MA Dems Pass Resolution Supporting Foreclosure Review Court

Posted on September 29, 2015 by MAAPL

On Saturday, September 19th, thousands of Democratic Party delegates to the 2015 State Party Convention in Springfield, MA passed a resolution for “A Court to Clear Title and Remedy Foreclosures in This Ongoing Crisis”.

“We had an overwhelming, positive support from Democrats – garnering 280 petition signatures and then sharing the resolution with Convention participants,” explained Bonnie MacCracken, Delegate from Amherst, NAACP member, and a title examiner.

The resolution in support of S871, An Act to Establish Foreclosure Review Division of the Superior Court, was passed unanimously by the assembled Delegates.

Download MAAPL’s press release on the vote ( PDF ).

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Update: S1981 Passes Senate, Fight Moves to House

Posted on September 20, 2015 by MAAPL

On Thursday, September 17th, the MA Senate voted on S1981, a bill that would restrict homeowners to 1 year (down from 20 years) to sue in order to regain their home after illegal foreclosure. The final Senate vote was 7 against the bill, 31 in favor. However, the bill that was passed included several amendments that were supported by MAAPL, including a provision for punitive damages for illegally foreclosed homeowners and notification to all foreclosed homeowners of the timeframe to bring a lawsuit. For an account of the Senate vote and deliberations on the bill, see this State House News article.

MAAPL will continue to fight S1981 as it moves to the House of Representatives.

A year and a half ago, the Senate passed the original bill, with no amendments, in twenty minutes without discussion. This year, they discussed it extensively, and were very concerned and better educated about the impact of the bill. MAAPL members and supporters flooded the Senate with calls urging their Senators to oppose S1981, leaders of communities of color sent a letter to the Senate ( PDF ), and a renowned Constitutional expert also wrote a letter regarding the constitutionality of S1981 ( PDF ). MAAPL members also met with 30 Senate offices in the weeks preceding the vote to provide in-depth information about the bill.

Stay tuned for more information and upcoming actions in advance of the S1981 vote in the House of Representatives. Thanks to everyone who participated in MAAPL’s Senate Call-In Days, who wrote letters and signed on to the leaders of color letter, and worked to help us stop S1981 on the Senate floor.

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Action Alert: Senate Call-In Day Tomorrow, Sept. 16th!

Posted on September 15, 2015 by MAAPL

TOMORROW, Wednesday, September 16th: please call the Massachusetts Senate to “Stop S1981!”

The Senate is listening to us. We are told that only pressure from constituents will move Senators now.

Senate Bill 1981 – It takes away your constitutional right to protect your home AND doesn’t clear title to foreclosed homes. It will essentially give years of illegalities a free pass, and codify the discrimination that makes Massachusetts THE STATE WITH THE BIGGEST DIVIDE BETWEEN WHITE AND PEOPLE OF COLOR HOMEOWNERSHIP!

Please share this notice with your networks and friends now: Make “Oppose S1981” Senate calls on TOMORROW the 16th!

The Call-In instructions and script are below. You can also download a background Fact Sheet on S1981 ( PDF ) and a Fact Sheet on S871 ( PDF ), the Foreclosure Review Court bill that will actually clear title to foreclosed homes.

MAAPL September 16th Call-In Day

Your voice gets results! Call your state Senator. Ask them to oppose S1981: It takes away the rights of 68,000 to sue to get their home back!

Here’s what you do:

If you don’t know who your state senator is, go to www.WhereDoIVoteMA.com. Type in your address. It will tell you whom your elected officials are. Click on your senator’s name and you will see their phone number. Make a note of it, then make your call!

What do I say on the phone?

“Hello, my name is                     . I live in name of your town. I’m calling to ask you to oppose S1981: Accept ALL MAAPL amendments. And vote for a Foreclosure Review Court instead! My family, friends and neighbors need the right to sue for our illegally foreclosed homes in court.

Instead, S1981:

  • Steals our Constitutional right to protect our property in court from illegal bank practices;
  • Refuses to notify people that their 20 year window to sue is slammed down to 1 year;
  • Will codify illegal foreclosures and worsen the divide between white homeowners and people of color–already the worst in the US AND in violation of the 14th amendment.

68,000 Massachusetts residents were illegally foreclosed: Only a court can sort out this mess!

Please vote against S1981, and put S871 in its place. That bill creates a special Foreclosure Review Court. This court will clear title and do it fairly.

