FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Day of Shame Organizing Coalition MEDIA CONTACT: John Bertucci 707-775-8617 jobertu@gmail.com “Day of Shame on Sonoma State University” In protest of Sandy Weill’s honorary degree – May 12, 2012 (Petaluma 5/6/12) A recently organized coalition of Sonoma … Continue reading
I visited Supervisor Long’s office Friday and talked to Ashley who mentioned that she had met Theadora at some other event and discussed getting a meeting together. I asked her what else we can do to move closer to action on the foreclosure issue and she said they’re waiting for the General Council to give his report. It’s been about three weeks since Supervisor Long asked for it.
You may remember General Council, Leroy Smith at the meeting, he was the guy on the side desk that Foy was so chummy with. Technically Leroy Smith works for the Board under the supervision of Kamala Harris. I think we may still need to apply pressure somewhere. I told Ashley they need to ask not whether the board can intervene for the people but how does the board go about supervising this situation on behalf of the people. It’s is technically their job to supervise the recorders office, so what are the strings they are allowed to pull?
By the way, the video of the Supervisor’s meeting is up on the archive now. Is there anyone who knows how to chop it into pieces?
Also Margaret Carswell from SB wants us to send an envoy to her Thursday meeting some time. I think 5/17 might work for me but I need to be home by 9:45pm. I actually don’t know when and where the meetings are.
Regardless of how loud your voice, regardless of how stumbling your words, we need to sound the alarm that something is deeply wrong! We had many speakers at the Ventura County Supervisors meeting, people on the corner in front of … Continue reading
Let us make it clearer on the issues concerning B of A
On May 9th, thousands will unite in Charlotte, N.C. to put Bank of America — and the executives behind them — on notice.
We’re coming to the shareholder meeting to call them out for being among the worst of the worst in:
* Stripping wealth from communities of color due to targeting of sub-prime loans to predominantly African-American and Latino families.
* Funding big lobbying pro-business organizations & politicians who deny workers fundamental HUMAN RIGHTS to organize and collectively bargain.
* Destroying our environment by being the largest financier of coal.
* Investing in private prisons and immigrant detention centers.
Come be part of May 9, 2012 action against BoA for their role in: taxpayer abuses, the foreclosure crisis, predatory lending, buying politicians, and killing jobs, and not paying their fair share of the taxes we all pay.
On May 9, 2012, at 4:00 – 5:30 PM. We will rally in front of the Bank of America, at the corner of Oxnard Blvd. and Gonzales. Please Bring Signs that reflect “Fraud is not a Corporate Perk”, “Pay Your Fair Share – BoA Pay Your Taxes”, “Too Big To Fail – Move Your Money”, “Stop Illegal Foreclosures”, “BoA – Does Not Support Human Rights”. If you don’t have a sign don’t worry we will have signs and sign making materials.
Join Gilbert Cuevas for his presentation: Democratic Shift, Immigration, and the Challenge for America. Gilbert will be making a presentation on Latino influence on modern politics, Wed, May 2, 2012 at 1:00 – 3:00 PM
Please contact Gilbert Cuevas at fiacorp@gmail.com or call
805 890-6700 to get more information, location, and RSVP.
May first general strike. This is our chance to show our civic involvement,
On May first we will take a national day off from buying, selling, working,
going to school, or any other activity that involves commerce. In that way
we can show our solidarity coast to coast and around the world that “We
are mad as hell and we are not going to take it any more.” It is time for the
99% to push back and claim its rights to freedom over corporate, and
government oppression.
We at Occupy Oxnard have initiated a program to fight the Banksters who
are foreclosing on homes across the country and in our community. In the
last couple of months we have brought our case of fraudulent documents
being filed at the County Recorders office before the County Board of
Supervisors. We are asking for a moratorium on foreclosure. But we are not
alone. Other groups have also been protesting at the Ventura County Board
of Supervisors public forum. Dug and Lucas have been coming to the BOS
meetings asking for a resolution that corporations are not people and money
is not free speech. So far they have been unsuccessful. Another group has
been to the CBOS to ask for removal of the Smart Meters that emit RF
radiation that are associated with cancer and other related health issues. They
have gotten the board to send a letter to the PUC but there is still
additional action needed. Also Lucas has been bring other issues to the
attention of the Board such as GMO foods, and human rights. If anyone has issues to bring
before the Board we encourage them to bring them now and
make your choice, and your voice and your issue heard.
