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First Order of Business - Kill the Land BankSubmitted by lmcshane on Fri, 10/29/2010 - 06:24.
See why: http://www.annarbor.com/news/washtenaw-county-officials-vote-to-dissolve-land-bank-authority/ http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2010/07/genesee_county_land_bank_cuts.html
This is Google's cache of http://activerain.com/blogsview/261775/cuyahoga-county-down-payment-assistance-program. It is a snapshot of the page as it appeared on Jan 5, 2011 17:46:13 GMT. The current page could have changed in the meantime. Learn more These search terms are highlighted: cuyahoga county down payment assistance
Below is information on a Down Payment Assistance Loan Program that is available for a number of cities in Cuyahaoga County. Call for additional information. 24/7 Info Line 800-686-3600 ext 225 or Contact Tim Bradford
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The Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program enables eligible low-and-moderate income homeowners to make repairs and basic home improvements that maintain the quality of their housing and create a positive effect in the surrounding neighborhood. Home Weatherization Assistance Program The Home Weatherization Assistance Program provides free energy efficiency improvements to eligible homeowners and renters in Cuyahoga County, outside the City of Cleveland, at no cost to the household. Multi-family Housing Bonds are available to nonprofit and for profit developers to purchase, construct, or rehabilitate multi-family housing projects. Housing revenue bonds, if properly structured, are exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 as amended and, therefore, avoid the costs and time applicable to registration. The Cuyahoga County Lead Safe Program enables eligible low-and-moderate income homeowners and renters in all 58 Cuyahoga suburbs outside the City of Cleveland to make changes in their homes to provide a lead safe environment for young children. Neighborhood Stabilization Program The Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA) was enacted on July 30, 2008 and created the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) and appropriated $3.92 billion to be distributed to states and local governments to address the effects of abandoned and foreclosed properties in the nation’s communities. Cuyahoga County received $11.2 million of these funds. The $11.2 million awarded to Cuyahoga County will be used to deal with vacant and foreclosed housing located in 50 suburbs making up the Cuyahoga Urban County. These are the same 50 suburbs in which Development can make housing rehabilitation loans and Municipal Grants. The Department of Development’s Senior Safety Grant Program was created to assist income eligible senior citizens in preventing slips and falls in the home and to maintain a safe living environment for the aging homeowner. ResourcesFair HousingEducational outreach is important for a successful Fair Housing Program. The County conducts and sponsors workshops, training seminars and conferences. The Department contracts with private non-profit agencies to provide the following services: Discrimination Complaint, Insurance Audits, Landlord/Tenant Counseling, Monitors Lending and Local Real Estate Practices, Diversity Opportunity Purchases, and Predatory Lending Prevention. Don't Borrow TroubleThe goal of the Don't Borrow Trouble campaign is to prevent predatory lending practices by empowering consumers with the knowledge and tools needed to avoid being victimized by predatory lenders. Down Payment Assistance ProgramThe Cuyahoga County Down Payment Assistance Program is administered by Neighborhood Housing Services on behalf of the County. Funds are available to income qualified homebuyers for eligible costs including title search, legal fees, and closing costs. Interested individuals can also contact Neighborhood Housing Services directly at 216-458-HOME. Housing Enhancement Loan ProgramCounty Treasurer Jim Rokakis’s Home Enhancement Loan Program allows homeowners in thirty-three Cuyahoga County communities to borrow money for repairing or remodeling homes at three percentage points below a bank’s market rate for home improvement loans. HELP has no restrictions on a borrower’s income and few limitations on what improvements can be made to a property. Both owner occupied and investment properties are eligible. Northeast Ohio Coalition for Financial SuccessThe goal of the Northeast Ohio Coalition for Financial Success is to develop public awareness of financial literacy and advocate for education and participation for all persons in Cuyahoga County through the most effective financial literacy tools and coordination of financial education efforts in order to prevent financial victimization and help people preserve assets, and increase savings to take control of their financial future
Down Payment Assistance ProgramsNHSGC provides access to the Cuyahoga County Down Payment Loan Programs that includes the Cuyahoga County Down Payment Assistance Program. The details and qualifications are listed below.
