Newsletter - December 3rd 2012

Fillmore Neighborhood Association
Newsletter - December 3rd 2012
www.FLFNA.blogspot.com

 In this edition:

1. Justice Denied at Fillmore Park Townhomes (Editorial by Jed Crawford)
2. How to Manage Debt and Proactively Avoid Foreclosure (Guest Contributor)
3. The Public School System is Constantly Losing Its Funds and Value (Local Contributor)

1. Justice Denied at Fillmore Park Townhomes
Editorial by Jed Crawford

The land laid vacant for more than 20 years before ground broke in 2010 to build 32 affordable townhomes.  For many people this was a long time coming and seen as a new opportunity for people who lost their homes from “eminent domain” and to have something to pass down to their loved ones.  But through a technicality, money going unused and a Mayor’s Office of Housing program that favors outsiders, “Urban Renewal” is alive and well at Fillmore Park Townhomes. 

The Mayor’s Office of Housing through a technicality is determining which children can receive redress from the acquisition of their parent’s property and defining what it means to be displaced using the Property Owner and Occupant Preference Program (Certificate of Preference Program), as stated in a resolution by the Redevelopment Agency, which leaves out thousands of people.  During the 60’s and 70’s if a child was born after the parents homes were taken by the “Agency” their “Certificate of Preference” could not be passed down.  This doesn’t take into account people who were denied the right to buy a home, or were forced out of their apartments and businesses.

Another unfortunate situation is the City is sitting on 4 million dollars set aside to assist Certificate of Preference holders with purchasing a home.  The townhomes only cost $200K-$300K and 4 million dollars can purchase twelve townhomes, why isn’t the City loaning “Certificate of Preference” holders the money needed to get in?  At a meeting in July of 2012, Michael Simmons (developer of Fillmore Park Townhomes) explained “about 1000 people registered online at our website for Fillmore Park Townhomes and 32 are Certificate of Preference Holders.”   He continued, “Six of the 32 applied.  Three could not secure a loan and dropped out.  One dropped out because... only wanted a three bedroom… and didn’t have the house hold size to meet the program.  One dropped out because… felt the units were too small.   One is still active.”

In conclusion, the program of the Mayor’s Office of Housing is working against Certificate of Preference holders by not setting aside all or a portion of the townhomes for them which is in line with the very aim of the development to bring justice and healing to the community.  Instead the Mayor’s Office of Housing is using the same “debt” strategy that the SFRA used and creating a false sense of pressure and urgency to sell townhomes while ignoring the needs of Certificate of Preference holders and not taking the appropriate steps to define the meaning of “displaced”.   The Mayor’s Office’s is requiring the developer to borrow the City’s own money, borrow from a bank and then sell townhomes to pay everyone back; rather than using the City’s land and money to leverage and find grants to raise the small amount of money needed to build and sell.

Pamela Sims of the Mayor’s Office of Housing is the current contact person for the monitoring of this program.  According to Ms. Sims as of October 26, 2012
twenty-one of the units have closed, 9 are in contract and two units are remaining.  I sent an email to Ms. Sims last week Nov. 28^th and asked how many of the people that moved in our Certificate of Preference holders and requested a meeting with her to discuss setting aside the remaining two townhomes for Certificate of Preference holders. 

2. How to Manage Debt and Proactively Avoid Foreclosure
(Guest Contributor)

More than 100 homes in and around the Fillmore area are in foreclosure, as homeowners here and across the country continue to struggle with mortgage debt. Since 2007, more than 4 million American homes have been foreclosed upon, with millions more homeowners teetering on the edge of default.

Losing one's home can be a devastating blow to families that, for one reason or another – job loss, medical emergency, other debts – are finding it difficult to meet their monthly mortgage payments.

However, being proactive can help avoid foreclosure, and there are steps delinquent mortgagees can take in order to either remain in their homes and communities.

(Read Entire Post)

The Public School System is Constantly Losing Its Funds and Value
By Elgin Rose (Local Contributing Writer)

“I am very curious about how Teaching first fell from its upper most prestigious position, because it had to have one. That’s when they should have gone on strike, some special moment was missed. If you look at doctors, lawyers, policeman, or fireman.  Comparatively, what could you take away from giving a lifetimes worth of essentials to many parent’s prize possessions daily, it should seem priceless.”

