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| − | {{Infobox Organization
| + | [[Image:Acorns.jpg|thumb|right|200px]] |
| − | |name = Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now
| + | '''Acorns''' are the seeds of trees of the [[Oak]] family. |
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| − | |abbreviation = ACORN
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| − | |formation = 1970
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| − | |type = [[Non-governmental organization]]
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| − | |headquarters = [[New Orleans, Lousiana]] | |
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| − | |leader_title = President
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| − | |leader_name = Maude Hurd (1990-present)
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| − | |website = [http://www.acorn.org www.acorn.org]
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| − | }}
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| − | '''ACORN''', the '''Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now''', is a [[community organizing|community organization]] of low- and moderate-income families that addresses housing, schools, neighborhood safety, health care, job conditions, and other social issues that affect its members. With a membership of over 350,000, ACORN is organized into more than 850 neighborhood chapters in over 100 cities across the [[United States of America|United States]], as well as in [[Argentina]], [[Canada]], [[Mexico]], and [[Peru]]. ACORN was founded in 1970 by [[Wade Rathke]] and Gary Delgado.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sonoma.edu/users/w/wallsd/community-organizing.shtml |last=Walls |first=David |authorlink =David Walls (academic) |title=Power to the People: Thirty-five Years of Community Organizing |work=The Workbook |month=Summer |year=1994}}</ref> Maude Hurd has been National President of ACORN since 1990. | |
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| − | ACORN groups work through [[direct action]], negotiations, and with public officials. The group has received federal funding in the past, for example through a $1.1 million grant from AmeriCorps<ref>http://www.opinionjournal.com/diary/?id=110009214</ref>, however it states it does not now accept government funding and is not tax exempt.<ref>http://acorn.org/index.php?id=12342</ref>
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| − | ==Issues and actions==
| + | for the leftwing activist group see [[ACORN]] |
| − | === Predatory lending===
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| − | ACORN has fought against lending practices that it sees as [[predatory lending|predatory]] by targeting the national companies that practice them, working for stronger state laws against predatory practices, organizing against local financial scams, and steering individuals toward loan counseling.<ref name="ACORN_2003"/> Following a three-year campaign Household International (now owned by [[HSBC|HSBC Holdings]] and renamed [[HSBC Finance|HSBC Finance Corporation]]), one of the largest [[subprime lending|subprime lenders]] in the country, and ACORN announced on [[November 25]], [[2003]] a proposed settlement of a 2002 national [[class-action lawsuit]] brought by ACORN. The settlement created a $72 million [[Foreclosure Avoidance Program]] to provide relief to Household borrowers who are at risk of losing their homes.<ref name="ACORN_2003">{{cite web |url=http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=8500 |title=ACORN Annual Report 2003 |publisher=ACORN |year=2003 |accessdate=2007-11-12}}</ref> The settlement came on the heels of an earlier $484 million settlement between Household, Attorneys General, and bank regulators from all 50 US states.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.atg.wa.gov/householdfinance/facts.shtml |title=Household Finance Settlement |publisher = Washington State Office of the Attorney General |date=[[2003-12-05]] |accessdate=2007-11-12 |archivedate=2007-09-27 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20060927065346/http://www.atg.wa.gov/householdfinance/facts.shtml}}</ref>
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| − | === Living wages ===
| + | [[Category:Trees]] |
| − | [[Living wage]] ordinances require private businesses that do business with the government to pay their workers a wage that enables them to afford basic necessities. ACORN has helped pass local living wage laws in fifteen cities including [[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago]], [[Oakland, California|Oakland]], [[Denver, Colorado|Denver]], and [[New York City]].<ref>{{cite journal
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| − | | author = David Swanson
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| − | | date = February 21, 2005
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| − | | title = Federal Minimum Wage 44% Below 1968 Level: Fighting for a Living Wage, State by State
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| − | | journal = Counterpunch
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| − | | url = http://www.counterpunch.org/swanson02212005.html
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| − | | language = English
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| − | | accessdate = 2008-07-14
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| − | }}</ref> ACORN maintains a website that provides strategic and logistical assistance to organizations nationwide.
