NAHB's "Housing Opportunity Index" For Utah Shows Most Affordable Housing In Ogden-Clearfield, Least Affordable In St. George

If you're looking for affordable housing in Utah, the Ogden-Clearfield area may be the best place to start your search, according to a new survey.

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) released their annual Housing Affordability Index ratings on May 20th, 2008, and they show that of the 223 metropolitan areas in the United States rated, Utah has four areas included. Information from a CNNMoney report as well as from the a press release on the NAHB website. The CNN Money report combines both small market areas and large market areas onto the same list. Utah media coverage from the Deseret News.

The Housing Affordability Index (HOI) is defined as the percentage of homes sold in a given area that were affordable to families earning the area's median household income. It is calculated by initializing the median family income for a given area against the median home price for the same area, then determining what percentage of the homes sold could have been purchased by those earning the median income.

Ogden-Clearfield was rated the 112th most affordable market in the nation, based on 61.2 percent of homes sold being within the reach of those earning Ogden-Clearfield's median income. This is based upon a median family income of $65,000 and a median sale price of $215,000 in the local area.

Salt Lake City was rated the 160th most affordable market in the nation, based on 46.5 percent homes sold being within the reach of those earning Salt Lake City's median income. This is based upon a median family income of $65,300 and a median sale price of $256,000.

Provo-Orem was rated the 166th most affordable market in the nation, based on 44.4 percent homes sold being within the reach of those earning Provo-Orem's median income. This is based upon a median family income of $60,000 and a median sale price of $246,000.

St. George was rated the 197th most affordable market in the nation, based on 31.5 percent homes sold being within the reach of those earning St. George's median income. This is based upon a median family income of $51,500 and a median sale price of $252,000. St. George is plagued by a mismatch between wages and home prices. Home prices are artificially elevated by "California refugees" bringing in huge wads of cash from having sold their overpriced California homes, along with "golden parachute" retirees, both categories of which drive up demand and constrict the supply of homes. Retirees generally tend not to open up the new businesses which would create more jobs and bump up wages. This issue is discussed further on the St. George City-data forum.

The HOI only focuses on home prices and not on taxes, utilities, or other associated costs.

Nationally, homes became more affordable for the third consecutive quarter, with the HOI rising to the highest level since the second quarter of 2004. The national HOI shows that 53.8 percent of all new and existing homes that were sold during the first quarter were affordable to families earning the national median income of $61,500. NAHB President Sandy Dunn, a builder from Point Pleasant, WV, states that three factors combined to substantially increase housing affordability nationwide — mortgage rates returning to near the record low levels of a few years ago, a $2,500 rise in family income nationwide, and lower house prices.

In the nation’s most affordable major housing market of Indianapolis, 90.1 percent of homes sold in the first quarter were affordable to families earning the area’s median household income of $65,100. Also near the top of the list for affordable major metros (population 500,000 or larger) this time around were Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, Ohio-Pa.; Grand Rapids-Wyoming, Mich.; Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn, Mich.; and Harrisburg-Carlisle, Pa., in that order. [Ed. Note: I would strongly suggest reading the Detroitiscrap blog before considering a move to Detroit, however.]

One smaller metro market (fewer than 500,000 people) outranked all others in terms of housing affordability during the first quarter of 2008. This was Kokomo, Ind., where 95.3 percent of all homes sold in the period were affordable to families earning that area’s median household income of $57,400.

Also maintaining its long-held standing on the HOI was Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, Calif., which has now been the nation’s least-affordable major housing market for 14 consecutive quarters. There, 10.5 percent of new and existing homes sold during the first quarter were affordable to those earning the area’s median family income of $59,800. Other major metros at the bottom of the housing affordability chart included New York-White Plains-Wayne, N.Y.-N.J.; San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, Calif.; Miami-Miami Beach- Kendall, Fla.; and Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, Calif., in that order.

Among metro areas smaller than 500,000 people, the five markets at the bottom of the affordability chart were all located in California, starting with Salinas as the least affordable and followed by San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, Napa, Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Goleta and Santa Cruz-Watsonville, respectively.

