There is no way to reconcile the recent actions of ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) representatives who offered advise about how to start a prostitution business during an undercover expose'. The whole incident was captured on camera and is inexcusable. (Video). As a result, the organization has come under scrutiny on a national level from most members of congress. Congress has threatened to bring ACORN's federal funding to an end. Republicans and other sharks preying on the politically weak smell blood in the water and are circling for the kill. As usual, the national fervor is making its way to the local political arena. Just last week, Harris County Republican Party Chairman Jared Woodfill sent Houston Mayor Bill White a letter asking that all funding of ACORN be disclosed and that the organization “not receive another penny of taxpayers' money.” ACORN is perhaps the largest organization in America which spends a considerable amount of time registering eligible voters who come from disadvantaged communities (video). It is on the front line in the battle against voter suppression. It is an organization which is indirectly responsible for the recent upswing that I have noticed in eligible minority jurors. In Harris County (like most other local counties in America), prospective jurors are drawn from voter registration rolls. Less minorities as registered voters, generally means that there will be less minorities on jury panels. ACORN's fight against voter suppression is essential to the proper administration of justice and should be SUSTAINED!
Although the current incident is reprehensible, it appears limited to one branch and only a few employees. ACORN, as far as organizations go, may be the last active legal advocate for the people in our area. ACORN has three separate entities operating in Houston: Houston ACORN (an activist group that supports low- and moderate-income families), ACORN Housing Corp. (a non-profit group that helps first-time home buyers and fights mortgage foreclosures) and ACORN Political Action Committees (which support candidates). There have been no reports of corruption in the Houston area.
Nevertheless, the absence of government funding might enhance the organization's advocacy. Much of ACORN's funding comes from private donations and membership fees. Many of its workers are volunteers. Less than half of its funding comes from the government and is primarily limited to the administration of certain programs dealing with housing. To ensure government funding a certain image had to be maintained. Also, the government effectively restrained the organization by controlling the purse strings. Some things, such as opposing certain government programs, usually were off-limits for an organization which received government funding. Even with these restraints, the organizations existence was a threat to Republicans. The Bush White House and other conservatives repeatedly sought to curtail ACORN's effectiveness. The Bush administration even fired U.S Attorneys for refusing to prosecute ACORN representative's for voter fraud. Yet, the organization survived scrutiny.
ACORN's response to the current incident appears appropriate. The organization started an internal audit to insure compliance with the organizations goals. It suspended all intake into the organization's services programs until the internal audit could be completed. Even if this incident involved a few employees, the organization must take decisive and public steps to restore public confidence that it is committed to meeting its goals. It might consider changing leadership and bringing in a reformer as its president to influence public perception. It must throw the nuts out for the political squirrels. And it must get back to its mission of empowering the disenfranchised. In our increasingly polarized nation, much is depending on its mission.
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