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| − | ACORN filed a lawsuit in [[California]] seeking to exempt itself from the state's [[minimum wage]] of $4.25 per hour in 1995. ACORN alleged in its complaint that "its workers, if paid the minimum wage, will be less empathetic with ACORN's low and moderate income constituency and will therefore be less effective advocates." The court denied ACORN's petition; the denial was sustained on appeal.<ref>Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now v. Department of Industrial Relations, 41 Cal. App. 4th 298, 301 (Cal. Ct. App. 1995).</ref>
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| − | === Katrina Relief ===
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| − | ACORN members across the country, particularly in the [[Gulf Coast|Gulf]] region, have organized fundraising and organizing drives to ensure that victims of [[Hurricane Katrina]] will receive assistance and will be able to return to affected areas. ACORN's Home Cleanout Demonstration Program has gutted and rebuilt over 1,850 homes with the help of volunteers. The ACORN Katrina Survivors Association formed in the aftermath of the storm is the first nationwide organization for Katrina survivors and has been working for equitable treatment for victims. Displaced citizens were bussed into the city for the [[New Orleans]] primary and general elections. ACORN Housing Services have helped more than 2,000 homeowners affected by the storm and is an official planner working with the city on reconstruction.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=9703 |title=Two years after Katrina, still fighting and winning |year=2005 |publisher=ACORN |accessdate=2007-11-12}}</ref>{{Verify credibility|date=July 2008}}
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| − | === Education ===
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| − | ACORN pushes [[education reform]] usually in the form of organizing neighborhood groups and "community" or "ACORN schools". In Chicago, ACORN has advocated for a certified teacher to be in every classroom. In [[California]] ACORN has documented the need for textbooks and school repairs. ACORN works with teachers unions to get money for school construction and more funding for schools.<ref name="ACORN_school_overview">{{cite web |url=http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=2660 |title=School Overview |publisher=ACORN |accessdate=2007-11-12}}</ref> ACORN opposes [[charter school]]s and for-profit schooling initiatives, most notably the proposed [[Edison Schools]] takeover of the [[New York City]] public schools in 2001.<ref name="ACORN_school_overview"/>{{Verify credibility|date=July 2008}}
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| − | ===Gun Control===
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| − | In 2006, ACORN intervened on behalf of [[Jersey City]], [[New Jersey]] in a lawsuit brought against the city, which challenged a local ordinance that limited handgun purchasers to one gun a month.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1166448999875 |title=N.J. Judge Voids City's Gun Control Law |first=Charles |last=Toutant |publisher=New Jersey Law Journal |date=[[2006-12-20]] |accessdate=2007-11-12}}</ref> The [[Hudson County]] Superior Court struck down the ordinance on the grounds that it violated the New Jersey Constitution's Equal Protection clause, and a state statute prohibiting towns and municipalities from enacting firearms legislation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1166448999875 |title=N.J. Judge Voids City's Gun Control Law |first=Charles |last=Toutant |publisher=New Jersey Law Journal |date=[[2006-12-20]] |accessdate=2007-11-12}}</ref>
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| − | On September 29, 2008, the [[New Jersey]] Appellate Court denied ACORN's appeal of the [[Hudson County]] Superior Court's decision striking down Jersey City's ordinance.<ref>http://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/opinions/a4443-06a4708-06.pdf</ref>
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| − | ==History==
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| − | <!-- The info in this History section are well sourced in the Delgado book -->
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| − | === 1970-1975: Founding ===
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| − | ACORN was founded by [[Wade Rathke]] when he was sent to [[Little Rock, Arkansas]] by the [[National Welfare Rights Organization]] (NWRO) in 1970 as an organizer.<ref>{{cite journal|first=Sol|last=Stern|journal=City Journal|title=ACORN’s Nutty Regime for Cities|url=http://www.city-journal.org/html/13_2_acorns_nutty_regime.html|date=Spring 2003|accessdate=2007-01-24}}</ref> Gary Delgado and George A. Wiley were also instrumental to its founding. ACORN's first campaign was aimed at helping welfare recipients attain their basic needs, such as [[clothing]] and [[furniture]]. This drive, inspired by a clause in the [[Arkansas]] [[Welfare (financial aid)|welfare]] laws, began the effort to create and sustain a movement that would grow to become the Arkansas Community Organizations for Reform Now, the beginnings of ACORN.<ref name=Delgado>{{cite book|last=Delgado|first=Gary|title=Organizing the Movement: The Roots and Growth of ACORN|publisher=Temple University Press|date=1986|isbn=0-87722-393-9|oclc=12134922 59256995}}</ref>
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| − | ACORN's goal was to unite welfare recipients with [[working poor|needy working people]] around issues of free school lunches, [[unemployment]] issues, [[Vietnam veteran|Vietnam veterans']] rights, and [[emergency room]] care. The broad range of issues did not stop there as the organization grew throughout Arkansas. ACORN organized [[Agriculture|farmers]] to take on [[Environmentalism|environmental]] issues concerning [[sulfur]] emissions.
