#164 Winter 2010-11 — TOD

Communities Investing in Their Values

In November, Illinois People’s Action, Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, and 15 other community organizations from across the country filed an official protest against the Treasury Department’s top CRA assessment […]

SEIU International

Bank of America sign, accompanying article about two banks

SEIU International

In November, Illinois People’s Action, Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, and 15 other community organizations from across the country filed an official protest against the Treasury Department’s top CRA assessment of Bank of America and Wells Fargo. “These outstanding ratings are a reward for their fraudulent behavior,” said Don Carlson, executive director of Illinois People’s Action, saying that the two banks were leaders in generating the unsafe subprime and predatory lending that toppled the housing market and the economy. “Clearly, such practices should result in failing community service ratings,” said IPA’s Jack Porter.

Also, say critics, these banks are now dragging their heels on offering permanent loan modifications, while plowing ahead with foreclosures despite evidence of fraudulent processing. Of the roughly 76,000 borrowers who have been waiting more than six months in trial loan modification limbo (banks are supposed to determine permanent modification eligibility within three months), half are Bank of America borrowers. In response, the city of San Jose, Calif., has diverted nearly $1 million in city deposits away from Bank of America. Making the connection more explicit, the city council voted to make banks’ loan modification performance a factor in determining where municipal monies are invested, following a campaign led by the PICO affiliate PACT.

Will banks get the message? That’s yet to be determined, but if more towns follow suit and put their money where their mouths are, it seems likely they’ll at least be paying attention.

OTHER ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE

  • Building in Affordability

    February 8, 2011

    A range of existing policy tools can help preserve and expand affordable housing near planned transit stations -- but to have the most effect, they need to be put in place up front.

  • An Affordable BeltLine?

    February 8, 2011

    The Atlanta BeltLine brings much promise to the city of Atlanta, but will elevated housing costs be an unwelcome addition? Atlanta is looking to a community land trust to preserve affordability for the long-term near this new asset.

  • Can Lease-Purchase Save Us?

    February 8, 2011

    As developers struggle to find buyers for rehabbed affordable homes, many are looking to a lease-purchase model to expand the pool of potential owners. But lease-purchase is far more complicated than just an end-run around the credit crunch.