From CNN:
"These mortgage companies only see pieces of paper, not people, and don't care who's in the building," Dart said. "They simply want their money and don't care who gets hurt along the way.
"On top of it all, they want taxpayers to fund their investigative work for them. We're not going to do their jobs for them anymore. We're just not going to evict innocent tenants. It stops today."
Dart said he wants the judiciary or the state Legislature to establish protections for those most harmed by the mortgage crisis.
In 1999, Cook County had 12,935 mortgage foreclosure cases; in 2006, 18,916 cases were filed and last year, 32,269 were filed. This year's total is expected to exceed 43,000.
The people we're interacting with are, many times, oblivious to the financial straits their landlord might be in," Dart said. "They are the innocent victims here and they are the ones all of us must step up and find some way to protect."
The Illinois Bankers Association opposed the plan, saying that Dart "was elected to uphold the law and to fulfill the legal duties of his office, which include serving eviction notices."
The association said Dart could be found in contempt of court for ignoring court eviction orders.
Illinois
"Desperate timescall for desperate measures"
ReplyDeleteObviously, with 43,000 foreclosures, the banks are not doing very much to help. Sheriff Dart is about the only leader in sight that has taken a position "For the People...." I know two "wannabe" politicians that could personally benefit and help America if tey only had the courage to do the right thing like Sheriff Dart. My respect and thanks to Sheriff Dart for putting moral duties to the peoples ahead of greedy banks and their selfish "paper duties". Note that studies show that for every individual that takes the time to write a blog or respond in some way, ther are at least 35 other people that feel the same way but don't respond. So my advice is to send this blog to the banks 35 times and try to remind them that this is a country founded on a document that starts with "We the People...". I do not recall seeing anything in the document about greedy and corrupt bankers.
Finally someone that does care for people. I totally agree with this Sheriff as the government is bailing out the rich ones instead of the middle class, which is the force of this country. If the government would have given us, citizens, each one 1 million dollars with the requirement from our part to liquidate all our debts, it would've helped us more, and also it'd be much cheaper than 700 billion dollars. However, where in the world have we ever seen a government that really cares for people? Until now, that saying that goes, government by the people and for the people is still not being applied. In this country government is for those who can afford to bribe it.
ReplyDeleteIf the sheriff in every county would start doing this very same thing, the banks could not afford to hire enough people to evict these innocent people, at least not without having to dip into their 700 billion dollar bailout.
ReplyDelete"The banking industry is trying to help..." WHATEVER. If the industry was really trying to help, we would see bank CEOs who are making 50 to 80,000 a year rather than the lush 275,000 a year or more that they call their "salary." It is the greed of these corporations that have caused this economic downfall.
I think that all of these homes that are now vacant and "BANK OWNED" should be left to sit and rot.
And, I agree with augustino's statement that the government could have done much better to provide the people with the money to allow us to pay our own debts.
It gives me great hope to see Sheriff Dart stand up to the banks and his superiors to fight for the little guy...I hope other sheriffs in every county across this country will take the same attitude. Let the banks spend some of their 700 billion on hiring their own thugs to put us out.
Of course, maybe everyone who has been forclosed and evicted by the banks should show up and camp out on the grounds where these CEOs live. Or maybe they should start protesting outside of the banks.
There are more of us than there are of them...and it is time for the REAL AMERICAN people to stand up to these greedy, ungrateful excuses for human beings. These people need to realize that IF WE GO UNDER, YOU'RE COMING WITH US.
Sheriff Dart, if you lose your job in Illinois, come to NC, we could use your help here.
It's time for Americans to take the country back from the corporate government. It's time to get rid of the "company bought" politicians with all of their special interests. The quality of life for all AMERICANS should be your special interest.
Thank you Sheriff Dart for a job well done. I hope that your community supports your efforts and will do whatever is necessary to ensure that the bank is not allowed to take your job.
And to the banks who state he is not upholding the law...his oath is "TO SERVE AND PROTECT" - meaning the PEOPLE/COMMUNITY...not the banking industry who knowingly put the country in this position. Investigations have already shown that many banks knowingly made loans to people that they knew would default and lose their homes...so the bank gets to keep whatever monies they were paid and they get the house, too, only to resell and make another profit. I think the sheriff should be arresting the bank CEOs...seems to me like they broke the law first...but then, I am just one of the NOBODY's.
Sheriff Dart is a true American hero. The rest of us must step up to the plate with his example leading the way. Obviously our politicians have failed us, vote the bums out!!
ReplyDeleteI suspect that Sheriff Dart has not come to this position lightly. I can only imagine heartache he has witnessed over the course of 43,000 foreclosures. That is 43,000 times that he followed his head and not his heart. There comes a time when a good man must say "this must stop". I salute the sheriff for recognizing that the status quo can not continue. The bankers that are howling in protest have a house to go home to at night. If the situation was reversed, one can imagine they would be seeing Sheriff Dart's stance differently!
ReplyDeleteThis is a man who understands right from wrong and that sometimes the system is just plain wrong. We can't bail out the banks AND pay for their investigative work AND get evicted!
ReplyDeleteIn these hard times, we as a collective people have to come together and help each other out. this man is not waiting for Washington to figure out that it's the homeowner, not the bank that needs a bail out!
I had to re-read some of the article over to make sure I was understanding correctly. An elected person in uniform working for the people who elected him. Congratulations Sheriff Dart. You have made the day of many. If I wore a hat, I would take it off to you. I truly hope your community and county stand with you. You have joined the
ReplyDelete"Club of the Beating Hearts",
Welcome.
Ok, first of all I am really glad to see "an elected official" stand of for the people who elect him. 43,000 evictions in 1 year is a whole lot. It must hurt to have to kick some of these elderly and people who don’t know what’s going on out!
ReplyDeleteSecondly to these banks... WHAT good would it do to evict tenants? If you were smart, you would take control of the building, and collect the rent yourselves.. THEN evict the tenants, who don’t pay rent. If there are laws that forbid you or hinder this from taking place use some of you "hard earned" money (a.k.a. our money invested into you!) and lobby to have the law changed (I hear your real good at lobbying to get things done for you). WHAT GPPD is a empty building collecting no money? But I bet that there is some funky law that allows you to collect a credit on buildings like this, so you really don’t care. Or perhaps you are thinking the government will buy these properties if they are vacant?
We are paying taxes to bail you out (which I understand why we had to do it) but then find out that certain banking institutions were giving sooo much money to execs? The least they could do is have a heart, and not put people out in the street.
By the way, it’s going to be 45 degrees here in Illinois tonight, and please remember that when you are snuggled in your million dollar homes with heat tonight. I don’t know how you can sleep!
Thomas Dart is a true hero in every way: 1) Being the first one in American to take a stand for tenants/human rights 2) Making that first stand alone 3) Jeopardizing his career to do the right thing 4) Knowing what the right, fair and decent thing to do is verses the warped decisions made by twisted minds of on-going corruption 5) Being led by his heart and his consicence 6) Setting an example of real courage and bravery for the rest of us!!!!
ReplyDeleteI think I am going to re-read Grapes of Wrath. Things are not pretty right now.
ReplyDelete