CNNMoney also reported that home prices nationwide dropped eight percent during the past year. They also illustrated how the housing bubble has become seriously deflated in some of the high-end markets. Bubble deflation improved affordability in Santa Ana in Orange County, Calif. Helped by a median price drop to $470,000 from $610,000 a year ago there, 17.4% of homes sold were affordable, up from 4.4% during the first three months of 2007.

In San Diego, home affordability rose to 25.2% from 9.4% as prices dropped to $368,000 from $460,000; in Riverside, Calif. affordability went to 26.9% from 9.7% as prices fell to $288,000 from $380,000; and in Stockton, Calif., it soared to 35.5% from 9.7% as prices cratered to $262,000 from 390,000. These are some serious price drops, although still beyond the reach of most Americans.

The HOI also indicates that the national weighted interest rate on fixed and adjustable-rate mortgages – a key component in calculating the HOI – was 6.02 percent in the first quarter, compared to 6.42 percent in the fourth quarter of 2007, and the lowest since third quarter of 2005.

More detailed tables, in Excel format, can be found at www.nahb.org/hoi.

Utah Senator Orrin Hatch Shook Up Over News Of Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy's Malignant Brain Tumor

While the blogosphere is teeming with news about the discovery of a malignant brain tumor within Massachusetts Senator Edward M. "Ted" Kennedy, very few blogs will explore unique aspects of Senator Kennedy's life.

And one of the unique aspects is his ongoing political partnership with Utah Senator Orrin Hatch, as reported on May 20th by the Deseret News. They've been called the Senate's odd couple. And it seems like an unlikely friendship between a Mormon, Western, conservative Republican who does not drink and a Catholic, East Coast, liberal Democrat who has been known to have a few. Yet this friendship, which began in 1981, has grown into a virtual brotherhood.

And so Senator Hatch was visibly shaken after the Republican caucus lunch meeting Tuesday, when he learned the news. "I love him like a brother," Hatch said, wiping tears from his eyes. "I just feel terrible about hearing this. It's really terrible news". Hatch has been e-mailing with Vicki Kennedy, the senator's wife, since Sen. Kennedy suffered a seizure over the weekend. Kennedy's staff members, who know how close the two are, having also been keeping him in the loop, Hatch said. "We've just been very, very close," Hatch said. "We've always respected each other."

In 1981, Hatch became chairman of the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee, a position he held for six years. Hatch explained that with nine liberals and only seven conservative on the committee, he knew it was going to be hard for him to get anything done. And so Hatch grit his teeth and turned to the influential Kennedy.

"I went to Ted and said I can't run this committee without you so I need your help," Hatch said. While the two knew each other before, working together on the committee helped form the close bond the two share now. "We have passed so much legislation together," Hatch said. From the Religious Freedom Restoration Act to the Children's Health Insurance Program, known as CHIP, Hatch could not even put a specific number on how many bills they have worked on together.

And while they have had their difference and "fought each other tooth and nail many times", they've always respected each other. "You just can't help but like him if you get to know him, and I've really gotten to know him," Hatch said. "This is a man with one of the greatest senses of humor that I've ever seen in my lifetime. I am sure he is making fun of this."

Hatch said he is going to "pray real hard" for Kennedy's recovery and "demand" that his friend get better to return to his work in the Senate. "I've been praying and I'll continue and I'll step it up a notch," Hatch said. "I thought I was praying pretty hard as it was but I'll step it up a notch."

Utah's other U.S. Senator, Bob Bennett, also expressed his concern, although he does not have the same type of relationship with Kennedy. "Unlike Senator Hatch, I do not share any committee assignments with Senator Kennedy and therefore have not really developed the close relationship that Senator Hatch has developed," Bennett said. "At the same time, with all the senators, my thoughts and prayers are with Senator Kennedy and his family at this time of difficulty."

However, many Utahns are not feeling so charitable towards Kennedy. Many openly cheer at the prospect of his demise, as expressed in public comments appended to the primary stories on the Deseret News and KSL Channel 5. Even comments posted to the more liberal Salt Lake Tribune are not particularly sympathetic. Much of the resentment is focused around the way Kennedy handled the Mary Jo Kopechne case, although at least no one is voicing the suspicion that Kennedy deliberately snuffed Mary Jo to conceal an extramarital pregnancy. What most likely happened is that Kennedy was drunk as a skunk that night, drove his car into the drink, tried to save Mary Jo, was too drunk to finish the job, so he said "Fuck it", and saved himself. Should we judge him for it? There's an Ultimate Judge who has a greater right to hold him accountable. This Ultimate Judge is also more competent to judge him than any of us.

