Living in racist Oregon

What Martin Luther King Day in Lane County Oregon means to me. In 2006 my wife and I were living in Federally Subsidized housing, our landlord started shooting at us with a shot-gun. He shot at us 14 times over a 10 day period. We called 911 twice. The first time the Lane County Deputy went to the landlord’s house, we could hear her laughing. Nothing was done. The next time we called 911, the shot-gin blasts are recorded on the 911 tape, the incident was recorded on video tape where you can hear the blast and the pellets hitting the house, the landlord again told Lane County deputies that he wasn’t shooting in our direction. The deputy told him, “I saw the tape and you can plainly hear the pellets hitting the house.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQQ4ystsAWo  The landlord’s lawyer sent us an e-mail stating that his client did shoot at us but “couldn’t conceive that it would reach us.” The Lane County D. A. has the case open but refuses to prosecute. The FBI was asked to look into this but did nothing in 2006. I asked the Eugene Oregon branch of the FBI to look into it in 2008. I called them back 2 weeks later; they said they had done nothing. I called them again 1 week ago. They said they would look into it. In my opinion Lane County Oregon has not progressed in Civil Rights at all in the last 100 years. I have contacted every news organization in Oregon, not one has had the decency to mention that in the 21^st century it is considered OK to shoot at minority tenants if you have the proper connections. To add insult to injury I was told that if our landlord had been shooting at wild turkeys they would have fined him. We came seeking peace and solitude, we were shot at. We sought protection, we were laughed at. We sought justice, we heard silence.

If you paint lifes' problems as incidents of  'racism' you define yourself as a victim, someone who can never get anywhere in life because of the bias of others. You have drawn this incident in racist terms, resulting in the view that your landlord is racist (which he well may be), and that the Police are also racist, which is why they do not help you. Now you have defined a world in which you cannot succeed, since you are likely to find racist people where ever you go, and if the Police are also racist, you have No Protection or recourse.

 I suggest that you rethink your problem: You have a problem with your landlord. He either is racist, just hates you, or is simply crazy. The Police are unable to help.......MOVE!   A new landlord is unlikely to be the same as the last landlord. And the Police are NOT racist, they were just unable to help in THIS situation - in all probability, they WILL be able to help you in the future.

Oh yeah, one more thing: Does this still occur? Or has it been two years since these incidents? Have there been other incidents of this general type? If not, then perhaps you should consider the possibility that your landlord really did not think the pellets would reach you, and meant no harm.

Two or three years ago there was a wing-nut in southern Lane County who made up a very similar story. He blamed his failures on everybody else and claimed that everybody was picking on him because he was an indian -- a fact almost nobody would have known and even fewer would have cared about.

He made all sorts of claims of prejudice and mistreatment, none of which were true. He floated kooky conspiracy theories that had no substance or basis in reality. He wrongly accused public officials, threatened people, lied, and eventually filed a frivolous civil rights lawsuit in federal court. Fortunately, the truth eventually prevailed, as it generally does, and the frivolous federal lawsuit was dismissed. Justice prevailed, but not before MANY people were inconvenienced and wrongly tarnished. (In the end it turned out to be nothing more than sour grapes over being properly evicted from welfare housing -- for reasons that had NOTHING to do with race. The guy just wanted to blame everybody else for his own failure. It was terrible.)

I'm sure your story is different, but after listening to that other guy make up conspiracy stories for many months it's hard not to be a skeptic. It's just too easy to make up stories on the net.

A responsible, moral society needs to aggressively hunt down bias and prejudice and crush it. If we're to be successful in that effort we have to be similarly aggressive and vigilant about pursuing those who make up stories of racial bias when they're not true, because they're creating and/or amplifying prejudice and then trying to create advantage from it. They're as despicable as the non-veteran who dresses up like a marine to get services or treatment to which he is not entitled.

Edit: I just followed the link you provided. That's not the sound of somebody "shooting at you". It's the sound of a few stray pellets falling around the camera. People who duck or dove shoot experience that on every outing. I'd be angry at my neighbor for estimating the range incorrectly and I'd ask him to stop. I gather he did stop -- almost three years ago.