We at the Occupy 805 GA last session have moved to make the Ventura
County Board of Supervisors meeting our first stop of our May Day General
Strike. We are hoping to raise their consciousness that there are a lot of us
like minded progressives out there. Maybe if we all show up they will pay
attention and pass some of our proposals. It is our civic duty to go beyond
voting. We need to make government pay attention that the 99% has right to
have their needs filled and not just pander to the 1% who has all the money.
Our voice and our vote is also important.
The Board of Supervisors Meeting will be held Tuesday May 1, 2012 at the
Ventura County Civic Center at 850 Victoria Blvd. Ventura, California.At the corner of Victoria and Telephone. The meeting is in the Board of Supervisors meeting hall in the administration building. The meeting beginsat 8:30. If you plan to speak come early to fill out a speakers card which you will present to the clerk before the meeting. After the Board of Supervisors Public Forum we will meet at the corner of Victoria and Telephone for protests, music, dancing and a picnic.
Occupy Santa Barbara reports Occupy Monsanto – Meanwhile, down in Oxnard, we call on all interested people to rally between 5:30am and 10pm at 2700 Camino del Sol for a demonstration against the Monsanto division responsible for engineering aluminum-resistant seeds. (Aluminum is one of the main ingredients in chemtrails.) Also, there is significant evidence that Monsanto provides the Navy and Air Force with the “aircrap” being sprayed on us everyday. We will not be ignored any more. It is not enough to discuss this solely over the Web. We must take action. No business as usual until we are satisfied that Monsanto & Co. are not the ones who determine whether we live or die!
Some folks are carpooling to the San Fernando Valley after the County Meet to join up with the North Wind protest. http://www.occupymay1st.org/the-plan/north-wind/
Generally it looks like a busy day. Happy May Day Everybody!!!
Californians are about to get their own bank — as long as the Assembly Banking and Finance Committee does not give in to Wall Street banking interests and passes AB 2500. This bill will establish the California Investment Trust, which will increase access to capital for businesses and provide stability to our state economy and local financial sectors. The California Investment Trust is modeled after the Bank of North Dakota, the country’s only public bank. Let’s catch up to the rest of the world, where public banking is common in Germany and other countries. Let’s pass AB 2500 in California.
That’s why I signed a petition to The California State House, which says:
“The California Investment Trust will strengthen economic and community development. By providing loans to individuals and businesses, the California Investment Trust will eliminate fees currently paid by state government for banking services, and will combine these savings with additional revenue generated through various operating activities. For these and other reasons, I support AB 2500 (Hueso) and respectfully request your â?oAYEâ? vote when it comes before your consideration.”
Will you sign this petition? Click here:
http://signon.org/sign/california-assembly-banking?source=s.em.mt&r_by=1712160
Thanks!
The Ventura County Board of Supervisors still aren’t moving on the Foreclosure issue. Help us turn up the heat! Here’s a copy of our 4/7 letter to the Ventura Board of Supervisors asking for:
Here’s a recap of what we’ve done so far. Here’s what we’re planning next:
- and again when we return on May Day, 5/1! Here’s how you can help: a) Help us use letter/email/facebook campaign to put pressure on the Ventura County Board of Supervisors to halt foreclosure processing until the county has reviewed and corrected it’s procedures. Please save the talking points below to file and add your own points and concerns to create your personal file of talking points [the Occupy Oxnard foreclosure news page is a great source of inspiration]. Then set aside a time each day or each week when you can blast out a few letters to let your representatives know we’re not going away until we see the action we’re looking for. b) Join us at the Ventura County Board of Supervisors meeting at 8 am on 4/17 and 5/1 to help us convince the board that they really want to do this. You can make it the first stop in your May Day festivities. c) Pass this information along to other people you know who have and interest in preserving the middle class and home ownership in Ventura County.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on April 10 voted unanimously to pass a resolution calling for “support for state and federal measures to protect homeowners and suspension of foreclosure activities in San Francisco”. The resolution supports the Homeowner Bill of Rights legislation before the state legislature and urges city and county officials and departments to protect homeowners from unlawful foreclosures. The resolution also urges all mortgage and banking institutions to suspend foreclosure activities and related auctions and evictions until state and federal measures to protect homeowners from unfair and unlawful practices, as well as provisions for principal reductions, are in place.