As my Senator, will you do that?

Thank you.”

When you have finished the call, please e-mail Grace Ross, MAAPL coordinator. Tell her who your Senator is and what they or their aide answered: maaplinfo@yahoo.com

Thank you for taking action and making your call! Together we can turn the tide and defeat S1981!

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Action Alert: Keep the Calls Coming In!

Posted on September 11, 2015 by MAAPL

Thanks to everyone who participated in our September 3rd Senate Call-In Day! We got a great response, and many Senators heard from their constituents about the dangers of S1981. But we need to keep reaching out to maintain the momentum against the interests that are backing this bill!

Our Senate Call-In campaign is continuing from now through Thursday, September 17th, 2015. Spread the word to your friends, families, and networks and urge them to call today! Massachusetts homeowners need to keep their right to sue in the event of illegal foreclosure intact. Make sure your MA Senator hears the message loud and clear: Oppose S1981–it doesn’t clear title to foreclosed properties, and Support S871, which creates a Foreclosure Review Court that will clear titles fairly!

The Call-In instructions and script are below. You can also check out our background Fact Sheet on S1981 ( PDF ). Also, we now have a Fact Sheet on S871 ( PDF ), the Foreclosure Review Court bill that will actually clear title to foreclosed homes.

Your voice gets results! Call your state Senator, and ask them to oppose S1981: It doesn’t clear title to Foreclosed Properties!

Here’s what you do:

If you don’t know who your state senator is, go to www.WhereDoIVoteMa.com. Type in your street address. It will tell you who your elected officials are. Click on your senator’s name and you will see their phone number. Make a note of the number, and then make your call.

What do I say on the phone?

Hello, my name is                     . I live in [name of your town]. I’m calling to ask you to oppose S1981: It doesn’t clear title to foreclosed properties. My family, friends and neighbors need the right to sue for our illegally foreclosed homes in court.

Instead, S1981:

  • Steals our Constitutional right to protect our property in court from illegal bank practices;
  • Refuses to notify people that their 20 year window to sue is slammed down to 1 year;
  • And it will ruin our housing market when the media report thousands trying to sue in less than a year.

 68,000 Massachusetts residents were illegally foreclosed–Only a court can sort out this mess!

Please vote against S1981, and put S871 in its place. That bill creates a special Foreclosure Review Court that will clear title and do it fairly.

As my Senator, will you do that?

Thank you.

—–

When you have finished the call, please e-mail Grace Ross, MAAPL coordinator, at maaplinfo@yahoo.com. Tell her who your Senator is, and how they or their aide responded to your call.

Thank you for taking action to Defeat S1981
and Support S871!

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Action Alert: Call Your MA State Senator on 9/3! Defeat S1981!

Posted on September 2, 2015 by MAAPL

On Thursday, September 3rd, 2015, the Mass. Alliance Against Predatory Lending (MAAPL) is holding a Massachusetts State Senate Call-In Day. We are asking our senators to Oppose S1981: It doesn’t clear title to foreclosed properties.

Please share this message widely, and alert your friends and networks now: Prepare to make your “Oppose S1981” Senate calls on Thursday, 9/3/15!

The Call-In instructions and script are below. You can also check out our background Fact Sheet on S1981 ( PDF ). Also, we now have a Fact Sheet on S871 ( PDF ), the Foreclosure Review Court bill that will actually clear title to foreclosed homes.

Your voice gets results! Call your state Senator, and ask them to oppose S1981: It doesn’t clear title to Foreclosed Properties!

Here’s what you do:

If you don’t know who your state senator is, go to www.WhereDoIVoteMa.com. Type in your street address. It will tell you who your elected officials are. Click on your senator’s name and you will see their phone number. Make a note of the number, and then make your call.

What do I say on the phone?

“Hello, my name is                     . I live in [name of your town]. I’m calling to ask you to oppose S1981: It doesn’t clear title to foreclosed properties. My family, friends and neighbors need the right to sue for our illegally foreclosed homes in court.

Instead, S1981:

  • Steals our Constitutional right to protect our property in court from illegal bank practices;
  • Refuses to notify people that their 20 year window to sue is slammed down to 1 year;
  • And it will ruin our housing market when the media report thousands trying to sue in less than a year;

 68,000 Massachusetts residents were illegally foreclosed–Only a court can sort out this mess!

