Mixtape Title: Blood Bought
1. Blood In 01:26
2. So Amazing 04:40
3. Str8 Up 04:05
4. The Storm 04:13
5. U take it all away ft. Mel Alston 04:38
6. Covered 02:08
7. A note 4The Hopeless 05:41
8. Blood Brothers ft D-Maub & K-Drama 03:18
9. Blood Out 01:05
Created: 12/12/2009 06:14:37 AM PST
RANCHO CUCAMONGA - A family claims they're in the crosshairs of city officials for hosting Christian gatherings in their home.
Joe and Diana Johnson say the city has been harassing them for hosting Bible studies in their rented house on
"We're not going anywhere," Diana Johnson said. "The Bible says (Christians) will suffer persecution for Christ. We realize they are not angry with us. They are angry with God."
The situation illustrates the struggle city and county code enforcement officials face in striking a balance between the freedoms and wishes of differing neighbors.
"We want to help people co-exist while not infringing on other people's rights," said David Wert, spokesman for
The Johnsons said the problem started when a neighbor snapped photographs of them in their home.
"We were sitting in the family room having Bible study," Diana Johnson said. "I see flashes of light. He's hanging over the fence and taking pictures."
The Johnsons said the incident was followed by a visit in September from a code enforcement officer who told them they were operating a church in violation of city code and would need permits that cost thousands of dollars.
They claim the officer threatened to report them to the District Attorney's office.
Word of the trouble spread up and down the block.
Neighbors attributed excessive cars on the street to the family's meetings, they said. The Johnsons received a phone call from their landlord telling them the city wanted them to remove advertisements for their meetings from a Web site designed for their counseling ministry, and from another online page.
The city also told the family to remove a banner from their front yard advertising their Sunday morning gatherings. The Johnsons said the banner was a holdover from when they attempted to start a church at a community center before Joe Johnson became ill in March.
The Johnsons, who have been hosting family Bible studies and prayer meetings for more than 16 years in their current and former homes, said they wanted to use the banner as a marker for relatives coming from outside the region to worship and pray for their sick father.
Holding church in a residential zone is unlawful without a condional use permit, said James L. Markman, an attorney for the city.
"I don't believe that sign was there because their relatives couldn't find a house," he said. "That Web site didn't say only family members admitted."
Markman said the activities conducted by the Johnsons could constitute church meetings.
"Bible study is a typical thing you do with a church activity," he said. "You might notice other things start happening, (such as) taking donations."
The Johnsons said the code enforcement officer told them he had received reports they were singing gospel songs, reading the Bible and taking offerings.
Trang Huynh, the director of building and safety for
"I think when people saw the banner in the front yard, the neighbors got nervous about it," he said.
Officials said they want to prevent potential nuisance problems, such as parking and noise if such groups grow unwieldy.
"Can you imagine if everybody turned their house into a church?" Markman asked.
But an attorney for the Johnsons said the city's position is nothing more than religious discrimination.
"The legal principle is that the government may not treat a religious gathering any differently than a non-religious gathering," said Dean Broyles, president of the Escondido-based
Broyles earlier this year represented a pastor who was issued a warning from a
Broyles said he was surprised to see a similar issue pop up so soon.
"I would definitely say the city was unnecessarily aggressive and didn't really understand what was happening at the home," he said.
He commended
But he is concerned the city may unfairly target the family in the future, because the letter also stated:
"Pleased be advised that the City will continue to monitor the situation. If at any time your clients are again operating a church on their property, the City will have no choice but to require them to obtain a (conditional use permit)."
Markman said the city isn't trying to tamper with the family's First Amendment rights.
"If they are reaching out to a general public and it comes to light they are conducting church activities without a permit, we'll come to odds," he said.
The Johnsons said they won't raise their banner again, but the gatherings will continue.
The retired California Department of Corrections officers say they don't fear the city - or much else.
"We're not going to stop doing what we're doing and they're just going to have to do what they have to do," Diana Johnson said.
They do however worry for the safety of their loved ones who live with them and those who visit. They said some of the neighbors have changed from friendly to hostile since the episode with the city, and the Johnsons fear there may be underlying racial issues.
Joe Johnson said he is taking steps to protect his family.
"And I'll let God deal with the rest of it," he said.
This Saturday, December 12th, San Francisco Bay Area purveyors TRUE will be dropping the Cali Collection, an assortment of apparel and New Era caps paying tribute to the Golden State. Pictured below are the Cali 2 and Cali revisited caps, the anchors of the collection. The Cali 2 cap also happens to be the final design in the 12 Days of Christmas collection. Aside from head wear, a lineup of apparel looks to debut later in the week. All items will be available at both TRUE San Francisco, TRUE East, and TrueClothing.net. (via Hypebeast.com)The 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards will be held on Sunday Jan. 31, 2010, at
Staples Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast live on CBS from 8 p.m
Eastern.
