal my shit that I’ve worked to pay for, or is it safe to let my son ride his bike by himself, or play in the yard even. Things I NEVER had to worry about before.
I have talked about this policy , with many people , many times, and have been told “I was wrong ” … Thank you Mr. Lynch, for confirming my complaints. Keep talking about it, and maybe you can find out who is responsible for this troubling action. Pat Cleveland
Hey benny smith, don’t sing it bring it bitch.
Yet none of you scared ass crackers have done shit. It’s a new day white devil. You want the war bring it!!!
The section 8 office in CC sucks,this program won’t every one to live pay check to pay check,you can’t work on the program or theyll tell u there going to take your section8,,,,clear view is the only one that allow mentally disturbed crazy people None medicated,,,,this is the 1st place they won’t to live to start shit an do all types of stuff,,,
Are white people having a hard time accepeting that they are the minority?
I agree these outsiders are taking our housing and it sucks. They bring their big city bs here and we have to take care of them while they screw up our small towns and take our funding! Go home! And Iowa doesn’t suck! Chicago does!!!
It will all go away when it take’s care of it self. We have not played cowboys and n*****s yet but that day will come just like it done for the red man. People will only take so much till its over real fast hell yes.
Or it was just the expense of the library’s subscription to the paper…
When are they going to learn. You can take those people out of the bid city but you can’t take the city out of them. Look at the arrest here in Mason City. A big percentage are imports from these city’s. They run drugs, fight with us and each other and steal everything that isn’t nailed down. Most have little education and can not get decent work so they live off the Iowa taxpayer.
sad but true. this town has really gone downhill since they all started moving in. No one wants to talk about it because everyones scared of being a “racist”.. Send these worthless criminals back were they belong.
Yet you want MC to have its old human service agency to help these people because you care about them so much.
That is NOT the work of the any human rights agency, it’s the work of Mason City Housing Authority and North Iowa Housing Authority, which administer HUD’s section 8 program. They serve the slumlords who want to own rental property but don’t want to put any money into making them decent or safe, so they get them HUD compatible and import criminals to live in them.
Northwood and Mason have had great results with this program – all taxpayer funded – Just hire a dozen more coppers and solve the problem and get a CARRY PERMIT. What a screwed up federal nation we live in.
Wow! Your solution is to have everyone carry guns and hire more cops? And you think the government is messed up???
I agree with Sheriff Lynch. And, we may not advertise in Mason City– but we have the same result. It is a slippery slope in Chas City now that they all know how to get here and how to use the system. It is a travesty and a tragedy…