Please vote against S1981, and put S871 in its place. That bill creates a special Foreclosure Review Court that will clear title and do it fairly.

As my Senator, will you do that?

Thank you.”

When you have finished the call, please e-mail Grace Ross, MAAPL coordinator, at maaplinfo@yahoo.com. Tell her who your Senator is, and how they or their aide responded to your call.

Thank you for taking action to defeat S1981 and support S871! Together, we can preserve our right to sue in the case of illegal foreclosure and keep Massachusetts families in their homes!

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Update: MA Senators Postpone Vote on S.1981

Posted on July 31, 2015 by MAAPL

On Thursday, July 30th, a scheduled vote on Senate Bill 1981 was postponed to give Senators more time to consider the impact and consequences of the bill. An earlier version of this bill, S.1987, was defeated last summer thanks to the work of the Massachusetts Alliance Against Predatory Lending (MAAPL) and its supporters, as well as action taken by Gov. Deval Patrick to reinstate an amendment to preserve homeowners’ right to sue. S.1981 was filed by the Title Insurance industry to lower their risk insuring foreclosed properties by very significantly narrowing the ability of illegally foreclosed homeowners to sue to regain their homes.  MAAPL, together with the thousands of homeowners who stand to lose their property rights, applaud Senator Jamie Eldridge for his thoughtful tabling of the bill.

On Monday, July 27th, S.1981 was suddenly put on the schedule for a vote Thursday, July 30th by the Massachusetts Senate. In response to this action, several of those directly affected took to the halls of the State House to speak to Senators, and hundreds of calls came from around the state urging the Senators to oppose the bill, which would have stripped homeowners of their constitutional property rights.

MAAPL and its dozens of partners thank the numerous Senators who committed to explore in-depth this incredibly complicated and far-reaching legislation.  MAAPL agrees with them that the three days from when it was reported out of the Senate Ways & Means committee—a period that also included numerous override votes—was inadequate for properly understanding the bill’s language and implications.

Both MAAPL representatives and illegally foreclosed homeowners promise to speak with and provide real life examples and legal information to all interested legislators. “We already have been reached out to by over half a dozen Senate offices,” said a very thankful Grace Ross, Coordinator of the Mass Alliance Against Predatory Lending.

Please check the MAAPL web site for updates and additional information regarding this bill, as well as any related Action Alerts and other news. More information on S.1981, including MAAPL’s Fact Sheets on the Bill and amendments, is available at http://maapl.info/block-s-1981/

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URGENT: Call Your Senator NOW to Block S.1981!

Posted on July 29, 2015 by MAAPL

Update: Now you can download MAAPL’s Fact Sheet on S.1981! ( DOC | PDF )

New: Fact Sheet on MAAPL’s Amendments to S.1981 ( DOC | PDF )

MAAPL has learned that last summer’s bill to strip foreclosed homeowners of their constitutional right to sue to regain their home is back. The Massachusetts Senate will vote on S.1981, An Act Clearing Title to Foreclosed Properties, this Thursday, July 30th. This bad bill must be stopped. We did that last summer, and we can do it again!

Please spread the word and participate in our Senate Call-In Days Against S.1981 on July 29th and 30th!

Please Call Your State Senator NOW:

Ask them to…

  • Oppose S#1981: An Act Clearing Title to Foreclosed Properties as written:
    • It slams the window shut on right to sue and
    • Strips foreclosed homeowners of constitutional right to regain their property
  • Accept any MAAPL-sponsored amendments proposed

We can beat this bad bill, but we must act fast! Please do your part and call your Senator today!

If you don’t know who your state Senator is, go to WhereDoIVoteMA.com, and enter your address. When the screen displays your voting information, scroll down to “Your elected officials are” and find your state Senator’s name there.

Then you can call the State House switchboard at 617-722-2000, press 2, then 0 and ask to be transferred to your Senator’s office.

Thank you for taking action–Your call matters!

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MAAPL Hosts Hackathon to Build Online Tools to Fight Foreclosure

Posted on July 14, 2015 by MAAPL

The Mass. Alliance Against Predatory Lending is hosting its first Hackathon to develop a new and improved web site and create web forms and other database tools to enable the organization to better respond to the needs and support requests of homeowners facing foreclosure. The David and Goliath Hackathon: Fight Against Predatory Lending will bring together skilled programmers and computer pros with interested volunteers to move these projects forward. Anyone with basic computer skills, word processing experience or programming skills is encouraged to attend.