DOWNPAYMENT ASSISTANCE LOAN PROGRAM Downpayment assistance, in excess of a minimum 3% that a home buyer would be required to provide from their own funds, is available to income qualified first-time home buyers for the purchase of a home in an eligible Cuyahoga County community. The assistance is provided in the form of a deferred mortgage loan (50% forgiven after 5 years of occupancy) that must be used for eligible costs, and it need not be repaid until re-sale or transfer of the property. The Diversity Opportunity Forgivable Loan provides for the loan to convert into a grant for home buyers that purchase a property in a qualified census tract, in a community that we serve, and who live there for five (5) years. The Vacant/Abandoned Forgivable Loan provides for the loan to convert into a grant for home buyers that purchase a qualified property, as verified by the local community, in a community that we serve, and who live there for five (5) years. A portion of these funds may be used for repairs All buyers are required to complete Pre-Purchase Homebuyer Education and Home Maintenance training and counseling from NHS of Greater Cleveland and obtain pre-qualification document, with the certificate of completion dated before any purchase agreement has been signed. Any home sales in process before and/or during the required training and counseling will be deemed ineligible for participation. For a printable description of this program click here. Eligible Homes -Single family, owner-occupied Eligible Costs - Title Search Fee Rate, broker fee, origination fee, and points of the first mortgage must not be excessive (not to exceed 2.00% of the first mortgage loan amount) for the type of mortgage obtained by the buyer: conventional, VA or FHA. First mortgage must be fixed with no balloon payment or prepayment penalty allowed. Maximum Assistance The maximum amount available is 17% of the sales price or $10,000 whichever is less. Eligible Households -Homebuyers may not have owned a home in the past 3 years. Eligible Communities -
3rd Financial Service Corp.
Applications will be available at the NHS of Greater Cleveland upon receiving a certificate of completion and the presentation of pre-qualified lender document and submitted through your first mortgage lender.
2010 INCOME GUIDELINES
Applications are available at the Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Cleveland and submitted through your first mortgage lender, call 216.458.HOME (4663) to register. Program available for a limited time and only while funds are available. Program may be withdrawn and/or changed at any time, including adding required steps that may not be listed on this website. Call for the most current requirements.
SEE Also--Archived comments--research by Lily Miller: After I began my investigation into Plymouth Park Tax Services and the thousands of property tax foreclosures filed in Cuyahoga County, I discovered that Plymouth Park Tax Services was delinquent with paying their own property taxes on nearly 100 properties obtained via a delinquent tax foreclosure. Below is a list of all the property that was owned by Plymouth Park Tax Services and the delinquent property taxes owed at the time of my investigation.
