Inclusion Daily Express -- State Investigates Group Home Opponent's Tactics

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State Investigates Group Home Opponent's Tactics
By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
March 26, 2007

NORCO, CALIFORNIA--Since 2004, Julie Waltz has been trying to get her next-door neighbors to go away.

Along her street, Waltz has posted dozens of signs -- written in red -- saying such things as "get out!", "your wife and kids are potential rape victims" and "sexual inappropriate fire-setter facility" with an arrow pointing toward the group home where a handful of women with developmental disabilities live.

Officials say that none of the women are sexual offenders and present no danger to their community.

Now, California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing, at the recommendation of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, is investigating whether Waltz' ongoing protest violates federal fair housing laws that prohibit discrimination based on disability.

In spite of the slogans, Waltz says she loves everyone. She says she is being victimized by the state.

"I'm not against developmentally disabled people," she told the Press-Enterprise. "I'm sick and tired of them saying I'm a bigot because I am not a bigot."

Waltz also claims that the investigation is violating her First Amendment free speech rights.

Disability rights advocates disagree, saying Waltz has gone too far, and that her actions are frightening the women.

"The complaint has to do with behavior that is not protected by the First Amendment," explained attorney Michelle Uzeta, of Protection and Advocacy, Inc., which is representing the women.

Uzeta pointed out that a proposed group home in the same area was never opened because the people that were set to live there feared for their safety -- after someone stuck a garden hose through a hole in the roof to flood it, threw eggs at it, and drew a swastika across it.

The state expects to complete the investigation by June.

Related:
"State investigates neighbor's yearslong protest of Norco group home" (Press Enterprise)
http://www.inclusiondaily.com/news/07/red/0326u.htm
"Protester of group home is targeted" (Los Angeles Times)
http://www.inclusiondaily.com/news/07/red/0326t.htm

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