Date/Time:  Saturday, July 18th from 11-2 pm

Location: Stone Soup Artist Activist Collective and Community Resource Center, 4 King St., Worcester, 01610

Maps:

Open Street Map

Google Map

Participants will help MAAPL build a new web site that will be used to defend Massachusetts families against illegal foreclosure. Participants with word processing skills will help build content for the site by uploading documents or transferring content from the old MAAPL web site. Participants with programming skills will help in the design and creation of  web forms and SQL procedures.

Please email info@masspirates.org or maaplinfo@yahoo.com or call 508-630-1686 to join us!

Your three hours of participation may literally save a family from losing their home.

Sponsored by: The Mass. Alliance Against Predatory Lending, Worcester Unemployment Action Group, and the Massachusetts Pirate Party.

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MAAPL Bill Hearings a Success!

Posted on July 2, 2015 by MAAPL

On Tuesday, June 30th, homeowners from communities across Massachusetts descended upon the statehouse to testify in support of three key foreclosure-related bills. MAAPL member organizations, including Lynn United for Change, Worcester Anti-Foreclosure Team, Springfield No One Leaves and City Life/Vida Urbana, as well as city officials from Worcester and Springfield, lawyers, mediators and many other advocates and supporters attended the hearings for the bills: An Act Relative to the Relief of Mortgage Debt (S1464/H2607), An Act to Facilitate Alternatives to Foreclosure (S482/H888) and An Act Clarifying Municipal Authority Regarding Cash Sureties (S41).

“These bills represent a new offensive in the fight to end foreclosures even as foreclosure
activity in Massachusetts surges again threatening to rival the worst years of this continuing crisis, 2010 and 2011,” explained Grace Ross of the Mass Alliance Against Predatory Lending, “1st quarter of this year foreclosure activity was up 77.3% over the 1st quarter a year ago, but now we know how to fix what is broken.”

Download MAAPL’s press release on the hearings ( PDF )

Following the hearings, the Boston Globe published an article on the increase in foreclosures in Massachusetts in recent months. The article, which appeared on the front page of the Globe’s Business section, ends with a quote from MAAPL coordinator Grace Ross.

Read the Boston Globe article here – Bump in Mass. foreclosures blamed on new rules

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Action Alert: MAAPL Bill Hearing on June 30, 2015

Posted on June 24, 2015 by MAAPL

The State House is Listening:
Come and Tell Them Our Anti-Foreclosure Needs!

JUNE 30th – MA STATE HOUSE HEARINGS

The IRS stopped, but Mass Dept. of Revenue still taxes homeowners on the “savings” when your debt gets erased by foreclosure! Stop Homeowners Being Taxed for Foreclosure “Profits”!

Have a story? Help us end this additional injustice!

Download the flyer for these Hearings and help us spread the word!

Bill: Tax Relief of Mortgage Debt, S1464/H2607
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: Revenue Committee, Hearing Room B-1
MA Should Make the Bank Sit Down with You!

Pre-Foreclosure Mediation in CT means 91% of Participating Homeowners Avoid Foreclosure!

Our Pre-Foreclosure Mediation bill requires banks send an authorized representative to meet with you and a neutral facilitator face-to-face. The bank must give you an affordable loan modification if they show they lose more money foreclosing than modifying!

Bills: Facilitating Alternative to Foreclosure/Mediation, S482/H888
Act Clarifying Municipal Authority, S41
Time: 11:00 AM
Location: Financial Services Committee, Hearing Room A-2
Cities/Towns Must Continue to Protect Us from Foreclosure Damage!

For more than 5 years, Worcester has made banks put $5,000 down for each home they start foreclosing. Lynn ran a very successful pre-foreclosure mediation program for months and made the banks rent to homeowners “post”-foreclosure. Springfield and Lawrence are ready. Other Cities/Towns want to pass protections for their residents too.

We need you on Tuesday, June 30th! We need lawyers to explain our bills, we need people with real stories, we need municipal officials to explain our municipal ordinances AND we need advocates to give the overview of what they have seen.

Please Join All of Us Fighting the Injustice of Predatory Lending and Foreclosure!

Mass Alliance Against Predatory Lending 508-630-1686 or maaplinfo@yahoo.com

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