More info and photos: http://occupybernal.org/wordpress/?p=1169
Here’s a copy of our 4/7 letter to the Ventura Board of Supervisors asking for:
Here’s a recap of what we’ve done so far.
Here’s what we’re planning next:
- and again when we return on May Day, 5/1!
Here’s how you can help:
a) Help us with our letter/email/facebook campaign to put pressure on the Ventura County Board of Supervisors to halt foreclosure processing until the county has reviewed and corrected it’s procedures. Please save the talking points below to file and add your own points and concerns to create your personal file of talking points [the Occupy Oxnard web site is a great source of additional inspiration]. Then set aside a time each day or each week when you can blast out a few letters to let your representatives (here’s a list) know we’re not going away until we see the action we’re looking for.
b) Join us at the Ventura County Board of Supervisors meeting at 8 am on 4/17 and 5/1 to help us convince the board that they really want to do this. You can make it the first stop in your May Day festivities.
c) Pass this note along to other people you know who have and interest in saving Ventura home ownership
Foreclosure Talking Points & sample things to say
#1
Dear Supervisor,
Please order an immediate halt on all county foreclosure processing until an investigation of county foreclosure practices has been completed and new measures put in place to protect county homeowners.
Thank you.
#2
Dear Supervisor,
Home ownership is both the foundation of the American dream, and the bedrock of a healthy middle class. And yet according to RealtyTrac a total of 3,825,637 foreclosure filings — default notices, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions — were reported on a record 2,871,891 U.S. properties in 2010, an increase of 23 percent from 2008. And, they say, California has the highest total at 546,669 California properties receiving a foreclosure filing in 2010.
This is not just a crisis for the individual families who have been stripped of their greatest investment, and thrown out on the street, it is a crisis for communities throughout the US. A 2006 study by Immergluck and Smith found that an increase of one standard deviation in the foreclosure rate (about 2.8 foreclosures for every 100 owner-occupied properties in one year) corresponds to an increase in neighborhood violent crime of approximately 6.7 percent.
According to a 2005 study by Apgar and Duda, “One foreclosure can impose up to $34,000 in direct costs on local government agencies, including inspections, court actions, police and fire department efforts, potential demolition, unpaid water and sewage, and trash removal.” and that “One foreclosure can result in as much as an additional $220,000 in reduced property value and home equity for nearby homes.”
Mortgage News Daily says that for each foreclosed home “The local government loses $19,227 through diminished taxes and fees and a shrinking tax base as home prices decrease. ”
This foreclosure frenzy is being fed by an epidemic of illegally excessive fees forcing honest borrowers into default. A recent study of more than 1,700 foreclosure cases by University of Iowa law professor Katherine Porter showed that questionable fees had been added to almost half of the loans she examined.
Please order an immediate halt on all county foreclosure processing until an investigation of county foreclosure practices has been completed and new measures put in place to protect county homeowners.
Thank you.
#3
Dear Supervisor,
Despite the well financed campaign to convince America that the epidemic of empty buildings we see around us is simply a natural market correction to bad choices made by a few irresponsible borrowers, the actual evidence points to wide scale criminal activity on the part of the mortgage and banking industry itself.
So much evidence of wrongdoing by the big banks has been uncovered that the Federal Government recently negotiated a nationwide, 25 billion dollar settlement with the five largest banks, and yet both New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and our own Kamala Harris say this doesn’t settle all issues of wrong doing by the banks, and further actions are expected.
A newly released audit of the foreclosure system by San Francisco Assessor – Recorders office entitled “FORECLOSURE IN CALIFORNIA, A CRISIS OF COMPLIANCE”, details some of the abuses that led to the settlement, and makes very clear that more must be done to end the systemic problems in real estate funding.