One website suggests that Mary Jo Kopechne may have lasted as long as two hours underwater breathing a pocket of air while Kennedy spent nine hours sobering up and developing a cover story. The FBI's account of the tragedy can be found HERE.

But resentment is also fueled by the fact that this scion of a super-rich family was also a lightning-rod for liberal causes. Ted Kennedy is a classic big-government liberal, and the combined effect is like political rocket fuel, particularly for paleo-conservatives. One of the major irritants was Kennedy's promotion and sponsorship of Emmanuel Celler's immigration reform bill of 1965, known as the Hart-Celler bill. Ted Kennedy promised us that we would not be flooded with immigrants as a result, and that the demographic character of the country would not change appreciably. In contrast, we have been flooded with immigrants, and a disproportionate number are coming from Third World countries. Hart-Celler set us up for the "browning of Anerica", and many Americans find this unacceptable. So they direct their hostility towards Kennedy, who they perceive as one of the prime architects of this change. Vdare.com also offers a similar critique.

According to the latest information from CNN, the preliminary results from a biopsy of the brain identified the cause of the seizure as a malignant glioma in the left parietal lobe. Malignant glioma is the most common primary brain tumor, accounting for more than half of the 18,000 primary malignant brain tumors diagnosed each year in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute.

A tumor in that area of the brain could affect Kennedy's ability to speak and understand speech, as well as the strength on the right side of his body. The parietal lobes are also responsible for interpreting signals from parts of the brain that focus on vision, hearing, motor skills, sensory input and memory, according to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.

The usual course of treatment for Kennedy's type of tumor includes radiation and chemotherapy. He is reportedly in good spirits and has had no further seizures, but is expected to remain hospitalized for the next few days. According to a separate CNN Health report, people afflicted with this type of tumor can survive for three to five years.

Jewish Supremacists Demand LDS Church Stop Vicariously Baptizing Their Dead Ancestors, But Burn Copies Of New Testament In Israel

When dealing with Jews, it's always a one-way street. We are expected to tolerate and even accomodate them, but no such expectation of tolerance and accomodation for us is ever levied upon them in return.

In 1995, Jewish supremacists led by the American Gathering of Holocaust Survivors unleashed a ten-year psychological warfare campaign against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints over the LDS practice of performing vicarious baptism for the dead. This sequence is well-documented in the anti-LDS Mormon Curtain blog. Unfortunately, the LDS Church leadership chose to progressively cave in to these people, although the Jews were constantly bitching about the inadequacy of the LDS Church's remedial efforts and continuously upping the ante. Ironically, Judaism does not consider vicarious baptism to be of any efficacy or force, but this does not matter to Jewish supremacists who politicize Judaism at the drop of a hat and weaponize it against the greater society. And now the Roman Catholics have adopted Jewish tactics and have placed their parish records off limits to LDS genealogical researchers to hinder vicarious baptism.

In April 2005, the issue was finally put to bed after a sitdown between Jewish and Mormon leaders in which the 1995 agreement, where the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints agreed to discontinue vicarious baptisms for Jewish victims and most other Jews as well as remove their names from the giant computerized International Genealogical Index - unless they are direct ancestors of current church members, was reaffirmed. They also created a joint oversight committee to explore reasons as to why the names keep popping up on the list. LDS leaders claimed that the names keep popping up because it is an unmanageably large list with billions of names, as well as because of overzealous members who are not following then-President Gordon B. Hinckley's directive to limit their submissions to those in their own family lines.

But do the Jews respond in kind when the shoe is on the other foot? Absolutely not. On May 20th, 2008, the Jerusalem Post reported that Orthodox Jews set fire to hundreds of copies of the New Testament in the religious Israeli town of Or Yehuda. This development is also discussed on the Vanguard News Network Forum.