1. 1613 Elberon Ave, East Cleveland, OH 44112 delinquent taxes $2,053.47 2. 4150 E 138 St, Cleveland, OH 44105 delinquent taxes $1,592.59 3. 13909 Orinoco Ave, East Cleveland, OH 44112 delinquent taxes $1,568.73 4. 890 E 130 St, Cleveland, OH 44108 delinquent taxes $2,917.99 5. 13215 Alvin Ave, Garfield Hts, OH 44105 delinquent taxes $2,331.27 6. 1516 Luxor Rd, East Cleveland, OH 44112 delinquent taxes $1,297.17 7. 12414 Farringdon AVE, Cleveland, OH 44105 delinquent taxes $2,411.11 8. 1061 E 167 ST, Cleveland, OH 44110 delinquent taxes $2,090.81 9. 3234 W 88 St, Cleveland, OH 44102 delinquent taxes $1,608.16 10. 1622 E 84 St, Cleveland, OH 44103 delinquent taxes $2,667.86 11. 11806 Fairport Cleveland, OH 44108 delinquent taxes $1,451.10 12. 14113 Tokay AVE, Maple Hts, OH 44137 delinquent taxes $2,773.79 13. 11902 Fairport Cleveland, OH 44108 delinquent taxes $1,446.14 14. 14113 Tokay AVE, Maple Hts, OH 44137 delinquent taxes $ 2,773.79 15. 11902 Fairport Cleveland, OH 44108 delinquent taxes $1,446.14 16. 3529 East BLVD, Cleveland, OH 44105 delinquent taxes $3,253.54 17. 12904 Dove AVE, Cleveland, OH 44105 delinquent taxes $6,479.00 18. 13619 Christine AVE, Garfield Hts, OH 44105 delinquent taxes $5,581.56 19. 9607 Parmelee Ave, Cleveland, OH 44108 delinquent taxes $1,216.22 20. 10805 Earle Ave, Cleveland, OH 44108 delinquent taxes $2,451.29 21 805 E 131 ST , Cleveland, OH 44108 delinquent taxes $1,612.16 22. 3877 E 142 St, Cleveland, OH 44128 delinquent taxes $3,827.72 23. 3780 Mayfield RD, Cleveland Hts, OH 44121 delinquent taxes $10,164.97 24. 4046 Northfield Rd, Highland Hills Village, OH 44122 delinquent taxes $3,678.81 25. 24275 Donover Rd, Warrensville Hts, OH 44128 delinquent taxes $3,217.43 26. 15127 Granger RD, Maple Hts, OH 44137 delinquent taxes $6,291.79 27. 19919 Mountville Dr, Maple Hts, OH 44137 delinquent taxes $3,003.55 28. 3625 Washington BLVD, Cleveland Hts, OH 44118 delinquent taxes $5,174.37 29. 942 Pembrook Rd, Cleveland Hts, OH 44121 delinquent taxes $12,557.41 30. 1282 E 186 St, Cleveland, OH 44110 delinquent taxes $1,844.77 31. 4002 Trent AVE, Cleveland, OH 44109 delinquent taxes $2,015.08 32. 10321 Parkgate AVE, Cleveland, OH 44108 delinquent taxes $2,855.04 33. 11316 Durant AVE, Cleveland, OH 44108 delinquent taxes $7,981.65 34. 27701 Mills AVE, Euclid, OH 44132 delinquent taxes $2,232.32 35. 12325 Park Knoll Dr, Garfield Hts, OH 44125 delinquent taxes $1,818.64 36 13408 S Parkway DR, Garfield Hts, OH 44105 delinquent taxes $2,394.20 37. 4673 E 85 St, Garfield Hts, OH 44125 delinquent taxes $3,476.40 38. 13421 Emerson Ave, Lakewood, OH 44107 delinquent taxes $4,547.51 39 4072 E 139 ST, Cleveland, OH 44105 delinquent taxes $873.58 40 4344 E 141 ST, Cleveland, OH 44128 delinquent taxes $5,186.68 41. 4115 E 146 ST, Cleveland, OH 44128 delinquent taxes $1,362.21 42. 16205 Judson Dr, Cleveland, OH 44128 delinquent taxes $953.36 43. 19807 Longbrook RD, Warrensville Hts, OH 44123 delinquent taxes $2,376.01 44. 16105 Mendota AVE, Maple Hts, OH 44137 delinquent taxes $11,011.57 45. 16305 Friend Ave, Maple Hts, OH 44137 delinquent taxes $3,019.45 46. 19819 Kings HWY, Warrensville Hts, OH 44122 delinquent taxes $8,283.79 47. 3608 Palmerston RD, Shaker Hts, OH 44122 delinquent taxes $28,184.22 48. 5110 Philip St, Maple Hts, OH 44137 delinquent taxes $2,671.00 49. 19107 Gladstone Rd, Warrensville Hts, OH 44122 delinquent taxes $2,523.68 50. 3651 Latimore Rd, Shaker Hts, OH 44122 delinquent taxes $8,767.02 51. 1983 Warrensville Center RD, South Euclid, OH delinquent taxes $13,136.66 52. 