Research by Attorney General Eric Schneiderman found systemic issues related to the title industry use of the MERS Mortgage Electronic Registration System system, which is depriving counties and municipalities of mortgage deed filing fees in the millions of dollars, and making it impossible for any homeowner to know who truly owns their mortgage and unable to address issues once they occur.
The voters of this county need your to expose the full extent of foreclosure fraud by banks and and set things right for hardworking Californians.
We demand that the county immediately halt all foreclosure proceedings until the systemic problems with title recording and foreclosure practices has been thoroughly understood and corrected. We demand a full investigation of foreclosure practices in Ventura County, including the role played by county officials, and revenue lost by unpaid title processing fees and other fraudulent practices of the banking industry.
We demand that all who are guilty of wrong doing be striped of their ill-gotten gains and punished to the full extent of the law. And most importantly that safeguards be put in place to ensure that California homeowners will never be held hostage by the banking and mortgage industry again.
Thank you.
#4
Dear Supervisor,
In 1999 congress abandoned Glass-Steagall, declaring that the financial markets were capable of regulating themselves and that market forces through individual profit motive and risk assessment would keep the market steady. In doing so, they placed the fox in charge of the chickens and failed to take into account the irresistible draw of corporate criminal greed.
Deregulation of the financial markets and the choices made by our elected representatives in congress are the direct cause of every bit of this financial “crisis”. Through criminal collusion congress and the Bush administration orchestrated the largest transfer of property in US History, out of the hands of the hard working Americans who played by the rules, and into the 1% who write the rules.
Our investigation into foreclosure procedures and practices has prompted an important epiphany: none of this theft by the banks could have been possible without the collusion of the county recorder’s office. It is the recorder’s responsibility to ensure that every transfer of title follows all rules enacted by the legislature, and that no party receives special treatment, and that all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure all transfers of title are true, correct an legal.
We voters and taxpayers of Ventura county know the truth about the criminal collusion between the big banks and our representatives and we’re angry. We’re not going to wait for elections and we’re not going to accept anymore excuses. We intend to clean up our government starting right here right now, and not stop until every corrupt politician and his fat cat friends is behind bars.
We demand that the county immediately halt all foreclosure proceedings until the systemic problems with title recording and foreclosure practices has been thoroughly understood and corrected. We demand a full investigation of foreclosure practices in Ventura County, including the role played by county officials, and revenue lost by unpaid title processing fees and other fraudulent practices of the banking industry.
We demand that all who are guilty of wrong doing be striped of their ill-gotten gains and punished to the full extent of the law. And most importantly that safeguards be put in place to ensure that California homeowners will never be held hostage by the banking and mortgage industry again.
Thank you.
#5
Dear Supervisor,
In case you haven’t noticed, property values in Ventura County are in a downward spiral with no end in site. The foreclosure crisis is creating a powerful downward pressure on hosing prices which is putting more and more homeowners underwater each week, drying up municipal revenues and creating havok in the economy.
A 2006 study by Immergluck and Smith found that an increase of one standard deviation in the foreclosure rate (about 2.8 foreclosures for every 100 owner-occupied properties in one year) corresponds to an increase in neighborhood violent crime of approximately 6.7 percent.
According to a 2005 study by Apgar and Duda, “One foreclosure can impose up to $34,000 in direct costs on local government agencies, including inspections, court actions, police and fire department efforts, potential demolition, unpaid water and sewage, and trash removal.” and that “One foreclosure can result in as much as an additional $220,000 in reduced property value and home equity for nearby homes.”
Mortgage News Daily says that for each foreclosed home “The local government loses $19,227 through diminished taxes and fees and a shrinking tax base as home prices decrease. ”
So much evidence of wrongdoing by the big banks has been uncovered, that the Federal Government recently negotiated a nationwide, 25 billion dollar settlement with the five largest banks, a fraction of the $700 billion TARP bail out taxpayers gave the banks. Also an audit of the foreclosure system by San Francisco Assessor – Recorders office released in February 2012, entitled “FORECLOSURE IN CALIFORNIA, A CRISIS OF COMPLIANCE” details some of the abuses that led to the settlement between the big banks and 49 states attorneys general, and makes very clear that more must be done to end the systemic problems in real estate funding.