You're not that kooky "Foundation-conspiracy" guy, are you? If not, I apologize for the insult, but "racism" claims like this are SO uncommon here, and the similarities are so great, I just have to ask if this isn't a re-tread of that silly fabrication from a couple years ago. That would be especially pathetic on this historic day. The rest of the country is moving on.

I saw your video.....with the delay between the shots fired and the time you can hear the pellets hit, it appears that there is the possibility that the landlord was shooting into the air. Obviously the deputy's and the D.A. think you were getting carried away with your complaint.

Don't you think that pulling the race card every time you think you have been wronged is getting a little old? I don't put much stock in it anymore.

RickMK, under what circumstances is it OK to shoot at one's tenants?

"RickMK, under what circumstances is it OK to shoot at one's tenants?"

Read my post again. I said there was a possibility this person shot into the air. It sounded to me like the pellets hit your home by falling from the sky, not shooting at you as you claim.

It seems more to me that the landlord has poor judgement in using a firearm. I do not condone anyone fire at another person or into the sky. Falling pellets can hurt people and animals but I have doubts that the landlord 'shot at you'.

This is my opinion after seeing your facts (video).

One question though, why did you take a video of your home rather than that of the landlord shooting at you as you claim?

The more I think about this the less sense it makes. Why would a landlord intentionally cause damage to his property because he doesn't like you or is racist as you claim?

"the angle of the shot is legally irrelevant; shooting in the direction of a person is illegal"

The angle of the shot is relevent. Are you saying that if the person were shooting up into the air, the intent of this person was to pellet your home (his property)? Shooting in the direction of a person is illegal to some extent. Of course if you shoot a shotgun in the direction of someone 20 feet away, I would assume that would be illegal. If you shot a shotgun towards someone a quarter mile away, that would not be illegal as the gun loaded with bird shot would not come close to that person.

"Having “poor judgment in using a firearm” is an explanation not a valid defense." I agree.  

"he was aiming directly at my wife behind me." It seems to me that would be illegal. If you can see him do these things, why can't you video him doing these things?

"I did not think it would be prudent to expose myself to a person who had been shooting at me every day for over a week" I agree with you. But if he shot at you every day for over a week, how come you called 911 only twice? I would be calling 5 times a day if he shot at me 5 times a day.

"required to have a hunting permit and a permit specifically to “harass or scare away” turkey". You have mentioned turkeys that came into play. Is this the excuse the landlord used to the officer?

"Consider that, a man admits to a law enforcement officer that he is committing a weapons violation and she does nothing. " I don't know why the officer did not cite the person for admitting a crime. I can tell you as an ex-law enforcement officer myself, there are many laws on the books that officers are not real familiar with so rather than make a mistake at that moment, they choose not to cite the person.

"So let me ask another question of you. Under what conditions should a law enforcement officer allow a landlord to shoot at his tenants?" That is one of the points I was attempting to make. It is my perception that the officer did not believe the landlord was shooting 'at' you. If the officer did believe your story as you have stated it here, I have no doubt your landlord would have been arrested.

"3 minutes later she was laughing with the landlord." Apparently this bothers you. I would not take that personal if I were you. Officers attempt to build repoire with civilians as not only for public relations but to gain cooperation and voluntary compliance. It's possible the laughter had nothing to do with you or your complaint.     

)? Shooting in the direction of a person is illegal to some extent. Of course if you shoot a shotgun in the direction of someone 20 feet away, I would assume that would be illegal. If you shot a shotgun towards someone a quarter mile away, that would not be illegal as the gun loaded with bird shot would not come close to that person

Perhaps you should educate yourself before making a statement like this.  Anytime a person with a firearm shoots, they are completely responsible for the outcome of their bullet.  The pellets are obviously hitting the home, which is putting the tenants in danger.  This is considered to be reckless endangerment under Oregon law. Which could also be elevated to a higher status if intent was proven.

From all the posts I have read, it appears something has either failed in our law enforcement community or there is untruths to this story, which I doubt. 