Deputy Mayor Uzi Aharon said missionaries recently entered a neighborhood in the predominantly religious town of 34,000 in central Israel, distributing hundreds of New Testaments and missionary material. After receiving complaints, Aharon said, he got into a loudspeaker car last Thursday (May 15th) and drove through the neighborhood, urging people to turn over the material to Jewish religious students who went door to door to collect it. The books were dumped into a pile and set afire in a lot near a synagogue, he said. [Ed. Note: Note that although Christians have supported Israel, and Muslims have launched suicide bomber attacks against Israel, the Orthodox Jews chose to burn copies of the New Testament and NOT the Koran. I wonder why?]

The Israeli Maariv daily reported Tuesday May 20th that hundreds of Jewish religious school students took part in the book-burning. But Aharon said that only a few students were present, and that he was not there when the books were torched. Not all of the New Testaments that were collected were burned, but hundreds were. Although Aharon said he regretted the burning of the books, he still called it a "commandment" to burn materials that urge Jews to convert.

"I certainly don't denounce the burning of the booklets," he said. "I denounce those who distributed the booklets". [Ed. Note: Typical Jewish tactic - blame the victim.]

Calev Myers, an attorney who represents Messianic Jews, or Jews who accept Jesus as their savior, demanded in an interview with Army Radio that all those involved be put on trial. He estimated there were 10,000 Messianic Jews, who are also known as Jews for Jesus, in Israel.

Israeli authorities and Orthodox Jews frown on missionary activity aimed at Jews, though in most cases it is not illegal.

Two leading experts on Jewish supremacism are Brother Nathanael Kapner, who operates the RealJewNews website, and Dr. David Duke, who operates the DavidDuke website. Bro. Kapner is a Jew who once believed in Talmudic Judaism. He became a Orthodox Christian, and provides an invaluable perspective from having been "inside the belly of the beast", so to speak.

Dr. Duke is considered one of the leading Gentile experts on Jewish supremacism, having written two books discussing the subject. His most recent book, entitled "Jewish Supremacism", is viewable in PDF format on the Zogsnightmare website, or a paper copy of the 2007 version can be ordered from his website.

Michael Doyel Charged In Utah Third District Court With Murder, Obstruction Of Justice, And Theft In The Death Of Deborah Jones

While Michael Doyel's behavior has been strange since his arrest in April in connection with the disappearance of Deborah Jones, new charges filed in Utah's 3rd District Court on Monday May 19th, 2008 portray a man who executed a very thought out and calculated murder rather than someone with mental competency issues, although in this previous post, he is said to be schizophrenic. Full story published in the Deseret News and the Salt Lake Tribune. Also aired on KUTV Channel 2 and KTVX Channel 4 and KSL Channel 5.

Doyel, 47, was charged with murder, a first-degree felony, and obstruction of justice and theft, both second-degree felonies. His bail is set a $2 million. Doyel had already been indicted in federal court with abducting Jones, and charged in state court with kidnapping another woman, Patricia Miller. Monday's charges were the first filed in relation to Jones' death.

And thanks to court documents, we now have a clearer picture of how and when Deborah Jones died. It appears Jones was strangled to death at 4115 S. Redwood Road, and suffered blunt force trauma to the back of her head. A restaurant, La Jaliciense, is located at that address. A medical examiner's report estimated the death happened sometime between April 18th and April 19th. After the slaying, Doyel took the body to another location "where no one would be". He purchased a 50-gallon plastic storage container afterward, tried to hide the body with a tarp and clothing and then tried to mask the smell.

However, if Doyel purchased the plastic storage container after killing Deborah Jones, this would set the date of death on April 18th. Here's why. Elsewhere in the Deseret News article, here is the sequence of surrounding events. On April 18th, Alisa Wolcott, a friend of Jones, talked to her on the phone just after 1:30 p.m. She said Jones sounded "anxious" and "hurried." It was the last time any of Jones' friends or family talked to her. At 5:50 p.m. that same day (April 18th), Doyel purchased a 50-gallon plastic storage container from Lowe's in West Jordan. Then a day later, on April 19th, he bought a tarp, bungee cords and deodorant from a Wal-Mart in West Valley City just before 4 p.m. This is unchanged from previous accounts. So if the medical examiner believes that Doyel bought the storage container AFTER killing Jones, then the date of death would almost have to be April 18th.