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| − | === 1975-1980: Growth beyond Arkansas ===
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| − | In 1975, ACORN created branches in [[Texas]] and [[South Dakota]]. On [[December 13]], [[1975]], sixty leaders from the three ACORN states elected the first associate Executive Board and the first ACORN president, Steve McDonald, to deal with matters beyond the scope of the individual city and state boards. Each year thereafter saw three or more states join ACORN, building to a total of twenty states by 1980. This expansion led to multi-state campaigns beginning with a mass meeting of 1,000 members in [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]] in 1978. At the end of the conference, ACORN convention delegates marched on the [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic Party]] conference with the outline of a nine-point "People’s Platform" which would go on to become the foundation of ACORN's platform when it was ratified in 1979.
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| − | ACORN was active in the [[U.S. presidential election, 1980|1980 Election]] with the "People's Platform" serving as its standard.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.umsl.edu/~whmc/guides/whm0040.htm |title=WESTERN HISTORICAL MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION |publisher=UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-ST. LOUIS |month=June |year=1980 |accessdate=2007-11-12}}</ref> It led [[Demonstration (people)|demonstrations]] aimed at both major party candidates; demanded to meet with [[Jimmy Carter|President Jimmy Carter]]; marched on the president's campaign finance committee chair's home; and presented its platform to the [[United States Republican Party|Republican Party]] platform committee.
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| − | === 1980-1988: Reagan Era ===
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| − | By 1980, ACORN’S staff was stretched thin by the demands of meeting its expansion goals. Much of its resources and energy had been dedicated to the presidential primaries and national party conventions. ACORN launched [[squatting]] campaigns in an attempt to obtain affordable housing, and encouraged [[squatter]]s to refit the premises for comfortable living.
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| − | In June 1982 ACORN sponsored "[[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]] Ranches" in over 35 cities believing the president's focus to be on military as opposed to social spending. These [[tent city|tent cities]] were erected for two days and were met with resistance from the [[National Park Service]], which tried repeatedly to evict the tenters. The protesters remained and then marched on the [[White House]] and testified before a [[United States Congress|Congressional committee]] about what they described as the housing crisis in America. The last Reagan Ranch was held at the Republican Convention in [[Dallas, Texas|Dallas]] in 1984.
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| − | In addition to protesting, ACORN also developed and strengthened its [[political action committee]]s and encouraged its members to run for office. For the [[U.S. presidential election, 1984|1984 Election]] ACORN wanted to endorse a candidate, setting a 75% support in polls among members as its requirement. No candidate reached that level, though there was strong support for [[Jesse Jackson]]. ACORN also established a legislative office that year in [[Washington, DC]]. During this period ACORN also focused on local election reform in a number of cities, including [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|Pittsburgh]], [[Columbia, South Carolina]], and [[Sioux Falls, South Dakota]], encouraging the change of at-large legislative bodies to district representation.
