March 14, 2013

Last rites in foreclosure fight? Minnesota Senate Dems block hearing on Homeowners' Bill of Rights

via Carlos, Occupy Fights Foreclosures

http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2013/03/11/last-rites-foreclosure-fight-minnesota-senate-dems-block-hearing-homeowners-bill-rig

This is not the way Minnesota housing rights activists thought it would turn out when Democrats regained control of the the State Legislature: Hopes for passing a Homeowners’ Bill of Rights to protect Minnesotans from needlessly losing their homes to foreclosure all but died Friday.

A Homeowners’ Bill of Rights — similar to one that was adopted by California last year — would require automatic mediation between banks and homeowners facing foreclosure and prohibit the practice of “dual-tracking,” in which banks negotiate with homeowners while simultaneously moving them towards foreclosure, often without their knowledge. Activists have been hoping that the Legislature will adopt such protections to help end the foreclosure crisis but got a cold dose of political reality: Without banking industry approval, some Democrats in the Senate appear unwilling to support a Homeowners’ Bill of Rights.

In a polite but tense, closed-door meeting between activists and staffers for the Democratic chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, Sen. James Metzen of South St. Paul, supporters of the proposal were told that it will not be given a hearing this session. This news contradicted an understanding that representatives of the group Isaiah/Faith in Democracy thought they had reached with Metzen at a meeting last month. Metzen, a banker in private life, did not attend Friday’s scheduled meeting in his office, with staffers telling Isaiah that the DFLer had chosen to attend a different meeting.

The ministers and volunteers from Isaiah, a coalition of more than 100 congregations plus clergy members and people of faith, were openly disappointed at Metzen’s absence and at the news that the housing reforms they have been pushing for will not be given a hearing. As a small circle of clergy prayed outside Metzen’s office in a Capitol corridor, the discussion between Metzen’s staff and a dozen volunteers from Isaiah turned difficult.

(More text and a short video at the link.)

March 14, 2013

Student Loan debt surpasses credit card debt in the US: $1Trillion+

Manuel Rapalo ‏@Manuel_Rapalo

#StudenLoan debt surpasses credit card debt in the US $1Trillion+ #StudentDebtBubble @AbbyMartin #BreakingTheSet

Retweeted by John C.onner

March 14, 2013

McDonald's "guest workers" are protesting at McDonald's in Times Square

McDonalds has been charging rent to workers to live in the basement of said establishment. Workers are protesting...

Fight For 15 ‏@fightfor15

MT @josheidelson: Striking guest workers just mic-checked in Time Square McDonalds. Now singing on sidewalk.

https://twitter.com/josheidelson/status/312236263157669888/photo/1

March 14, 2013

Board Up Banks! Not Our Homes!

Occupy Homes MN

VIDEO: Community supporters marched the boards and 7,000 petition signatures on behalf of Jessica English, a homeless single mother who has recently reclaimed an abandoned Wells Fargo home, to demand they call off their illegal eviction attempts and negotiate with Jessica to turn the home over to the community. Jessica has come home from work twice over the past two weeks to find that Wells Fargo had boarded up her home while she was gone--which is illegal without a court order under Minnesota law.

More info: http://www.occupyhomesmn.org/3_13

March 14, 2013

Wells Fargo blamed for hampering California economy

via Carlos, Occupy Fights Foreclosures.

http://blogs.kqed.org/newsfix/2013/03/12/wells-fargo-blamed-for-hampering-california-economy/

California is still struggling to get back on its feet after a devastating housing crisis. And Wells Fargo is partly to blame for the sluggish recovery because it is refusing to modify home loans, according to a coalition of homeowners groups.

By foreclosing on homeowners who can't make their payments, the San Francisco-based bank will suck billions of dollars out of the state's economy, according to the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment, the Center for Popular Democracy and the Home Defenders League.

In a new report, the coalition charges that Wells Fargo has been less inclined to reduce the principle of home loans than have other banks, such as Bank of America.

Wells Fargo responded that it has a low foreclosure rate compared to the industry in general.

(More at the link.)

March 14, 2013

Multiple arrests, pepper-spraying mar second Brooklyn vigil for Kimani Gray (Update: Video)

A young African-American man was accosted by NYPD undercovers who per witnesses did not identify themselves, who then shot him 11 times in the back as he attempted to flee.


Yesterday:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12526305

Today:

Ryan Devereaux ‏@rdevro

Girls with pepper spray in their eyes are wailing. Number of police has just increased substantially. pic.twitter.com/LyZzsxA6DT




Danny Gold ‏@DGisSERIOUS

6 arrests I count. Some more kids got maced.


Stop The Wars ‏@sickjew

Reports that a Copwatch activist arrested. ( @stopmotionsolo live at http://ustre.am/FIGI )


Occupy Wall Street ‏@OccupyWallStNYC

#NYPD just told livestreamer @StopMotionsolo that "block is closed". http://www.ustream.tv/stopmotionsolo #BrooklynProtest #OWS


Casey Aldridge ‏@CaseyJAldridge

RT @rdevro: Girls w/ pepper spray in eyes wailing. # of police just increased. pic.twitter.com/4Qn5MUBeGL #KimaniGray #BrooklynProtest #ows


BЯΞAKB∃∆Ƭ ‏@BreaKBeatJunkee

Matt is also live from #BrooklynProtest here ---> ( @stopmotionsolo live at http://ustre.am/FIGI )

---

Malcolm London ‏@MalcolmLondon

Video of young female protestor being arrested & crushed by 5 cops. Plesase Share!