And here's some more new information. On the night of April 18th, Doyel picked up Patricia Murray, who noticed an empty plastic storage container in the back of Doyel's car. He dropped Murray off at a restaurant and didn't return until several hours later. When he picked her up, "the storage container had obviously been filed with something". This doesn't necessarily mean that Doyel killed Jones while Murray was at the restaurant, though. He could have used the time to go and recover Jones' body and stash it in the container. You can read a more expanded timeline of events HERE.

Court documents also provide a clearer picture on how Doyel met Jones. Upon first meeting, he used a false name. He moved in with her at her Sugar House home on October 3rd, 2007 and moved out six months later on April 5th, following a series of arguments. Afterwards, Doyel started harassing and stalking Jones as well as some of her co-workers. On April 16th, Jones met with Salt Lake police to talk about money she believed Doyel had stolen from her account. She was also interested in getting a protective order against Doyel. Jones was "angry" at Doyel but also "scared" of him, according to court documents. She was scheduled to meet again the next day with police but never showed up. Salt Lake Police later explained why they didn't react more quickly; according to them, Jones didn't declare herself in imminent danger during her meeting with them.

Finally, after a cross-country odyssey via Las Vegas, Doyel and Murray were found at a motel near Branson, Missouri on April 21st, with Jones' body, bound at the hands and feet with bungee cords, discovered in the plastic container in the car.

Jones' family members have probably known about this information for some time and have been waiting anxiously for these charges against Doyel to be filed. "They purposely waited because they already had charges to hold him in jail. Because of that, they were able to get a more solid case. So we feel better about that," said Bryan Jones, Deborah's son.

Bryan has called Doyel a monster and said that even though this isn't a death penalty case, he will push for it anyway. "We want to see him beg for his life and see him plead, so he gets the feeling my mom had", said Bryan. But the DA's office said a case needs to be classified as aggravated assault for them to pursue the death penalty. If Doyel is convicted on this murder charge, he could face 15 years to life in prison.

FLDS Church Leader Warren Jeffs To Appeal His 2007 Conviction On Rape Accomplice Charges To The Utah Supreme Court

Fundamentalist LDS Church leader leader Warren Jeffs intends to appeal his 2007 conviction on two counts of rape as an accomplice to the Utah Supreme Court. Full story published May 19th, 2008 in the Deseret News. An additional six-page article published by the Deseret News on May 20th discusses Jeffs' continuing influence upon the Texas FLDS community despite his incarceration.

According to court docket information, attorneys for Jeffs last week filed a notice of appeal with the state supreme court. The notice is expected to be followed by a legal brief by Jeffs outlining why he thinks his conviction should be overturned. The state will then have an opportunity to file its reply brief.

The notice comes after 5th District Judge James Shumate denied Jeffs' request for a new trial. Jeffs was convicted by a Washington County jury for his role in arranging the marriage of a 14-year-old girl to her 19-year-old cousin. He is awaiting trial on similar charges in Arizona, and according to another Deseret News story, is asking that a grand jury indictment on charges of sexual misconduct and incest be dropped.

The 52-year-old leader of the FLDS Church claims his rights were violated when one juror was dismissed and an alternate juror was seated after 13 hours of deliberations had already passed. Attorneys for Jeffs say it was possible that the jury had already reached a verdict on the first count and had indicated to the court they were deadlocked on the second count when the juror was dismissed.

Commentary: Undoubtedly, Jeffs is empowered by the fact that a growing number of Americans have become outraged over the broad-brushed treatment directed towards Texas FLDS members by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

With the real possibility that the Texas FLDS crisis was perpetrated by a bogus complaint from a black impersonator, this opens up the possibility that Warren Jeffs has been similarly misrepresented. A new pro-FLDS blog, FLDS View, posted the following on Jeffs:

I didn’t want to address the fact that Warren Jeffs is considered by most people as a criminal. It is almost impossible for my brain to even comprehend that he was on the FBI top ten most wanted list. I still have to think about it over and over again. Are you kidding me? Warren Jeffs? The guy who couldn’t harm a flea? The skinny guy who got his ribs cracked by my brother while playing dare base? They guy who Mrs. Wall [Elissa's mother, our English teacher] beat in an arm wrestle? FBI TOP TEN? When am I going to wake up? I need somebody to slap me. Hello?

