Activists press Mich. guv to stop foreclosures
By
Kris Hamel
Detroit
Published Nov 24, 2008 5:20 PM
Union and community activists came out despite a brutally cold wind on Nov. 20
to demand Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm use her executive authority to
implement an immediate moratorium stopping foreclosures. The demonstration,
which targeted the State building in Detroit, was called by the Moratorium NOW!
Coalition to Stop Foreclosures and Evictions.
At left,
Moratorium Now!
organizer
Sandra Hines and activists
demand
moratorium on
foreclosures in
front of State of
Michigan Building
Nov. 20 in Detroit.
WW photos: Alan Pollock
|
On Nov. 6 Granholm announced deep budget cuts at the same time that she ordered
$150 million to be released from the state treasury to go to banks and credit
unions “to help spur economic growth throughout Michigan.” She also
stated she wanted the legislature to enact a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures
“to allow the homeowner and the lender to work out terms.”
(www.michigan.gov)
For two years Granholm had steadfastly refused to acknowledge the foreclosure
catastrophe and had opposed the grassroots struggle demanding a moratorium. Her
answer to the extreme economic crisis in Michigan has been to give more money
to the corporations and ignore the people.
Coalition organizers were stunned by Granholm’s statement supporting a
moratorium, and considered it a victory in the people’s struggle.
Organizers noted, however, that Granholm still refused to use her executive
authority and instead called for the state legislature to pass a
moratorium.
SB 1306, a two-year foreclosure moratorium law, has been before the state
Senate since May 2008. Other bills have been introduced for a one-year
moratorium.
In a speech to a “poverty summit” held in downtown Detroit on Nov.
13, Granholm didn’t refer to her moratorium proposal and reverted back to
her rose-tinted view of Michigan’s economic prospects. She reiterated her
refrain, “We may be down, but we’re not out!”
In a press conference, reporters from Telesur asked her if she would use her
executive authority to order a moratorium on foreclosures. Granholm said,
“No.” They asked if she supported SB 1306, and again she said,
“No.”
The Moratorium NOW! Coalition is vowing to keep up the pressure on all fronts
in this struggle—on the governor, the City of Detroit and other
municipalities—for a workers’ bailout and for defending
peoples’ right to their homes by any means necessary.
On Dec. 6 the coalition is hosting a statewide organizers conference from 12
noon to 4 p.m. on the second floor of Central United Methodist Church, 23 East
Adams at Woodward in downtown Detroit. Call 313-887-4344, email
[email protected], or visit www.moratorium-mi.org for more
information or to send a donation.
E-mail: [email protected]
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