It takes a real query eye to restrain from passively passing judgment when explaining why our American public school system is in so much disarray. The most quintessential excuse behind every categorically deteriorating facet of this failing public education system is money. The bureaucrats will acknowledge this theory; then when it comes to supporting it with an intellectual Harvard style government research order in place; they’ve somehow managed to convince the main population that they’ve got some soul searching to do.( it’s usually said we as a nation) The bottom line is our fore founders, the system developers, with a twist of good and bad intention, built a greed based government that won’t ever allow us to fix this mess .I have three things that I think would change our American school system in a real hurry.

1. Develop laws making education more sacred.
2. Create a more unified global fund-raising for the school system.
3. Have more appreciation for our teachers. 

(Read Entire Post)

THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IS CONSTANTLY LOSING ITS FUNDS AND ITS VALUE.

THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IS CONSTANTLY LOSING ITS FUNDS AND ITS VALUE.

By Elgin Rose (local contributing writer)

“I am very curious about how Teaching first fell from its upper most prestigious position, because it had to have one. That’s when they should have gone on strike, some special moment was missed. If you look at doctors, lawyers, policeman, or fireman.  Comparatively, what could you take away from giving a lifetimes worth of essentials to many parent’s prize possessions daily, it should seem priceless.”

It takes a real query eye to restrain from passively passing judgment when explaining why our American public school system is in so much disarray. The most quintessential excuse behind every categorically deteriorating facet of this failing public education system is money. The bureaucrats will acknowledge this theory; then when it comes to supporting it with an intellectual Harvard style government research order in place; they’ve somehow managed to convince the main population that they’ve got some soul searching to do.( it’s usually said we as a nation) The bottom line is our fore founders, the system developers, with a twist of good and bad intention, built a greed based government that won’t ever allow us to fix this mess .I have three things that I think would change our American school system in a real hurry.

1. Develop laws making education more sacred.
2. Create a more unified global fundraising for the school system.
3. Have more appreciation for our teachers. 

The ultimate factor of persuasion to me of the three is developing laws making our childhood and teen education way more sacred than what we the people uphold it to. They told us with their whispering voices that they were capitalist. We have heard all the stories about Benjamin franklin, Einstein, Abe Lincoln, and those other old intellects that set this good country on the right track.  I mean, just look at our well-structured legal system, with its house on one side, and its, I forget the specifics, but I remember it’s kind of like a space-age security lock. This side doesn’t move without that side, the president can’t yell without congress authorizing it etc… 

As algebraic as thou constituents were, they couldn’t calculate greed, and its innate ability to recruit new greedy members to its greedy society.  I try to imagine the last human being on his last day. They foresaw crime, even to the Supreme Court level. NASA was created in effort to appeal to our country’s nosey control desires. First arrived the digital age, then the computer takeover; all monumental periods of our life, but with all our technological advancements, why have public schools fallen by the wayside of our political agendas?   

Let’s be honest, when American’s want something law related passed, I figure if you give them until Monday, it will be a law proposed on the ballot. It’s all a matter of who’s who in the core of the ballots benefits that’s being brought up. One of the oldest areas of sacredness in our world is religion. But in this pace of Big I’s and little U’s, every norm as we know it must and will be re-evaluated for a more worldly collective opinion. Their opinion is clear; there is no time to slow down and lift those that’s not already in a position to be lifted.    

Another option I have come up with is creating a more unified global fundraising device for the American Public School System. The American Public School System is like an accused criminal left to rot in jail with no attorney, no bail, and no court date. Everybody knows firsthand its value, none of us could have gotten to step two without the basic essentials from elementary school.  But if this fact is so true, why do you have to listen hard to barely hear a voice of defense. Please explain why there aren’t any of those agencies that demand money instead of asking to ensure proper funds, sort of like DMV, or Superior Court.

Zillions of dollars are raised for causes like Breast Cancer, Muscular Dystrophy, and Aids are raised daily city to city in the U.S., but how has it that education for our kids didn’t match the same intensity of importance as any other life threatening matters. It took until 2010, and the Healthy School Lunch Law to see how neglected that area was. How many small laws does it take to reach a complete overhaul?  

