Activists demand hearings on moratorium bill
By
Kris Hamel
Detroit
Published Sep 7, 2008 8:46 PM
Activists in Michigan with the Moratorium NOW! Coalition to Stop Foreclosures
and Evictions have started a campaign to force state Sen. Randy Richardville to
move a bill mandating a moratorium on housing foreclosures out of his
committee. Richardville is chair of the Senate Banking and Financial Services
Committee, where the bill, SB 1306, has lain dormant since its introduction
last spring.
Protesters gather in Monroe, Mich., before picketing state Sen. Randy Richardville's home
demanding he expedite a bill to stop foreclosures.
WW photo: Alan Pollock
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The coalition is demanding that Richardville convene a public hearing on Sept.
17. That’s the day activists and foreclosure victims will be at the state
Capitol in Lansing, Mich., for a mass demonstration to press for the
law’s passage by the Legislature. SB 1306 would place a two-year
moratorium, or halt, on foreclosures and evictions by delaying the
sheriff’s sale or extending the redemption period on foreclosed
homes.
The law would provide immediate relief to tens of thousands of working-class
families around the state. Over 72,000 homes in the Detroit area alone are in
foreclosure. One in every 137 homes in Michigan was subject to foreclosure
during the second quarter of this year. (July 2008, RealtyTrac)
Organizers sent Richardville a certified letter requesting he immediately move
the bill out of the banking committee and hold public hearings on the
foreclosure crisis. When he failed to respond to their letter within seven days
as requested, they held a protest Aug. 28 outside the senator’s home in
Monroe, Mich., about an hour south of Detroit.
They gathered in downtown Monroe outside the county courthouse, where a short
rally was held after an afternoon of leafleting and outreach. Then they piled
into vehicles for the two-mile drive to Richardville’s residence. About
20 protesters converged on the home’s front lawn, where they held a
banner and signs demanding “Sen. Richardville—move on SB 1306
now!”
The senator’s home on the Raisin River is situated on a busy road. Many
motorists honked in support as they drove past the demonstration. Protesters
chanted, “We want hearings now!” and “Moratorium now!”
Several people from Monroe enthusiastically took part in the action.
During the demonstration, a delegation of coalition activists went to the
home’s front door to deliver another letter to Richardville demanding
immediate public hearings. They knocked loudly, shouted his name and looked
through the window but no one answered, so they left the letter in the door.
Organizers believed the home was occupied at the time because two cars were
parked in the side driveway.
Meanwhile, Richardville’s father came on the scene and shortly thereafter
officers from the Monroe Police Department and the Monroe County sheriff
arrived, but they did not interfere with the demonstration.
During the ride back to Detroit after the action, coalition organizer and
attorney Jerry Goldberg received a call from Richardville, who obviously had
been at home during the protest. He stated he had just received the letter.
Goldberg told Workers World: “Richardville expressed dismay over the
demonstration, but for the first time said he would consider hearings on the
moratorium bill.
“Richardville said he didn’t believe the moratorium or any proposal
raised so far would provide a long-term solution to the foreclosure crisis. I
told him this is precisely why a moratorium is needed, so that tens of
thousands of people can stay in their homes while a solution is developed over
time.”
Goldberg continued: “I stressed to him that whatever his personal
position on the bill, he has a duty to move this bill out of committee and let
there be a genuine debate on this critical issue. I also pointed out to him the
legal precedent for the moratorium, which he was unable to
challenge.”
An excellent video called “Randy & Me—Moratorium Now,” by
coalition organizer Alan Pollock, is available on YouTube. It highlights the
letter delivery and scenes from the protest at Richardville’s home. Other
videos on the foreclosure moratorium struggle in Michigan can also be seen on
YouTube.
To reserve a bus seat from Detroit to the Sept. 17 demonstration in Lansing,
call 313-887-4344 or visit moratorium-mi.org. The cost is $20; no one will be
turned away for lack of funds. Donations can be sent to the Moratorium NOW!
Coalition, 23 E. Adams, 4th floor, Detroit, MI 48226.
Articles copyright 1995-2012 Workers World.
Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is preserved.
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