October 30, 2009
Showdown In Chicago Link-a-rama: Press Coverage
Sunday October 25th–Sen. Durbin; Crashing Bankers Ball
The Nation: Anger At Last
In These Times: ‘Showdown’ Protests Envision ‘New Economy’
Huffington Post: Sen. Durbin Denounces Unfairness
Chicago Tribune: Durbin calls for bailed-out banks to help on foreclosures
Monday October 26th–Sheila Bair–FDIC; Hits On Goldman Sachs & Wells Fargo, Street Theatre at A.B.A. Hotel
Huffington Post: Sheila Bair Speaks To Protestors, Backs CFPA
In These Times: Protesters Deliver Letter to Goldman Sachs—And Await Response
Wall Street Journal: Protesters in Chicago March on Offices of Goldman, Wells Fargo
The Nation: Bankers And Their Victims
Tuesday October 27th–Worship Service, Large March & Rally
Chicago Breaking News.com: Bank protesters descend on downtown Chicago
Associated Press: Demonstrators Protest At Chicago Banker’s Meeting
Huffington Post: Thousands Of Protestors Gather At Banker’s Convention
In These Times: 5,000 Protest Bank Power, Abuses, as ‘Showdown’ Culminates
The Nation: Here Come The Unions
Summaries, Op-Ed’s, What’s Next?
Chicago Sun Times: Bankers Facing Chicago Firestorm–Jesse Jackson
Bloomberg News: Bankers group says it won’t be deterred by protesters
Huffington Post: Enough Is Enough–George Goehl
Huffington Post: Time For Congress To Investigate The Banks–Anna Burger
Huffington Post: A New Crossover Hit–Break Up The Big Banks–George Goehl
Huffington Post: Ed Yingling Banking Industry’s Top Defender
Huffington Post: Banks v. People, Where’s The White House?
In These Times: After Chicago: Forcing a Real Response to Foreclosure Crisis
In These Times: Fuel for Real Reform? Populist Anger Drives Big Bank Protests
Wall Street Journal: Coming Tea Parties Against JP Morgan
The Nation: Editorial–Break Up The Banks
SUN’s Trip To The Showdown In Chicago
Carolyn Stanley of SUN: "I’m tired of people losing their homes and threatening our whole neighborhoods,"she said. "This protest is the only way we have to tell the banks that enough is enough." (photo by Peter Holderness–In These Times)
15 SUN folks jumped on a train late Saturday night October 24th and began the 13 hour trek to Chicago. We were joining over 5,000
other folks from community groups, religious organizations and labor
unions for a three-day protest at the American Banker’s Association
annual conference.
Dubbed the Showdown In Chicagothe event was the brainchild of National People’s Action, the national community organizing network of which SUN is a proud member. The action was opened up to anyone willing to come to Chicago and support the basic principlesof bank reform: immediate relief to keep families in their homes, a stop to abusive lending practices and the creation of a solid foundation for homeownership.
Buoyed by supportive speeches from important allies such as U.S.
Senator Dick Durbin (IL) and the head of the FDIC, Sheila Bair, the
attendees marched out of our hotel to bring our message to folks a bit less supportive: A protest at the headquarters of Goldman Sachs. There we requested a meeting to discuss a suggestion that the huge financial
firm (that had received billions in taxpayer bailout support) use its projected 2009 bonus pool of $20 billion to start a fund to help families facing foreclosure. A demand for a meeting at the headquarters of Wells Fargo, so they could explain NPA’s recent report detailing their abusive lending policies, especially in neighborhoods of color.
We always came back–all three days–to the American Banker’s
Convention annual conference at a nearby hotel. The first night a
procession stretched several blocks long, where we met up with about
100 of our fellow protestors who had managed to go undercover,
dressed in suits and ties, get into the Banker’s opening cocktail
party and stage an impromptu rally with bullhorns and chants of
"Shame On You!" Ask SUN Board President Dick Breland about this experience–no one ever looked better in a 3 piece suit than out tall and suave Board chair!
The highlight was Tuesday’s massive march and rally–this time the
procession was over a mile long, featuring the heads of both the AFL-
CIO and the Change To Win labor federations, clergy from across the
country (including Rev. Jesse Jackson), union members from across the
midwest, and community groups like SUN from National People’s Action.
The speeches were impressive, the message was uplifting and the event
was inspirational. But perhaps the most impressive part of the trip
was the discussions held by the SUN members returning from Chicago.