The world of non-profit declaration extends the earths boundaries. Zillions of dollars are strategically distributed via political one ways and tooled for government decided agendas. Once any particular community combines a voice of reason, immediate funds tend to gravitate. I’m sure some corporate write-offs would blow my mind. So many Government or City and County buildings are worth millions of dollars or more. The funding process was probably faster than seamless.

But if someone asks a principal at some of the poorer public schools about their 2012 budget versus their agenda and expectations, it might reveal the real truth about what our world respects of our public schools. Every parental letter involves sending some type of money for this or that.  I remember thirty years ago, and those meals at school were terrible. Now that I’m a parent of a fifth grader, I am very attentive to how she is treated by a system with even less funds than it had when I was in school.

The downside to anticipation without legislation is; it’s always somebody not guilty, no accountability. In other words, there have been previous attempts to do some mild helpful reform. There have been some financial mishandlings, but how long will we stare at the tentacles instead of targeting the body of this beast that’s against our families’ proper growth. Because even if they declare and allocate the needed funding, unless the laws and penalties reflect something different, those in charge will continue to make politically based decisions.

My third, but definitely not the least important to me is having more appreciation for our teachers. I won’t talk specifics, although I’ve heard something’s’.   Since I can remember I heard about teachers being underpaid and overworked. And with the nature of their work, you never hear about from them, their too sweet for that, although it might seep out their pores. It’s not hard to notice a need a certain teacher might need help fulfilling. If I were to write a job description about a teaching job, it would simply headline “be passionate about teaching kids, the rest will figure itself out”.  

I am very curious about how Teaching first fell from its upper most prestigious position, because it had to have one. That’s when they should have gone on strike, some special moment was missed. If you look at doctors, lawyers, policeman, or fireman.  Comparatively, what could you take away from giving a lifetimes worth of essentials to many parent’s prize possessions daily, it should seem priceless.

I’m sure even if we gave our teachers a voice, it would still be a minority up against the majority vote.  We are who we are, yet everybody just can’t admit it. Our wholesome society prefers categories and separation, preferences and partitions. Over-population, and capitalism and human behavior combined create an entire new dynamic to face living in America.  

 The irony is, the same little monsters that the teachers help mold with juice, graham crackers, and nursery rhymes, is the same adult monsters that perpetuates the un-appreciation of our American Public School teacher, and will further ensure the school systems deterioration. And furthermore, the same system that is the victim in this narrative is to blame for its own results. The pioneering objectives have transitioned from common settlers protecting the Holy Grail of capitalism; to firewalling a never ending flow of crucial knowledge now. 

  

How to Manage Debt and Proactively Avoid Foreclosure

How to Manage Debt and Proactively Avoid Foreclosure

More than 100 homes in and around the Fillmore area are in foreclosure, as homeowners here and across the country continue to struggle with mortgage debt. Since 2007, more than 4 million American homes have been foreclosed upon, with millions more homeowners teetering on the edge of default. 

Losing one's home can be a devastating blow to families that, for one reason or another – job loss, medical emergency, other debts – are finding it difficult to meet their monthly mortgage payments.

However, being proactive can help avoid foreclosure, and there are steps delinquent mortgagees can take in order to either remain in their homes and communities.

 

Mortgage Modification

Today, many foreclosures are the product of the sub-prime mortgage crisis the country encountered the past few years. The sub-prime mortgages had adjustable rates, which have risen to alarming rates. There are steps however, for homeowners to modify their adjustable rates to low, fixed rates that can help relieve some financial pressure. In the first instance, a borrower can attempt to work out a mortgage modification with his or her lender. This can take the form of a temporary reduction in principal or interest rate, temporary forbearance — i.e. skipping a few payments — extending the term of the loan, or any combination thereof.

 

Help for Homeowners

Almost half of the mortgages in the country are held by five big banks — Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Bank of America, and Ally Financial. In a settlement reached in early 2012 among these institutions, the federal government and 49 state attorneys general, these lenders are required to spend at least $13 billion reducing the principal amounts of loans for at-risk borrowers, whose homes are under water – meaning they are worth less than what is owed on them.  Homeowners with loans serviced by one of these lenders should contact them to find out about a loan modification.