So what is the crime? Performing weddings? Family counseling? Top Ten? Being the Father to his children and the husband to his wives? FBI MOST WANTED? HELLOO?

It blows the mind. And proves to me the the FLDS church is God's church. And proves to me that Warren is the Prophet, for you can see how right something is by how hated and lied about it is.

I know for a fact that the lost boys, Shem Fischer, Jane Doe [Elissa Wall], and most especially his nephew Brent, are plain lying. I was there. Dan Fischer, (the rich dentist who helped the seniors buy Warren Jeffs a brand new van), is behind all four of these lawsuits. They are frivolous, bogus, and that nephew one is absolutely disgusting.

The reason Warren did not fight these lawsuits is obvious to me, knowing the man as I do. There are several obvious reasons. One is the fact that he has no desire to confront his nephew,and his memory induced by a psychiatrist. There are hundreds of witnesses to the times and events around Brent and his uncles who could refute the charges, including Brent’s own brothers and sisters. But who would want to? Uncle Warren had zero desire to ask anyone to go to court and listen to such filthy garbage. He even asked the people to not read the newspapers when the story came out. It is repugnant and appalling.

Another reason [which may have been a bad one in hindsight] was the sheer cost it would put on the FLDS people. Warren Jeffs has no money of his own, all of his substinance comes from the donations of the people. He knew that very well and would rather spend the donations building homes for the people than spending it and going into debt to pay lawyers.

The thought that anyone believes the lawsuits are legitimate is rather insulting to me personally. Not that my integrity is unimpugnable, but realize, just for one minute, that I willingly left my beautiful wife whom I would die for, I left my sweet angelic children who are worth more than all the world to me, and I left all of my wonderful friends and family in the FLDS; because I know that this is the only way for me to gain the integrity that I didn’t have. I would rather die than lie, because I know that God sees and hears everything I do and everything I think. To give up what I have proves how much I know he is innocent.

This, of course, is a much different picture of the Warren Jeffs portrayed by his enemies and regurgitated by much of the media, except for the Deseret News, which at least pays lip service to objectivity. Part of the problem is that Jeffs isn't as photogenic, articulate, and cannot work the media as well as another polygamist, Tom Green, who, when he was tried on similar charges, waged an impressive and articulate public relations offensive. However, the offensive impressed neither former Juab County Attorney David Leavitt, who tried him, nor the jury that convicted him.

Warren Jeffs deserves the opportunity to tell his story unfiltered, without the media bias. He should not be implicitly held responsible for the sins committed by other polygamous communities in the past.

For the latest and most detailed print coverage of the FLDS 60-day trials currently taking place in San Angelo, Texas, visit the San Angelo Standard-Times website.

Fernando Orozco-Trevizo Claims His Ex-Girlfriend Wanted To Be Chained To Engine Block, But Judge Sentences Him To Five Years Anyway

In a last-second desperation attempt to mitigate punishment for his client, the attorney for Fernando Orozco-Trevizo claimed that Orozco-Trevizo's girlfriend, Brandy Gonzales, "asked to be tethered as a show of devotion". Defense attorney Jason Poppleton claimed it was a bizarre and unusual arrangment, but there was no kidnapping. But Third District Judge Randall Skanchy wasn't impressed and sentenced Orozo-Trevizo to five years in prison, followed by deportation, since he is also an illegal alien. Full story in the Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret News. Previous posts on this case HERE and HERE.

The original second-degree felony kidnapping charge was dismissed last month against Fernando Orozco-Trevizo, 32, who pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree felony assault for beating and choking Gonzales. But Poppleton's issue during the May 19th sentencing hearing was that the prosecutor's request for prison time for his client rather than immediate deportation to Mexico was improperly based on the kidnapping charge. However, the judge rejected the argument, noting that not only was Orozco-Trevizo in the country illegally, but was found to have nine different aliases.

Poppleton had also argued the victim admitted during an interview with himself and prosecutor Alicia Cook that Orozco-Trevizo had tried to kick Gonzales out, but she begged him not to kick her out. As for the engine block, "that whole ordeal was her idea," Poppleton said.