 

 

With the exception of sillyme, I think that everyone who has replied has done nothing but solidify theeyelady's case for racism. Quit trying to dissect what happened here, folks she's clearly distraught and for good reason. Have any of you ever been discriminated against for the color of your skin? Me either, so we couldn't possibly understand what she's going through. Whether you believe this was an act of racism or not, I'm sure that someone in her situation that has lived a life of discrimination has good reason to believe it was racially motivated.

Theeyelady, Have you tried writing your Congressman on this matter? Realizing how discouraged you must be at this point, I would recommend war-dialing every news channel in the state until one agrees to air your story. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. Were there any witnesses that could help get your story heard?

sillyme:

"Perhaps you should educate yourself before making a statement like this.  Anytime a person with a firearm shoots, they are completely responsible for the outcome of their bullet." 

Sillyme, I agree the person with the firearm is responsible. Obviously I did not type my meaning well enough allowing you to interject your interpretation which was contrary to my meaning.

"The pellets are obviously hitting the home, which is putting the tenants in danger". I already stated that I agree with this observation.

What I take issue with is that the OP stated the landlord shot 'at' them. I believe one would normally assume that the firearm was aimed directly at the OP, their family or their home. (Notice that I am not addressing in this statement the fact that pellets landed on their home. I am adressing what the OP typed). The video does not support that assumption and the OP has not corrected it but has enforced that perception by not addressing it.

You and the other poster have ignored some of the facts are contrary to what the OP has stated and without hearing all three sides to these incidents, you support the OP. The OP, it appears has allowed some misperceptions (based on the video) to continue without correcting them so it makes the entire post suspect as to what actually happened. Maybe using less emotion and more logic would help you make a more informed decision.

You are exactly right about the 3 sides to every story here.  That is why I was remaining neutral on my position just by watching/listening to the video the tenants posted on youtube.

My post stands by Oregon law. I am a law student so I know the terms very well.  Should the tenant have notified the owner that the pellets were hitting there house? Yes. Should the owner be responsible for the pellets that they shot? Yes.

BTW...no emotion here....I have never been accused of wearing my neart on my sleeve...just the facts (or 1/3 of em).

sillyme:

You are exactly right about the 3 sides to every story here.  That is why I was remaining neutral on my position just by watching/listening to the video the tenants posted on youtube.

My post stands by Oregon law. I am a law student so I know the terms very well.  Should the tenant have notified the owner that the pellets were hitting there house? Yes. Should the owner be responsible for the pellets that they shot? Yes.

BTW...no emotion here....I have never been accused of wearing my neart on my sleeve...just the facts (or 1/3 of em).

Good post. It seems we agree on this. I stated that it appears you stood by the OP by the following statement in your original post:

"From all the posts I have read, it appears something has either failed in our law enforcement community or there is untruths to this story, which I doubt. "

Good luck in your studies and chosen career. 

Maybe I missed something here, but...at what point did it become clear that the landlord was firing a weapon in your general direction SOLELY because you are a minority tenant? You don't mention anywhere in your post that he did anything specific of a racist nature, and firing a weapon in your general direction isn't in and of itself racist.

How do you know he isn't totally nuts and would have also been just as careless with the safety of a white tenant? Or a family member tenant?

Are you just ASSUMING his intention or state of mind?

Granted, what he is doing is wrong and careless, but it is entirely possible that he is also a complete idiot with the same disregard for all tenants and not just those in the minority.

RICCO Ricardo

http://community.kmtr.com/forums/post/2299595.aspx

 

Succor implies complicity.

http://community.kmtr.com/forums/post/2283988.aspx

 

such big insults from such a small person

http://community.kmtr.com/forums/post/2739590.aspx\

 

Faye Stewart and the Lane County Board of Commissioners named in $10 million Civil Suit.

http://community.kmtr.com/forums/post/2694523.aspx

 

 

 

 

The links above are for background information on this overall problem.