15 SUN folks, all inspired to bring that enthusiasm and desire for
change back to the Salt City.
October 22, 2009
Responses To SUN’s Mayoral Candidate Questionnaire
A City Is Only As Strong As Its Neighborhoods
October 22, 2009
Responses from the candidates for Mayor of the City of Syracuse to questions posed to them by the Board of Directors of SUN..
Housing
1. Will you set a goal of constructing 50 new homes and/or the rehabilitation of vacant homes on the south, southwest and near-westside a year?
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes, uncommitted on funding level Miner: Yes
2. Will you seek funding of at least $300,000 a year for the S.H.A.R.P., a handyman program using Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds?
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes, uncommitted on funding level Miner: No
3. Will you increase the funding of the low cost housing owner-occupied loan program, called Urgent Care ($10,000 to $20,000) using CDBG funds? Currently funded at $700,000.
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes Miner: No
4. Will you see that the Home HeadQuarters’ Foreclosure Prevention Program continues to get get funding from CDBG ?
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes Miner: Yes
5. Work to eliminate the HUD 108 payment in the annual CDBG budget?
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes Miner: Yes
6. Will you work to get local banks to play a major role in making low cost mortgages in SUN neighborhoods on the south, southwest and near-west?
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes Miner: Yes
7. Will you support awarding the city’s banking business to the bank that best meets the credit needs of all of Syracuse’s neighborhoods?
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes Miner: Yes
8. Will you work to get private, local, state and federal money used to give grants to write down the final price of home purchases in low – income neighborhoods.
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes Miner: Yes
9. Will you conduct an active city campaign to market non-profit homes for sale, HUD foreclosed homes and the City’s Tax Negotiated Sale homeownership opportunities using the media, city’s website and posters to churches and community centers in SUN’s target area?
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes Miner: Yes
10. Sell non-buildable vacant lots to adjacent homes for a flat $100 fee?
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes, uncommitted on price Miner: Yes
11. Active city campaign to publicize property tax exemption in tax bills and coordinate outreach with senior citizen, veteran and disability rights groups.
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes Miner: Yes
12. Will you reform the city’s policy on tax trusts that will allow a lower startup payment.
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes, uncommitted on threshold. Miner: need more details
13. Will you support city-wide revaluation of property assessment within the next four years? The last one was done 15 years ago.
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes Miner: need more details
14. Are you in favor of systematic neighborhood sweeps by Code Enforcement rather than solely reacting to complaints.
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes Miner: Yes
15. Will you take steps to see that all absentee owners comply with the Rental Registry program and that this program is extended?
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: need more info. Miner: Yes
16. Will you enforce laws on trash, graffiti, signs, dumpsters at corner stores.
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes Miner: Yes
17. Will you cite tenants for trash violation when it’s their fault?
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes Miner: No, landlords are cited
18. Train code inspectors to refer violators to sources of help for rehabilitation and other city services, have materials available to owner or tenant.
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes Miner: Yes
19. Create a team of police, code enforcement and DPW to sweep problem properties, especially vacant houses, drug houses and corner stores.
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes Miner: Yes
20. Enforce laws on trash, graffiti, signs, dumpsters at corner stores.
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes Miner: Yes
21. Under the Certificate of Use Ordinance would you hold public hearings for corner stores that persistently violate city ordinance?
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes Miner: Yes
22. Housing Court should handle at least 50 new cases every two weeks
when the court is in session.
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes Miner: No
.23. Corporation Counsel should staff Housing Court with 2 full-time lawyers.
all candidates need more details before committing.
24. Don’t allow property owners to escape sanction in Housing Court by keeping a house vacant. Make them repair or sell the vacant building.
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes Miner: need more details
25. Cite vacant houses for exterior code violations.
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes Miner: Yes
26. Continue to take owners of vacant houses to State Supreme Court for disposition.
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes Miner: Yes
27. Allow Housing Court judge to demand repairs and impose sentences of jail time for contempt in cases of deterioration.
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: need further analysis Miner: Yes
Crime and Public Safety
28. Do you support a description of Community Policing that puts the same team of officers in a specific neighborhood with a long term commitment to learn about the neighborhood and work to eliminate gang, drug crime and guns?
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: depends on staffing Miner: Yes
29. Will you work with SUN to develop strategic plans to clean out problem corners or hot spots of gangs or drug houses?
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: depends on staffing Miner: Yes
30. Will you continue to maintain one Crime Reduction Team (CRT) to address quality of life issues?
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: depends on staffing Miner: need more info.