But Cook countered that although Gonzales did not protest at the outset of the chaining episode, there came a time when she did ask to be freed. Throwing open the door, Cook said, was "a demonstration of the power [Orozco-Trevizo] had over" his victim.

Orozco-Trevizo, concerned that Gonzales may have been having an affair behind his back, bought the 20-foot dog chain on November 6th, 2008, and began chaining the woman by the ankle while he was at work. He also nailed all the windows shut in the apartment. The woman was rescued on December 7th, after she got the attention of a neighbor through a window, and wrote "call 911" in condensation. Orozco-Trevizo was arrested four days later while working on a Daybreak construction site in South Jordan.

Commentary: This is exactly the type of human garbage we do NOT want in this country. This scumbag exploits and abuses a woman, then, after getting caught, tries to claim that she "asked for it". In addition, he had nine aliases; no word on whether or not he stole any of those aliases from anyone else. Illegal aliens are the major perpetrators of identity theft in the United States.

Good riddance.

Payback: Salt Lake County Republican Boss James Evans Files Complaint With IRS Challenging Salt Lake NAACP's Tax-Exempt Status

How quickly the correlation of forces changes! Not only did West Jordan Senator Chris Buttars get renominated outright with over 60 percent of the delegate vote, but now the Salt Lake branch of the NAACP, which was leading a witch hunt against him, is now on the receiving end of an IRS complaint challenging their tax-exempt status.

Salt Lake County Republican Party Chairman James Evans said on Friday May 16th, 2008 that he's filed a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service challenging the tax-exempt status of the Salt Lake branch of the NAACP. Full story published by the Deseret News and the Salt Lake Tribune.

Evans said the president of the Salt Lake branch of the NAACP, Jeanetta Williams, violated an IRS prohibition against getting involved in political campaigns by telling local media outlets the organization was targeting District 10 Sen. Chris Buttars (R-West Jordan).

Jeanetta Williams targeted Buttars because of his "black baby" remark. She called on Buttars to resign and promised to recruit candidates to run against him. After Buttars renomination at the Salt Lake County Convention, Williams then said that the Salt Lake NAACP would "be campaigning against Buttars for sure".

"Jeanetta clearly stepped outside the bounds," Evans said when asked why he chose to file the complaint. "I didn't decide to do it. It was obvious it had to be done because she violated her tax-exempt status".

According to the Blurbomat blog, back in February, when Buttars came under attack, Evans defended him, saying that Buttars' comments, including his recent reference to lynching, were not racist. He also described Buttars' critics as a "hate lynch mob". "People decide who’s a racist and who’s not based on their agenda", Evans said. "This is a political agenda to silence a white, conservative male … race is being used as a weapon to undermine Sen. Buttars’ effectiveness”.

Evans said the fact that he is black did not give him pause. "If I had any pause, it would be because of people that I love and respect that have been saddened. But rules are rules," he said. "To me it does more damage when organizations that are supposed to be there to fight for equality choose to act unequally."

Williams has not responded yet to media enquiries.

Tax-exempt organizations can participate in nonpartisan activities such as voter registration and education, under paragraph 501(c)(4) of the IRS tax code. The organizations, however, are "absolutely prohibited" from participating or intervening in political campaigns. That includes campaign funding and statements made supporting or opposing political candidates. Violations could lead to revocation of the organization's tax-exempt status, the guide said. But an IRS spokesman had no comment about this particular complaint.

Recent precedence may favor the NAACP, however. The national chapter of the NAACP was investigated for a speech its president, Julian Bond, made in 2004, critical of President Bush who was at the time seeking re-election. But the IRS eventually determined there was no wrongdoing.

Evans was re-elected party chairman in 2007. In his professional life, he owns a payday loan outfit. He has been described by left-wing sources as an "Uncle Tom", HERE and HERE. Typical left-wing bias; any black person who shows independent thought and doesn't dutifully assume his position with his mouth open and his hand out is an "Uncle Tom". But left-wing progressives do NOT want to see a fully-empowered black community who rejects hyphenated nationality. They prefer to see a dependent black community shackled to the bonds of entitlement. This fits their own latent racist worldview much better.

Jeanetta Williams sowed the wind. Now, she reaps the whirlwind. Payback is a bitch!