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| − | ACORN grew to twenty-seven states, adding chapters in [[New York City]], Washington, DC, and [[Chicago, Illinois]] by the end of Reagan's first term.<ref name=Delgado />
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| − | During the [[U.S. presidential election, 1988|1988 Election]] ACORN held its National Convention in the same city as the Democratic Convention — [[Atlanta, Georgia]]. During the preceding four years ACORN had strengthened its ties with [[Jesse Jackson]] and accounted for thirty Jackson delegates. It also sponsored a march at the convention.
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| − | ACORN's membership grew to 70,000 plus in twenty-eight states during this time. It increased its legislative lobbying efforts in Washington and strengthened its [[Politcal Action Committee]]s (PACs). It also developed what it called the [[Affiliated Media Foundation Movement]] (AM/FM). Starting with station [[KNON]] in Dallas, AM/FM moved on to establish radio stations, [[UHF]] television and [[cable television]] programming. It also sought and received appointments to the [[Resolution Trust Corporation]] (RTC) which was formed to dissolve the assets of failed [[Savings and loan|Savings and Loans]] resulting from the [[Savings and Loan crisis]].
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| − | ===1988-1998: Focus on housing===
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| − | [[Image:Acorn pred lend.jpg|thumbnail|ACORN member demonstrating against predatory lending]]
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| − | While some of ACORN’s most notable efforts were in the area of housing, it has counted health, public safety, education, representation, work and workers’ rights and communications concerns among its victories.
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| − | The 1990 ACORN convention in Chicago focused on the fast-breaking housing campaign. It featured a squatting demonstration at an RTC house. Later, ACORN members demanded cooperation from banks about providing loan data on low- and moderate-income communities and compliance with the 1977 [[Community Reinvestment Act]] (CRA).
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| − | ACORN fought weakening of the CRA in 1991, staging a two-day takeover of the [[House Banking Committee]] hearing room. It also established ACORN Housing Corporation to service people moving into homes under the housing campaign, rehabilitated hundreds of houses addressed by CRA.
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| − | The ACORN convention in New York in 1992, called the "ACORN-Bank Summit", was organized to make deals with giant banks. When [[Citibank]], the nation’s largest bank, did not participate conventioneers protested at its downtown [[Manhattan]] headquarters, and won a meeting to negotiate for similar programs.
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| − | ACORN supported and lobbied for the [[National Voter Registration Act of 1993|"Motor Voter" Act]]. After its passage, ACORN members attended [[Bill Clinton|President Clinton’s]] signing ceremony. ACORN then pursued new registration laws in Arkansas and [[Massachusetts]] and filed suit in [[Illinois]], [[Louisiana]], [[Michigan]], [[Missouri]], [[New Jersey]], and [[Pennsylvania]] as a result of the act.
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| − | In 1993, ACORN also began a national campaign to fight [[insurance]] [[redlining]], a practice that put the gains made in other housing campaigns at risk. The campaign targeted [[Allstate]], hitting sales offices in fourteen cities and a stockholders meeting. Allstate agreed to negotiate and signed an agreement in 1994 for a $10 million partnership with ACORN and [[NationsBank]] for below-market mortgages to low-income homebuyers. [[Travelers Insurance]] agreed to a Neighborhood and Home Safety Program, linking access to insurance and lower rates to public safety programs.
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| − | ACORN filed a lawsuit in [[California]] seeking to exempt itself from the state's [[minimum wage]] of $4.25 per hour in 1995. ACORN alleged in its complaint that "its workers, if paid the minimum wage, will be less empathetic with ACORN's low and moderate income constituency and will therefore be less effective advocates." The court denied ACORN's petition; the denial was sustained on appeal.<ref>Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now v. Department of Industrial Relations, 41 Cal. App. 4th 298, 301 (Cal. Ct. App. 1995).</ref>
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| − | ===1998-2004: Building capacity===
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| − | ACORN's subsequent activities have included its "Living Wage" programs, voter registration, and [[Grassroots democracy|grassroots political organization]].