 

The Federal law that we are alleging has been violated make it a federal crime to attempt to deny a person from exercising their civil rights by force threats or intimidation. If the offence occurred because of race, color, creed national origin, disability it is commonly called “racism”. Intent is hard to pin down. In this case we have on video tape a car coming from the Johnson’s house at night shouting racial slurs and curses, Mr. Johnson using racial slurs and threats of violence on 911 tape, and referring to us as you and your boyfriend when we had submitted to them as part of our initial rental agreement, marriage certificate #4 for year 2000 from The Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. As this situation with the Johnson’s is tied in with the Lane County human Services administration of the Federally funded HOME TBA Program their never referencing us as a married couple goes to this same point. When David Flores of Community Sharing in Cottage Grove made derogatory statement about the parentage of the Chief of the Cherokee Nation and my last name it also rose to the level of racism. Faye Stewart has one of his foundations named “the Bohemia mining Foundation”, and is intimately involved with the Bohemia mining Museum in Cottage Grove, in their literature and on their web site the name Bohemia mining district comes from James “Bohemia” Johnson who originally came to the area because “he shot an Indian” south of Cottage Grove. That phrase and how it is presented is just as offensive as the phrase “they lynched a black”. If your people were not hunted down by the government as late as the 1900’s or only counted as 3/5 of a citizen by the U. S. Government it might just seem to be a colorful story of how a place got its name. To those that it refers to it is racism.

 

The shootings occurred after many months of ignoring the required 24 hour notice to come onto rental property by a landlord, harassment by spraying poison on us and our property without ever telling what was in the poison, coming to the property drunk and cursing, verbal threats of violence, attempting to force his way into our home while shouting “I’m going to get you, you little witch”, constantly being called “you sons of b****es( on 911 tapes), using a bogus eviction notice to attempt to get us to move. I told him that I intended to file charges against him for not complying with the lease provisions that he must give notice before entering. He responded by yelling “I’m going to get you, you little witch. I’m going to evict you.” I sent a proper notice requesting an accommodation that he no longer come to the property drunk and abusive but rather his wife who also signed the lease conduct all further contacts. They replied with a refusal of the accommodation request and an eviction notice. The eviction notice was based on a document supplied by Nancy Wagonner with Lane County Human Services Commission. She knew that that document was bogus because she had sent to us the proper HUD approved Lease 3 months prior, with a signed cover letter from her. Nancy Wagonner then sent to us a letter that was deficient in content regarding our HUD rights and the letter also relied on 2 known bogus documents. Nancy then cut off funds before the bogus eviction would have been aired in court. The eviction never went to court, instead the attorney for the landlord offered that we be able to continue to occupy the property until the end of the lease period with no further payment of rent. Soon after the landlord started shooting at us. I saw him level his gun at my husband and fire. The landlord shot at me 14 times over a 14 day period whenever I went outside.

The other 2 sides of the story are in the Lane County Sheriff’s reports. The landlord told the officer’s that he wasn’t even shooting in our direction. That fails the test of truthfulness when you hear the pellets hitting the home.

 

That’s the back story. Currently there is an investigation by the local FBI, and a re-evaluation by HUD.

 

When I tried to get information from our Lane County HOME TBA file and the Community Sharing file I was told that Liane Richardson, now County Counsel, had these files. I contacted her office, she sent me an email incorrectly stating that she knew that we had already received the requested documents and would not resend them. She also stands by her fee of $100 an hour to get Lane County Email records of 2 of our hearings. We had the hearings held by email to establish that they recognized my HOME TBA approved accommodation and to have a written record of the hearings that must be kept for 5 years. Liane states that she doesn’t know where they are and wants $100 an hour to look for them. Unless I am mistaken this would be an example of being treated differently than others in a similar situation.

 

 

As a side note for Halo, Liane Richardson was trained by The Pacific Program, Luke Center “Graduates of the Pacific Program enter into a web of alumni that are supported through on-going educational opportunities, regular communications, and a cadre of relationships with other public sector leaders at all levels that can help when faced with difficult challenges and the need to forge partnerships in the public interest.”

http://www.lukecenter.org

1 2 3 2 42 15 26 21 12

- - - - - - - - -

Member of Congress Staff from the Governor's office State Representatives State Senators Elected County Commissioners Representatives from Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Tyonek Native Corporation and the Suquamish Indian Tribe Executive Directors and Chief Executive Officers Mayors City Managers

And is allied with Ford Family Foundation’s Leadership training, which trained Faye Stewart and Bobby Green.