31. Will you add add a second CRT unit to address noise, loitering, fights or Priority 3 calls that would focus on the south and westside neighborhoods?
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: need further analysis Miner: need more info
32. Will you continue to have police officers assigned to attend monthly SUN meetings in our four neighborhoods on the south and west side of the Syracuse?
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes Miner: Yes
33. The Police Department should hire more minority officers.
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes Miner: Yes
34. Will you see that the Police Department enforce the Noise Ordinance?
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes Miner: Yes
35. Police Officers will escort truants off the streets and back to school?
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes Miner: need more info.
36. The Police Department should monitor its issuance of appearance tickets and arrests to determine if officers are engaging in racial profiling?
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes Miner: Yes
37. Will you continue to conduct administrative Nuisance Abatement Hearings with a non-police officer as administrative judge? Nuisance Abatement Ordinance allows the city to hold hearings when 3 or more illegal drugs, weapons, assaults or prostitution arrests occur on the property within a 2 year period.
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: need further analysis Miner: need more info.
38. Conduct alcohol and tobacco stings on underage sales at corner stores.
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes Miner: Yes
39. Use of the police traffic and motorcycle unit to reduce speeding on residential streets and work to eliminate unlicensed 2, 3,+ 4 wheel mopeds on neighborhood streets.
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes Miner: Yes
40. Enforcement of off street parking rules on neighborhood streets.
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes Miner: Yes
Neighborhood Infrastructure
41. DPW staff should be requiree (and equipped) to pick up the trash that misses the truck.
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes Miner: Yes
42. DPW should immediately pick-up large trash set outs and fine owners.
Jennings:Yes, but give 24 hr. notice Kimatian: Yes Miner: Yes
43. Develop a long-term plan for paving unimproved streets
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes Miner: need more specifics
44. Develop a plan to sweep unimproved streets
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes Miner: Yes
45. Develop a plan to replace our 100 year old + water and sewer pipes?
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes Miner: Yes
City Government
46. As in Utica, would you support the city being responsible for taking down sneakers on electric and telephone wires?
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes Miner: Yes
47. Will you support municipal Public Power ?
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes Miner: need more specifics
48. SUN believes all city workers should live in the city. Would you encourage those exempted by state law be given tax breaks and home purchase incentives?
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes Miner: Yes
49. Will you hire more minority residents for city jobs?
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes Miner: Yes
50. Will you seek opinion of members of SUN on issues directly facing residents of the city of Syracuse?
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes Miner: Yes
51. As mayor will you furnish SUN upon request copies of studies and reports generated for or by your administration?
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes Miner: Yes
52. Will you meet with SUN once a year to discuss progress on the goals contained in this platform?
Jennings:Yes Kimatian: Yes Miner: Yes
August 20, 2009
Fall 2009 Financial Justice Workshops
SUN’s Financial Justice Committee is pleased to announce:
Three Fall 2009 workshops designed to help neighborhood residents understand their credit, avoid the predatory loans designed to defraud families and become a first-time homebuyer.
These workshops are sponsored by SUN and run by our good friends at Cooperative Federal Credit Union. All workshops are to be held at the SUN office (1540 S. Salina St.) and run from 6 PM to 8 PM
Thursday September 24th: Understanding Your Credit
Learn the basics of credit–what’s a credit score, how your score is calculated, how you can improve your score. Also get a free credit report and personal consultation with a Cooperative Federal counselor.
Wednesday October 7th: Predatory Lending
Don’t get trapped by high-pressure salesman, pushing high interest rate, high fee loans. Protect yourself and your family’s budget.
Monday November 9th: Understanding Your Credit
Learn the basics of credit–what’s a credit score, how your score is calculated, how you can improve your score. Also get a free credit report and personal consultation with a Cooperative Federal counselor.
Please reserve your seats now–classes are limited to 10 people. Please call SUN at 476-7475 and we will reserve your place and get the information necessary to have your credit report available for your personal consultation after the workshop.
There is a $5 fee that is required before the workshop–it will be refunded when you attend.
August 18, 2009
Final Victory on 133 South Ave. (and we saved the city $31,500!)
Final Victory on 133 South Ave. (and we saved the city $31,500!)
Originally uploaded by Syracuse United Neighbors
On August 3rd, the city demolished the vacant house at 133 South Ave. As you may remember, SUN members protested at the law office of the owner, James Medcraf, back in October of 2008. We also had to take on the city’s three-part historic house review process: losing at the Preservation Committee and Planning Commission levels and then prevailing at the Common Council, when they declared the property not historic.