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| − | In 1998 ACORN helped form the [[Working Families Party]] in [[New York]] which counts increasing the minimum wage as its centerpiece issue.
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| − | Dale Rathke, the brother of ACORN's founder Wade Rathke, was found to have [[embezzlement|embezzled]] $948,607.50 from the group and affiliated charitable organizations in 1999 and 2000. ACORN executives did not inform the board or law enforcement, but signed an enforceable restitution agreement with the Rathke family to repay the amount of the embezzlement. Wade Rathke stated to the [[New York Times]] that "the decision to keep the matter secret was not made to protect his brother but because word of the embezzlement would have put a “weapon” into the hands of [...] conservatives who object to [ACORN]'s often strident advocacy on behalf of low- and moderate-income families and workers." A [[whistleblower]] revealed the fraud in 2008, leading to the departure of both Dale and Wade Rathke.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/09/us/09embezzle.html?ex=1373342400&en=d2ad71953fd2c157&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink |title=Funds Misappropriated at 2 Nonprofit Groups |publisher=The New York Times |date=[[2008-08-09]] |first=Stephanie |last=Strom |accessdate=2008-08-09}}</ref>
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| − | A [[March 27]], [[2003]] decision of the [[National Labor Relations Board]] found that ACORN attempted to thwart [[Labor union|union organizing]] efforts within its own organization by laying off two workers who were attempting to organize.<ref name=nlrb>{{cite web| title = Decisions of the NLRB, 338-129| publisher = National Labor Relations Board| date = [[2003-03-27]]| url = http://www.nlrb.gov/shared_files/Board%20Decisions/338/338-129.pdf| format = pdf| accessdate = 2006-10-12 }}</ref> The two workers, both field organizers with ACORN, began discussions with the [[Service Employees International Union]] and later sought to organize under [[Industrial Workers of the World]] in response to their $16,000 annual salary for a 54-hour work week.{{Fact|date=July 2008}} The NLRB ordered the two employees be reinstated in their former jobs and ACORN cease from interrogating employees about organizing activity.<ref name=nlrb />. ACORN has since strengthened its ties with the Service Employees International Union, which donates over two million dollars to ACORN each year,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB116113323291895978-search.html?KEYWORDS=ACORN+%2B+union&COLLECTION=wsjie/6month |title=The Wal-Mart Posse |publisher=[[Wall Street Journal]] |accessdate=2007-11-12}}</ref> often working collaboratively on issues (including health insurance costs and the minimum wage) and sharing office space.
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| − | In 2004, Florida ACORN helped to raise Florida's minimum wage by $1.00 an hour by lobbying for a minimum wage amendment to be placed on the ballot. Over 1 million Florida employees were affected by the raise, which is adjusted annually for [[inflation]].
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| − | 2004 saw ACORN become an international organization, opening offices in [[Canada]], [[Peru]], and beginning work in [[Dominican Republic]]. Since then offices have opened in [[Mexico]] and [[Argentina]].
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| − | === ACORN Employees and Voter Registration Fraud ===
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| − | In some locations, ACORN employees have submitted [[Election fraud|false voter registration forms]] rather than obtaining registrations from actual eligible voters.
