Halloween is still a few weeks away, but some people in the Quad Cities say their fun has already faded. It started with a letter in the mailbox and ended up with some upset residents of the Moline Housing Authority.
"No matter whether you own a house, rent a house or apartment you should have some rights," says Fisher, Spring Valley Apartments.
Frank Fisher is one of many residents at Spring Valley, Spring Brook and Hillside Heights apartments who got a letter saying no more paper, stickers or decorations in their windows or figurines their gardens.
"Halloween is coming up, I just decided to decorate a bit," says Wines.
Frank's pumpkin scarecrow still sits in his window, even though he's violating a rule residents say has never been an issue...until now.
"I just wish I knew the details of it. I think we have that much right," says Fisher.
Larry Wines had plans for a laughing skull, Frankenstein and flying ghosts...now he'll have to keep them to himself inside his apartment. He says the rule feels like a violation of his rights, and if he's told to take his American flag down too, he'll start trouble.
"That's my freedom, that's my freedom. I'm an ex-vet that's the flag I believe in," says Wines.
The interim director for the Moline Housing Authority explained to News 8 that the letters went out after more than one tenant complained about something someone kept in their windows.
"We did an investigation understanding what it was and why, with our legal advice we took action to put out the flyers saying everyone needed to do the same thing and enforce the rules of the lease" says Susan Anderson, Moline Housing Authority's Interim Director.
"Were living in a funny world today, people are finicky about everything," says Fisher.
The Housing Authority Director says she's heard many are upset and now they're going to speak with their lawyers again and take a second look at the policy.
"People have been a bit upset I think there's some confusion as to what is Ok and what isn't. We want to do it right. We want to make sure everyone has an enjoyment of their home so we'll have an attorney look at it to make sure we're following the law.
The Housing Authority Director says the complaints were not related to anyone's religious beliefs.
"No matter whether you own a house, rent a house or apartment you should have some rights," says Fisher, Spring Valley Apartments.
Frank Fisher is one of many residents at Spring Valley, Spring Brook and Hillside Heights apartments who got a letter saying no more paper, stickers or decorations in their windows or figurines their gardens.
"Halloween is coming up, I just decided to decorate a bit," says Wines.
Frank's pumpkin scarecrow still sits in his window, even though he's violating a rule residents say has never been an issue...until now.
"I just wish I knew the details of it. I think we have that much right," says Fisher.
Larry Wines had plans for a laughing skull, Frankenstein and flying ghosts...now he'll have to keep them to himself inside his apartment. He says the rule feels like a violation of his rights, and if he's told to take his American flag down too, he'll start trouble.
"That's my freedom, that's my freedom. I'm an ex-vet that's the flag I believe in," says Wines.
The interim director for the Moline Housing Authority explained to News 8 that the letters went out after more than one tenant complained about something someone kept in their windows.
"We did an investigation understanding what it was and why, with our legal advice we took action to put out the flyers saying everyone needed to do the same thing and enforce the rules of the lease" says Susan Anderson, Moline Housing Authority's Interim Director.
"Were living in a funny world today, people are finicky about everything," says Fisher.
The Housing Authority Director says she's heard many are upset and now they're going to speak with their lawyers again and take a second look at the policy.
"People have been a bit upset I think there's some confusion as to what is Ok and what isn't. We want to do it right. We want to make sure everyone has an enjoyment of their home so we'll have an attorney look at it to make sure we're following the law.
The Housing Authority Director says the complaints were not related to anyone's religious beliefs.