2236 Edgerton Rd, University Hts, OH 44118 delinquent taxes $5,888.70 53 3388 Cedarbrook Rd, Cleveland Hts, OH 44118 delinquent taxes $3,845.20 54. 1164 Melbourne RD, East Cleveland, OH 44112 delinquent taxes $4,690.15 55. 907 Caledonia AVE, Cleveland Hts, OH 44112 delinquent taxes $7,444.12 56. 1680 Beverly Hills DR, Euclid, OH 44117 delinquent taxes $3,367.92 57. 25570 Tungsten RD, Euclid, OH 44132 delinquent taxes $3,231.96 58. 3967 E 121 St, Cleveland, OH 44105 delinquent taxes $3,357.74 59. 12528 Forest AVE, Cleveland, OH 44120 delinquent taxes $5,887.51 60. 3920 E 99 St, Cleveland, OH 44105 delinquent taxes $1,318.11 61. 9601 Heath AVE, Cleveland, OH 44104 delinquent taxes $1,203.47 62. 7812 Force AVE, Cleveland, OH 44105 delinquent taxes $1,930.77 63. 3279 E 130 ST, Cleveland, OH 44120 delinquent taxes $2,536.84 64. 1237 E 114 ST, Cleveland, OH 44108 delinquent taxes $2,351.40 65. 1827 Haldane RD, Cleveland, OH 44112 delinquent taxes $4,986.37 66. 16910 Grovewood Ave, Cleveland, OH 44110 delinquent taxes $2,043.33 67. 13417 Rugby RD, Cleveland, OH 44110 delinquent taxes $2,365.97 68. 15720 Mandalay Ave, Cleveland, OH 44110 delinquent taxes $1,855.10 70. 1998 Torbenson DR, Cleveland, OH 44112 delinquent taxes $3,877.43 71. 763 E 152 ST, Cleveland, OH 44110 delinquent taxes $12,565.98 72. 794 E 154 St, Cleveland, OH 44110 delinquent taxes $812.14 73. 341 E 156 St, Cleveland, OH 44110 delinquent taxes $8,262.92 74. 807 E 131 St, Cleveland, OH 44108 delinquent taxes $1,283.44 75. 1373 EAST BLVD CLEVELAND, OH 44106 delinquent taxes $3,993.51 76. 2850 E 127 ST, Cleveland, OH 44120 delinquent taxes $2,200.59 77. 4001 E 151 ST, Cleveland, OH 44120 delinquent taxes $4,794.80 78. 16201 Myrtle AVE, Cleveland, OH 44128 delinquent taxes $4,100.27 79. 3546 Raymont BLVD, University Hts, OH 44118 delinquent taxes $16,666.01 80. 861 Quarry DR, Cleveland Hts, OH 44121 delinquent taxes $18,367.91 81. 22701 Shore Center AVE, Euclid, OH 44123 delinquent taxes $33,336.34 82. 3962 E 41 ST, Newburgh Hts, OH 44105 delinquent taxes $7,703.00 83. 1521 Clarence AVE, Lakewood, OH 44107 delinquent taxes $15,719.32 84. 4328 E 143 ST, Cleveland, OH 44128 delinquent taxes $2,975.68 85. 3769 E 140 ST, Cleveland, OH 44120 delinquent taxes $6,851.10 86. 3279 E 128 ST, Cleveland, OH 44120 delinquent taxes $3,700.37 87. 7915 Sowinski AVE, Cleveland, OH 44103 delinqent taxes $13,719.84 88. 1642 Lockwood CLEVELAND, OH 44112 delinquent taxes $2,799.55 89. 857 E 75 ST, Cleveland, OH 44103 delinquent taxes $735.91
How could this company file thousands of delinquent property tax foreclosures when they were not paying their own taxes on properties in which they foreclosed?
In 2006, in an apparent scheme to expedite the delinquent property tax foreclosure process to possibly benefit Plymouth Park Tax Services, Jim Rokakis initiated an accelerated foreclosure process that expedited the time frame for certain foreclosures - including delinquent property tax foreclosures- reducing the time from several years to only a few months:
Accelerated Foreclosure Cases Filed The program stems from a new state law that allows counties to bypass the normal court process and carry out a foreclosure administratively, reducing the time it takes to foreclose from two-plus years down to as little as three months. County Treasurer Jim Rokakis says the huge backlog of foreclosure cases causes abandoned homes to sit for many months, attracting crime and driving down the value of neighboring properties.