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| − | * In [[Ohio]] in 2004, four ACORN employees were indicted by a federal grand jury for submitting false voter registration forms.<ref>{{cite web | title = The Acorn Indictments: A union-backed outfit faces charges of election fraud| publisher = The Wall Street Journal | date = [[2006-11-03]]| url = http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110009189}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = New Registration Rules Stir Voter Debate in Ohio | publisher = The New York Times | date = [[2006-08-06]]| url = http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/06/us/06ohio.html}}</ref>
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| − | *In January 2005 two [[Colorado]] ACORN workers were sentenced to [[community service]] for submitting false voter registrations.<ref>"Briefing," Rocky Mountain News, 1/4/05, cited at http://discoverthenetwork.org/Articles/acornbackgro.html</ref> ACORN's regional director said, "we find it abhorrent and do everything we can to prevent it from happening."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/10/28/absentee_ballots_may_be_missing/ |title=2 accused of fraud in voter registration |date=[[2004-10-28]] |publisher=Boston Globe |accessdate=2008-07-14}}</ref>
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| − | * On [[November 1]], [[2006]], four part-time ACORN employees were indicted in [[Kansas City, Missouri]] for voter registration fraud. Prosecutors said the indictments are part of a national investigation.<ref name="kcindictments">{{cite news | title = ACORN Workers Indicted For Alleged Voter Fraud| publisher = KMBC-TV| date = [[2006-11-01]]| url = http://www.thekansascitychannel.com/politics/10214492/detail.html| accessdate = 2006-11-02 }}</ref> ACORN said in a press release that it is in part responsible in these individuals being caught, has fired them, and has cooperated and publicly supported efforts to look into the validity of the allegations.<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.pubdef.net/2006/11/4-acorn-workers-indicted-in-kc.html |title=4 ACORN Workers Indicted in KC |first=Antonio D. |last=French |date=[[2006-11-01]] |publisher=PubDef.net |accessdate=2007-11-12}}</ref>
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| − | * ACORN was investigated in 2006 for submitting false voter registrations in [[St. Louis, Missouri]]. 1,492 fraudulent voter registrations were identified.<ref>[http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/795117FA8146E4F08625741F006D15C0?OpenDocument Voter registration workers admit fraud]</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ksdk.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=105234 |title=St. Louis Election Board Investigating Voter Fraud |date=[[2006-10-11]] |first=Ann |last=Rubin |publisher=[[KSDK]] TV |accessdate=2007-11-12}}</ref>
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| − | *In 2007, five [[Washington|Washington]] state ACORN workers were sentenced to jail time.<ref>{{cite web | title = Voter Fraud Watch: Could ACORN Scandal in Washington Have Been Avoided With Photo ID? | publisher = FOX News | date = [[2008-05-02]]| url = http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/05/02/voter-fraud-watch-could-acorn-scandal-in-washington-have-been-avoided-with-photo-id/}}</ref> ACORN agreed to pay [[King County]] $25 000 for its investigative costs and acknowledged that the national organization could be subject to criminal prosecution if fraud occurs again. According to King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg, the misconduct was done "as an easy way to get paid [by ACORN], not as an attempt to influence the outcome of elections."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003806904_webvotefraud26m.html |title=Felony charges filed against 7 in state's biggest case of voter-registration fraud |publisher=The Seattle Times |date=[[2007-07-28]] |first=Keith |last=Ervin |accessdate=2007-11-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/304877_acorn23.html |title=Reform group turned in 2000 suspicious voter registrations |publisher=Seattle Post Intelligencer |date=[[2007-02-23]] |first=Rachel last=La Corte |accessdate=2007-11-12}}</ref>
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| − | *In 2008, the [[Michigan Secretary of State]] office told the [[Detroit Free Press]] that ACORN had been submitting a sizeable number of duplicate and fraudulent applications to vote.<ref>[http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008809140383 Bad voter applications found, September 14, 2008]</ref>
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| − | *State authorities in Nevada raided ACORN's offices in Las Vegas in 2008, alleging that its canvassers produced forms with false names, fictional addresses, or famous personalities. Neither ACORN nor any employees, however, have been charged with fraud or other crimes.<ref name="vegas-raid-fox">{{cite news|url=http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/10/07/acorn-vegas-office-raided-voter-fraud-investigation/|title=ACORN Vegas Office Raided in Voter Fraud Investigation|date=2008-10-07|publisher=Fox News|accessdate=2008-10-07}}</ref><ref>Oct. 8, 2008 News-Journal http://www.lvrj.com/news/30613864.html</ref>
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| − | === ACORN and the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 ===
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| − | During the debate on the bailout bill (the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008), Democrats wanted to put in a provision that 20% of profits from the program would go to two programs run by the [[Department of the Treasury]] -- the Housing Trust Fund and the Capital Magnet Fund. Some conservative commenters objected that the Treasury-run funds would, in turn, give money to groups like ACORN. Many Republicans object to groups like ACORN receiving any government money, because they say it registers democratic-leaning voters at the same time it works on housing issues. "These are taxpayer funds, in an indirect method, being used to subsidize political activism," says Rep. Jeb Hensarling, Texas Republican and chairman of the conservative House Republican Study Committee. "I'm sure they're not going out and registering any Republicans." <ref>[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121745181676698197.html | Wall Street Journal]</ref>
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| − | There were no specific earmarks for Acorn in any version of the bill, Senate democrats said. "None. Absolutely none," said Steven Adamske, spokesman for Rep. [[Barney Frank]] (D-Mass.), when asked how much money Acorn or other community groups would get. "All funds would go to state and local governments."<ref>[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/27/politics/politico/thecrypt/main4483168.shtml]</ref>
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| − | Frank is chairman of the Financial Services Committee. The bill as passed contained no reference to ACORN, nor did any of the drafts.