The owner ignored a Supreme Court order to demolish the building
issued in 2006–and Judge James Tormey was none too pleased when
informed of this fact at his regularly scheduled monthly hearing on
vacant house demolition. The combination of the loss of the house’s
historical status and the threat of contempt of court proceedings
made lawyer James Medcraf go through with the demolition, as well as
pay for it out of his own pocket. SUN got rid of a nuisance property that attracted trash, loitering and drug dealing–and saved the city taxpayers $31,500 to boot.
July 17, 2009
SUN Crew at Buffalo Fed Meeting
Left to right: Rich Puchalski, Sabrina Rautio, Carolyn Stanley, Ann Reynolds, Eddie H. Brown, Richard Breland, Mercedes Bloodworth, Anna Morris, Deloris Perry, Louise Thompson, Cornelia Brown.
Thanks to our hosts PUSH Buffalo and National People’s Action
July 1, 2009
June Leadership Training
James Mumm, the director of organizing for National People’s Action, helped facilitate our Leadership Training on organizing and recruiting on June 29th at the Brady Faith Center. 19 leaders, from all four of SUN’s neighborhood groups, role played how to doorknock a potential SUN membership recruit,. In addition, the leaders focused on how to craft a message on what SUN is and how organizing can help neighborhoods.
This was no boring lecture–there was learning, laughter and sub sandwiches all around.
Stay tuned for our next Leadership session!
March 25, 2009
N.P.A. 2009–Together We Rise
Wow. We’re exhausted. Many of us have blisters on our feet and hoarse voices . . . but the smile just will not leave our faces. Yep, SUN is back from another power-packed National People’s Action conference in Washington, DC with 600 of our organizing brothers and sisters, from 24 neighborhood groups from across the country.
NPA was created to fight the redlining of home mortgages by financial institutions, aided and abetted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. NPA has expanded over the years to include issues such as education, immigration and access to health care–the issues that residents of poor neighborhoods face every day.
The conference is equal parts leadership training, strategic planning, accountability meetings, legislative briefings and direct action protest. No time for sightseeing, the work starts when you sign in at 4 PM on Friday and isn’t over until you pull out of DC at 4 PM on Monday (although there is a party on Sunday night.)
This year, a leadership team of residents met with Ben Bernanke and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve. Last year we protested at his home and office. This year we were at the table. He agreed to a series of meetings in our cities to discuss plans to ease the burden of mortgage foreclosures. We’ll let you know when he comes to Syracuse!
NPA also released a report on the discriminatory lending practices of Wells Fargo, a company that targets African-Americans for high interest, high fee loans. For example, 41% of African-American borrowers in Syracuse who received a loan from Wells Fargo received one of these sub-prime loans.
The direct action protests were high energy and always a highlight of the trip. Check out some footage taken by SUN member (and chair of our Board) Dick Breland. These videos were in the lobby of the building housing Wells Fargo’s top DC lobbyist, Ted Doremus. The firm agreed to receive a copy of the NPA report on Wells Fargo’s lending discrimination. We are still working to get a meeting with top Wells Fargo officials–this was just the first step.
Then we moved on to the American Banking Association and its president Edward Yingling. The A.B.A. is lobbying furiously to gut all the programs proposed by President Obama to help rescue families in danger of foreclosure, while pushing for ever increasing amounts of money for bailouts of bankers. As The Hill newspaper reported on its website, NPA’s protest forced a lockdown of the entire office building housing their offices. A leadership team met with top officials and are working to schedule a formal negotiation meeting in the near future.
After the actions on Monday, we went up to Capitol Hill to participate in meetings with agency and Congressional staff. SUN member Amanda Pascall was a part of the leadership team that met with the chief advisor to the new HUD secretary to discuss both mortgage foreclosure prevention and more funding for programs such as the Community Development Block Grant. SUN member Maria Johnson was part of the team that briefed Congressional staff about a proposed bill that would fund a pilot program for rust-belt cities with populations under 150,000 struggling with economic decline and increases in vacant housing.
Our intrepid band of SUN folks are back home, energized to continue our mission of improving our neighborhoods.
SUN And The New Media
SUN gets social . . . social media that is.
Check out videos taken at the most recent National People’s Action conference by our Board Chair Dick Breland at our
YouTube users page
Also, you can follow us on Twitter and check out information about upcoming meetings, articles and videos of interest and all kinds of stuff.