link to story here ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Is it possible that the former owner of Plymouth Park Tax Services , Jim Florio, had a relative working in the County property tax department? Unfortunately, in Cuyahoga County anything is possible. There is an employee in the Cuyahoga County Boards of Revision by the name of Chris Florio. Jim Florio does have a son by the name of Chris Florio. Chris Florio was apparently up to no good during his employment- which began in 2004 after Florio was appointed to his position by Frank Russo. The same year in which Plymouth Park Tax Services was awarded the no bid contract. During Chris Florio's employment, the following suspicious transactions occurred: property assessments to their own members behind closed doors:
• Chris Florio, a board member since 2004, requested a $5,000 decrease on a vacant North Royalton property in 2008. The board decreased the value by $4,900, electronic records show. But paper files for that case have inexplicably disappeared, leaving no way to determine who signed off on the decrease or how quickly the decision was made. Florio's wife, Sharon, requested a $14,200 decrease on a Parma condo on March 2009. After a closed-door deliberation, a board gave her a $14,000 reduction in 37 days, records show. link to Florio story here Plymouth Park Tax Services, aka Xspand, has had other similar cases in Pennsylvania: Montco Commish Race Set To Explode
This stems from litigation filed by Municipal Revenue Services against Xspand which, on February 24, 2005, won MontCo’s “no-bid” tax collection contract worth at least $600,000. There was neither prior issuance of a Request for Proposal nor any public bidding or negotiation with competing vendors. MRS claims Xspand—plus other people and companies—engaged in unfair competition; this includes secret communications between Xspand personnel and these two MontCo commissioners. MRS produces evidence that their leak of private, internal data undermined the public trust, is illegal, and allowed a lucrative contract to be steered to the favored, politically-connected Xspand. MRS charges the conduct that led to outsourcing the functions of MontCo’s internal Tax Collection Bureau violated the Lanham Act, Sunshine Acts, and the Pennsylvania Public Official and Employee Ethics Act. Essentially, these laws mandate that governmental business be conducted publicly and fairly.
Plymouth Park Tax Services is also being investigated for antitrust and collusion regarding the purchase of tax liens in New Jersey. JPMorgan Unit Subpoenaed in U.S. Investigation of New Jersey Tax-Lien Bids A JPMorgan Chase & Co. subsidiary is among at least three companies being investigated as part of a U.S. Justice Department antitrust probe of bidding at municipal tax-lien auctions in New Jersey. This link details the nightmare that the political sale of property tax liens has created on numerous counties and how our public officials aggravated the foreclosure crisis.
J P Morgan has recently announced that Plymouth Park Tax Services, aka Xspand, will quit tax lien purchases. I wonder why? see story here JPMorgan Chase has suffered PR headaches in its mortgage servicing business this year. The tax-lien business similarly involves dunning late payers and seizing properties. "My guess is that there is an image issue," says James Cox, a Duke University School of Law professor who specializes in corporate and securities law. "But I also wonder about the returns. This has not turned out to be a market that produces the returns that they expect to be adequate compensation. … Even investment bankers are worried about their image This case must be included in the FBI probe. Dianna and I spent hundreds of hours on this case, and we did it for a reason.
We demand justice for the thousands of victims.
http://lilymiller.webstarts.com/index.html?r=20110715230011 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ break down of victims by predatory tax collectorsSubmitted by Lily on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 11:53.
GLS Capital filed the following delinquent tax foreclosures:
2001 - 93 foreclosures filed 2002 - 335 foreclosures filed 2003 - 143 foreclosures filed 2004 - 164 foreclosures filed
PLYMOUTH PARK TAX SERVICES filed the following delinquent tax foreclosures:
2005 - 520 foreclosures filed 2006 - 714 foreclosures filed 2007 - 567 foreclosures filed 2008- 629 foreclosures filed 2009 - 129 tax foreclosures filed
Aeon Finanicial fbo CaptialSource Bank filed the following delinquent tax foreclosures: 2009 - 1302 tax foreclosures filed 2010 - 467 tax foreclosures filed 2011 - 795 tax foreclosures filed
Thousands of victims that had to pay 18% interest rates, excessive fees , court costs and attorney fees in order to save their property. The numbers only reflect actual foreclosure filings and does not include property owners that paid the excessive fees to avoid foreclosures. Hundreds of families lost their properties- some owned mortgage free for decades.
