Fireworks or Weapons?

I attempted to contact the local news as well as the Local paper that reported information in a dangerous way. I understand it is common practice to do such a thing. The ramifications of such reporting often go unnoticed or reported. This is my account as to what has happened.

This is a comment and response to the staff at the Canton Daily Ledger and John Q. Public. In your police roundup article (august 21^st) you made me sound like a scary person one of which I myself would not want to know. Due to your article I have now been further discriminated against by my land lord and am being evicted from my townhouse and family. I was in possession of fireworks (sparklers) and the ingredients to make fireworks (fountains) not the illegal kind either. All fireworks fall into 1 of 6 categories of explosives as designated by the Dept. of Transportation. I did not have my children anywhere near me when I was participating in the hobby of fireworks. I did not break any federal laws nor did I break the law that I was accused of. I just thought it should be known that I am a father of 5 children 2 of which are disabled. I myself am disabled. I have no criminal record and I had every safety precaution in place to prevent an accident. Everything I had was purchased at local stores and was not illegal.

I never had and would do anything to harm my children or any other person for that matter. Another thing I find disturbing is you not only put my picture in the article but my address as well. In light of what is going on in the world today it is considerably dangerous to do such a thing. My family is at risk now from a possible hate crime. I have already caught the glaring eyes of a few Cantonites. I challenge you as well as any other media outlets to consider the consequences of your articles to the community. Your article could have and certainly may have created a fear in this peaceful society that is unnecessary and has caused the possible split up of a family by force. As a family we function to the best of our ability. Separated my wife would have to quit her job, my children will be forced to not have their father around and the children of Oaklawn apt. will no longer have me to help them with their bikes or other toys, to pick them up when they fall and to stand up for them when they are being mistreated.

I understand that the person who wrote this article is "just doing their job", it is no excuse for making a story sound worse than it is and purposely putting a chill down the spines of the people of Canton. The police dept. of Canton I would like to say has and is doing a great job in the community. They have treated me fairly and humanely in this whole situation. I have personally been assured that it is not their Intention to have me separated from my family. I must say despite the past of Oaklawn apt. The Housing Authority has made this place a safe place to live. I challenge all of you in Canton or any other part of this country to look at the laws at which you are governed by. "The housing act", the "one strike you're out policy" to name a few. Did you know that these acts remove the people of this country of their constitutional rights to "Due Process?" America last I checked we were innocent unless proven guilty by a court of law. These laws specifically discriminate against people of the poorer class whom live in the housing Authorities. Well based solely on a newspaper article I can be evicted without even being formerly arraigned.

The "one strike you're out laws" is on its face a good idea in changing the face of housing projects. They were written to remove violence, drugs and gangs from these state supported properties. I agree such an act is certainly a step in the right direction as far as making public housing safer for the families who are in need of such assistance. The laws have a discretionary clause which should be used more than it is. The housing Authorities should according to the laws take into consideration the overall picture of the situation, they should consider whether it is likely to reoccur and whether it is in the best interest of the family as well as the community. A newspaper article "is only a mere accusation" as clearly stated in such article "All people are innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law". I certainly do not understand how fireworks can be considered a weapon unless used for that purpose. People out their please understand that fireworks are safe unless misused. Only professional and illegal explosives are in danger of causing large amounts of damage. Strangely enough most fireworks related injuries come from the common sparkler.

It is election year and this is but one example of the many issues that go unnoticed by people including myself. Stand up and look around. You might be well off, you might be in poverty. Yet no matter what, we are all citizens of the U.S. and at any given time could be put in the other person's shoes. I have contacted Obama, Mike Smith, as well as HUD, ACLU and Prairie State Legal Services. I am awaiting a response from them at this time.

On a side note my wife and I have attempted to help this community through a website dedicated to raising money for Autism and other Mental Disorders, in an attempt to raise money not only for our family but for the community of Canton and its schools. This is a slow going process which has yet to grow. I urge everyone out there to speak up if you are being treated unfairly. My whole life I have been the quiet let things slide off my back type of person. I now have been forced to overcome my fear of conflict and stand up for myself and my family. My son Arek who will be 5 in December has classic/severe Autism. He has made good strides since entering Canton School District. Yet he has Autism and has certain stimulation needs that put us in a stinky situation. Bluntly we have to clean up his poop on a daily basis. I know we are not alone in this situation. The fact of the matter is we do clean up after him and although it is disgusting to think about it is sanitary once we clean and there is nothing we can do to change it other than continue to try and teach him and train him not to do this. We have and are currently trying many things that those who have children with Autism know about to stop such behavior. Unfortunately our 3 year old and 2 year old daughters have adapted his behaviors as well which compounds the situation. It is hard work being the parent of 5 children and especially hard being the parent of children with such disabilities.

Now let's pose a hypothetical question if you were say in power over someone's livelihood(landlord, boss, etc...) and you blatantly told them they had to move or were going to be fired due to an action that is out of their control and one of the conditions of their disability. What would that be called? Discrimination, Harassment, possibly defamation of character! What would you do if you were the person told these things? How would it make you feel? Sadly most in this situation would probably do nothing or not know what to do! Certainly you would feel pretty bad about yourself. Further more if you were told that you were a bad parent or you need to do such in such. It is like someone telling a blind person to watch where they are going. I do not know where I am going with this other than to say people you need to step up and defend your freedom step up and change the things that our ignorance has allowed to come into existence. There is an old saying that goes something like this: "All that is necessary for evil to exist is for good people to do nothing" Another one to ponder is "Absolute power corrupts absolutely" There are more details to this at this time I am not sure as to whether or not they should be shared with the public in the interest of my daughter. I do not currently have an attorney as for either my criminal defense or my civil defense. Our website for Autism is letscureautism.com. Any help is always appreciated and welcome. Please consider the situation my family, as well as other families gets put in daily. Speak out now if you are in this situation! For those who are not stand up for your fellow citizens in the time of need. One more question I find odd if I am evicted and not allowed to even visit my family on housing Authority property. Why is our neighbor allowed to have a registered sex offender visit their home almost daily? Not a teen that had an underage girlfriend, a 42 year old male was convicted of "Aggravated sexual abuse of a 9 year old girl. Some law somewhere needs to be changed I believe! The police as well as the housing Authority say they cannot stop him from visiting. Yet because I had fireworks I have my liberties threatened and my family will suffer severely not only financially but emotionally as well. Let's figure this out people before more families are unjustly put through this type of torture.

sources:
Illinois compiled statues: chapter 310-> 10/ housing authorities act the clause is 3/4 ways down the page in 10/25 subsection (e)(f)

News Article about me

"One strike your out" policy information