The other half of America's mortgages are owned or guaranteed by either Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, the two large mortgage lenders that are now part of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, or the Veterans Administration, which backs VA loans. Currently, loans in this category are not subject to principal reduction, but under the government's Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), homeowners can apply to have their monthly payments reduced via interest rate reduction and/or forbearance. The aim of HAMP is to keep people in their homes by preventing default and subsequent foreclosure.

 

Bankruptcy

A final step a delinquent borrower can take to save a home from foreclosure is to declare a Chapter 13 bankruptcy. This path allows all debts, including mortgage payments, to be paid off over a period of several years. Filing a bankruptcy petition can temporarily delay, though not necessarily prevent, foreclosure proceedings.

Regardless of what path you choose, proactively avoiding foreclosure could be the best choice made. Avoiding foreclosure keeps Fillmore together by keeping families in the community. If you are having difficulties with paying down your debts, we recommend seeking professional help.

Jeffery Sterner is a contributing writer with America’s Debt Help Organization- Debt.org, educating Americans on to live life to the fullest through debt settlement.

Justice Denied at Fillmore Park Townhomes

Justice Denied at Fillmore Park Townhomes

Editorial by Jed Crawford

 

The land laid vacant for more than 20 years before ground broke in 2010 to build 32 affordable townhomes.  For many people this was a long time coming and seen as a new opportunity for people who lost their homes from “eminent domain” and to have something to pass down to their loved ones.  But through a technicality, money going unused and a Mayor’s Office of Housing program that favors outsiders, “Urban Renewal” is alive and well at Fillmore Park Townhomes. 

 

The Mayor’s Office of Housing through a technicality is determining which children can receive redress from the acquisition of their parent’s property and defining what it means to be displaced using the Property Owner and Occupant Preference Program (Certificate of Preference Program), as stated in a resolution by the Redevelopment Agency, which leaves out thousands of people.  During the 60’s and 70’s if a child was born after the parents homes were taken by the “Agency” their “Certificate of Preference” could not be passed down.  This doesn’t take into account people who were denied the right to buy a home, or were forced out of their apartments and businesses.

 

Another unfortunate situation is the City is sitting on 4 million dollars set aside to assist Certificate of Preference holders with purchasing a home.  The townhomes only cost $200K-$300K and 4 million dollars can purchase twelve townhomes, why isn’t the City loaning “Certificate of Preference” holders the money needed to get in?  At a meeting in July of 2012, Michael Simmons (developer of Fillmore Park Townhomes) explained “about 1000 people registered online at our website for Fillmore Park Townhomes and 32 are Certificate of Preference Holders.”   He continued, “Six of the 32 applied.  Three could not secure a loan and dropped out.  One dropped out because... only wanted a three bedroom… and didn’t have the house hold size to meet the program.  One dropped out because… felt the units were too small.   One is still active.”

 

In conclusion, the program of the Mayor’s Office of Housing is working against Certificate of Preference holders by not setting aside all or a portion of the townhomes for them which is in line with the very aim of the development to bring justice and healing to the community.  Instead the Mayor’s Office of Housing is using the same “debt” strategy that the SFRA used and creating a false sense of pressure and urgency to sell townhomes while ignoring the needs of Certificate of Preference holders and not taking the appropriate steps to define the meaning of “displaced”.   The Mayor’s Office’s is requiring the developer to borrow the City’s own money, borrow from a bank and then sell townhomes to pay everyone back; rather than using the City’s land and money to leverage and find grants to raise the small amount of money needed to build and sell.

 

Pamela Sims of the Mayor’s Office of Housing is the current contact person for the monitoring of this program.  According to Ms. Sims as of October 26, 2012 twenty-one of the units have closed, 9 are in contract and two units are remaining.  I sent an email to Ms. Sims last week Nov. 28^th and asked how many of the people that moved in our Certificate of Preference holders and requested a meeting with her to discuss setting aside the remaining two townhomes for Certificate of Preference holders.