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| − | == Political perceptions ==
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| − | [[Sol Stern]] characterizes ACORN's opposition to [[free trade]], their support for [[price controls]], and for the [[Community Reinvestment Act]], as in line with the left wing of the [[Democratic Party]], and claims they sometimes opt for "undisguised authoritarian [[socialism]]."<ref name='nutty'>{{cite web|title=ACORN’s Nutty Regime for Cities|author=Sol Stern|url=http://www.city-journal.org/html/13_2_acorns_nutty_regime.html|publisher=City Journal}}</ref> [[Stanley Kurtz]] argues in [[National Review]] that "ACORN’s living-wage campaigns drive businesses out of the very neighborhoods where jobs are needed most. ACORN’s opposition to [[welfare reform]] only threatens to worsen the self-reinforcing cycle of urban poverty and family breakdown." <ref>http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NDZiMjkwMDczZWI5ODdjOWYxZTIzZGIyNzEyMjE0ODI=</ref>
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| − | In contrast, [[John Atlas]] argues in a [[Huffington Post]] editorial that ACORN has "accumulated many enemies" and has been "subjected to vicious attacks from business [[lobbyist]]s, conservative politicians, and right-wing media." This same source alleges that the [[George W. Bush]] administration has sought to harass ACORN with accusation of voter fraud.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-atlas/acorn-under-the-microscop_b_112503.html |author=John Atlas|title=ACORN Under The Microscope}}</ref> In his book ''In Justice: Inside the Scandal That Rocked the Bush Administration'', former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias said he was wrongfully fired by Attorney General [[Alberto Gonzales]] in part because he did not find sufficient evidence to indict ACORN members for voter fraud.
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| − | ACORN endorsed the candidacy of [[Barack Obama]] during the [[2008 Democratic Presidential Primary]].<ref>{{cite press release|title=ACORN’s Political Action Committee Endorses Obama |url=https://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=8539&tx_ttnews%5Bpointer%5D=4&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=21759&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=8538&cHash=ff99d11068}}</ref>
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| − | ==See also==
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| − | *[[Project Vote]]
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| − | ==Bibliography==
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| − | *{{cite book |first=Gary |last=Delgado |title=Organizing the Movement: The Roots and Growth of ACORN |location=Philadelphia |publisher=[[Temple University Press]] |year=1986 |isbn=0-87722-393-9 |oclc=12134922 59256995}}
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| − | == External links ==
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| − | *[http://www.acorn.org ACORN]
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| − | *[http://www.livingwagecampaign.org/ ACORN Living Wage Resource Center]
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| − | ==References==
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| − | {{reflist|2}}
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| − | | |
| − | [[Category:Civil rights organizations]]
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| − | [[Category:Consumer organizations]]
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| − | [[Category:Community-building organizations]]
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| − | [[Category:United States political action committees]]
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| − | [[Category:Political advocacy groups in the United States]]
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| − | [[Category:Affordable housing advocacy organizations]]
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| − | [[Category:Gun control advocacy groups in the United States]]
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| − | [[Category:Immigration political advocacy groups in the United States]]
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| − | [[Category:Industrial Workers of the World]] | |