If only for the practical purpose of controlling the costs imposed on government by this unprecedented increase in foreclosure activity, we feel an immediate halt and overhaul of foreclosure practices is urgently needed at this time, while council make an immediate review of county procedures and foreclosure practices.
Thank you.
#6
Dear Supervisor,
It’s now been over two months since 49 states Attorney Generals and five largest banks announced a $25 billion settlement over systemic abuse and illegal practices these banks perpetrated on homeowners from 2008 to 2011, and you’ve had time to read up on the details of the agreement and see the announcements by key players declaring that the resolution is far from over.
And yet, while we’ve been watching the news carefully, still there appears to be no action from this body to get the answers and take the actions needed to protect homeowners in this county.
We concerned voters and taxpayers believe that you have the authority and the power to halt this economic hemorrhaging in our community, and to protect county homeowners from his historic transfer of property. Further, many of us believe the badly needed economic recovery cannot begin until the root causes of the real estate collapse are addressed.
Please order an immediate halt on all county foreclosure processing until an investigation of county foreclosure practices has been completed and new measures put in place to protect county homeowners.
Thank you.
#7
Dear Supervisor,
I am a vote who is very angry to learn that along with the bail-outs and the right to lend on fractional reserves, the “authorities” have given MERS, the banker’s corporate henchman, the right to skip fees and dodge their obligation to provide a clear chain of title on the Deeds-of-Trust they service. The MERS shell game has allowed them to enjoy special privileges that amount to judicial favoritism and license to manipulate borrowers into default. We demand an investigation to determine the extent of these special rights and to put an end to the preferential assumption of infallibility on the part of the banks.
Please order an immediate halt on all county foreclosure processing until an investigation of county foreclosure practices has been completed and new measures put in place to protect county homeowners.
Thank you.
#8
Dear Supervisor,
Certainly the county has the power to take steps to ensure that every single foreclosure is a lawful, and properly executed one. Certainly the county has the right to suspend foreclosure processing in order to ensure that every foreclosure is indeed proper and lawful. Certainly the county has the obligation to process only those foreclosures that are proper and correct and only at a rate that ensures that all parties are treated fairly and given reasonable opportunity to respond.
Please order an immediate halt on all county foreclosure processing until an investigation of county foreclosure practices has been completed and new measures put in place to protect county homeowners.
Thank you.
#9
Dear Supervisor,
Certainly the county has an obligation to review it’s procedures as times change and new threats appear, and to ensure that the authorities remain vigilant against ever active criminal minds that may seek to take advantage of complacent bureaucracies and lax procedures. Certainly the County has an obligation to investigate and address organized activities designed to deprive the county of due fees (such as MERS) and an obligation to ensure that no particular group or class enjoys special exemptions when paying their fair share of county fees or executing required steps and documents in county legal matters.
Please order an immediate halt on all county foreclosure processing until an investigation of county foreclosure practices has been completed and new measures put in place to protect county homeowners.
Thank you.
#10
Dear Supervisor,
Certainly the County Board of Supervisors has the power and authority to conduct investigations far more thorough and authoritative than what citizens can do on our own. When last we visited, Supervisor Foy asked if it’s true that the average foreclosed family is 22 months behind in payments or that the banks are losing money on foreclosures. We wonder too. That’s why we’re asking you. It is your job to know these things for us and keep the county safe from threats such as illegal and improper reallocation of property. As voters and citizens, it is our job to keep an eye on you, to raise our concerns in an constructive manner, and to replace you if you don’t listen to us.
Please order an immediate halt on all county foreclosure processing until an investigation of county foreclosure practices has been completed and new measures put in place to protect county homeowners.
Thank you.
#11
Dear Supervisor,
We’re confident that a Grand Jury investigation will likely result in some very useful data and enlightened insight on how we can stop these run-away foreclosures, perhaps by reviewing county procedures and recommending ways to make mortgage fraud more difficult to commit. In any event, more and better information can only help, and may yet provide a lasting solution.
Please order an immediate halt on all county foreclosure processing until an investigation of county foreclosure practices has been completed and new measures put in place to protect county homeowners.
Thank you.
#12
Dear Supervisor,
Please order an immediate halt on all county foreclosure processing until an investigation of county foreclosure practices has been completed and new measures put in place to protect county homeowners.
Thank you.