March 14, 2013

Pepper-spraying, mulitiple arrests mar second vigil for Kimani Gray (Update: Video)

Yesterday:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12526305

Today:

Ryan Devereaux ‏@rdevro

Girls with pepper spray in their eyes are wailing. Number of police has just increased substantially. pic.twitter.com/LyZzsxA6DT




Danny Gold ‏@DGisSERIOUS

6 arrests I count. Some more kids got maced.


Stop The Wars ‏@sickjew

Reports that a Copwatch activist arrested. ( @stopmotionsolo live at http://ustre.am/FIGI )


Occupy Wall Street ‏@OccupyWallStNYC

#NYPD just told livestreamer @StopMotionsolo that "block is closed". http://www.ustream.tv/stopmotionsolo #BrooklynProtest #OWS


Casey Aldridge ‏@CaseyJAldridge

RT @rdevro: Girls w/ pepper spray in eyes wailing. # of police just increased. pic.twitter.com/4Qn5MUBeGL #KimaniGray #BrooklynProtest #ows


BЯΞAKB∃∆Ƭ ‏@BreaKBeatJunkee

Matt is also live from #BrooklynProtest here ---> ( @stopmotionsolo live at http://ustre.am/FIGI )

---

Malcolm London ‏@MalcolmLondon

Video of young female protestor being arrested & crushed by 5 cops. Plesase Share!

March 13, 2013

The Steubenville rape trial has begun; a couple of links:

Greg Mitchell ‏@GregMitch

Opening statements in Steubenville rape trial--defendants treated girl as "toy," "degraded" her over and over. http://bit.ly/WncLUx
Retweeted by Stop The Wars


The Atlantic Wire ‏@TheAtlanticWire

America finally hears the case for the victim on first day of #Steubenville trial http://theatln.tc/ZL5A9J
Retweeted by Stop The Wars


RH Reality Check ‏@rhrealitycheck

She didn’t affirmatively say no, so the defense implies she must have said yes. http://ow.ly/iRPKI #Steubenville
Retweeted by Stop The Wars


Anonymous ‏@YourAnonNews

#Anonymous protests outside #Ohio court as rape trial begins - http://ow.ly/iT4pG
Retweeted by Stop The Wars

March 13, 2013

Charles Koch Reflects on Last Election, Promises to Do More to 'Persuade Politicians'

http://www.thenation.com/blog/173315/charles-koch-reflects-last-election-promises-do-more-persuade-politicians#

Charles Koch, the chief executive of Koch Industries who is worth an estimated $34 billion to $44.6 billion, has a new letter to his employees. Koch and his brother spent more than ever in the last election, financing anti-Obama attack ads, phone banks voter contact efforts and more—but came up short. In his letter, sent to tens of thousands of employees through the Koch Industries’ “Discovery” newsletter, Koch warns that “November’s election results … are part of a trend that, if not reversed, will destroy the American dream.”

The letter hits familiar themes, claiming regulation and taxation will ruin the economy and posits Koch’s political intervention as our only savior. Koch also implies more big-money spending on campaigns and political groups, writing, “As a company, we are committed to doing what is right in every aspect of our business. That is why we will continue doing everything we can to persuade politicians to put what is good for the country first, before it is too late.”

In a quasi-letter to the editor section of Discovery, there’s an array of letters all competing to heap the most praise on the Koch brothers and their patriotism. It really should be viewed in its entirety, just as a specimen of the bubble that some of the ultra-rich live under, but here’s a representative sample:

Dear Mr. Koch, Thank you, thank you, thank you – to your brother David and you – for being such fine and patriotic Americans. The courageous and principled stands that you take to help us retain and restore our liberty are truly inspiring. You are doing so much good for so many.—Larry Saunders Registered commodities rep. Franklin, Tenn.

(More at the link. Cross-posted from Occupy Underground.)

March 13, 2013

Charles Koch Reflects on Last Election, Promises to Do More to 'Persuade Politicians'

http://www.thenation.com/blog/173315/charles-koch-reflects-last-election-promises-do-more-persuade-politicians#

Charles Koch, the chief executive of Koch Industries who is worth an estimated $34 billion to $44.6 billion, has a new letter to his employees. Koch and his brother spent more than ever in the last election, financing anti-Obama attack ads, phone banks voter contact efforts and more—but came up short. In his letter, sent to tens of thousands of employees through the Koch Industries’ “Discovery” newsletter, Koch warns that “November’s election results … are part of a trend that, if not reversed, will destroy the American dream.”

The letter hits familiar themes, claiming regulation and taxation will ruin the economy and posits Koch’s political intervention as our only savior. Koch also implies more big-money spending on campaigns and political groups, writing, “As a company, we are committed to doing what is right in every aspect of our business. That is why we will continue doing everything we can to persuade politicians to put what is good for the country first, before it is too late.”

In a quasi-letter to the editor section of Discovery, there’s an array of letters all competing to heap the most praise on the Koch brothers and their patriotism. It really should be viewed in its entirety, just as a specimen of the bubble that some of the ultra-rich live under, but here’s a representative sample:

Dear Mr. Koch, Thank you, thank you, thank you – to your brother David and you – for being such fine and patriotic Americans. The courageous and principled stands that you take to help us retain and restore our liberty are truly inspiring. You are doing so much good for so many.—Larry Saunders Registered commodities rep. Franklin, Tenn.

(More at the link.)