Gus Frangos, President of the Cuyahoga County Land Bank, has some very suspicious property transactions in Cuyahoga County. According to county websites, Gus Frangos purchases property, transfer the property from his name to various self-created LLC's, and then does not pay property taxes. Gus really has a thing for creating LLC's.
Gus is fortunate enough to be able to live in a 12 room house with five bedrooms and four bathrooms in Hudson, Ohio. The property is appraised at $ 503,180 and it's tax value is $ 176,120 An example of the LLC creation: the property located at 8062 RAVENNA ROAD , HUDSON,OH 44236 was purchased by Gus and Christianna Frangos on November 29, 2004. And on November 4, 2005, Gus Frangos created this LLC: 8062-2 RAVENNA, LLC Domestic Liability Agent: GUS FRANGOS, ESQ.
The suspicious creation of numerous LLC's and lack of paying property tax is evident with the property below: 105-16-002 , parcel # 907 E 70 ST , address 12-11-01 property transferred to Gus Frangos and Lamar Young 12-11-01 (same day) property transferred to Gus Frangos 30-MAY-02 Gus Frangos transferred the property to Quinn Court Propeties, LLC
And on March 4, 2002, the Incorporator/ Statutory Agent for QUINN COURT PROPERTIES, LLC was Gus Frangos Statutory Agent DOMESTIC LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY Delinquent Property taxes owed: $4,299.82 Property taxes not paid since 2009. ****************************************************************************************************** ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE LLC CREATION AND LACK OF PAYING PROPERTY TAXES: 913-917 E 17 ST, address 105-16-088, parcel # 12/11/01 transfered to Gus Frangos 5/30/02 transferred to Quinn Court Properties, LLC. The same LLC in which Gus Frangos is the Statutory Agent. Delinquent PropetyTaxes owed $5,547.56 Property taxes not paid since 2009 ************************************************************************************************************* And more!
105-10-014, parcel # 6311 St. Clair, address Gus Frangos purchased this property on 12/31/98 And on a/9/03, Gus Frangos transferred this property to 6311 St. Clair LLC
Delinquent property taxes owed $2,194.80 Property taxes not paid in years
6311 St. Clair, LLC: The address to which interested parties may direct requests for copies of any operating agreement and any by-laws of the LLC is 8062 Ravenna Road, Hudson, Ohio, Summit County. Signed, Gus Frangos Initial Member/Agent Appointment for Statutory Agent 11/8/2002
************************************************************************ Another Example: 104-13-076, parcel # 1188 E 61 ST, address 3-4-99 transferred to Gus Frangos 1-9-03 Gus Frangos transferred to 1188 East 61st Apartments, LLC
**************************************************************************
Oh yes, there is more: 5902 PROSSER AVE, address 104-14-090, parcel # 11-MAY-90 tranfered to Gus and Cristianna Frangos 08-MAY-91 transferrred to Christpher Pasiadias 11/20/92 transferred to Christianna Frangos 1/22/93 re-filed deed to Christianna Frangos 1/29/93 transferred to Gus and Christianna Frangos 6/21/93 transferred to Christianna Frangos 10/29/99 sold Carmen Ramos ******************************************************
U.S.A. Parking Systems , Inc. is mentioned in one transaction and the name U.S.A. Parking Systems, Inc., and their fax number is clearly visible on the top of one of these transactions that were faxed and recorded with the county.
Two of the properties purchased by Gus Frangos were previously owned by Algimantas Dailide. I remember Al and he owned lots of property in Cuyahoga County and was a frequent flier in housing court filing evictions. I often wondered how Al was able to purchase so many properties and own his own real estate company. It appears that GUS FRANGOS, the President and General Counsel for the County Land Bank, is purchasing property, transferring numerous propeties into LLC names in which Gus Frangos is named the Statutory Agent, and he is NOT PAYING HIS OWN PROPERTY TAXES. How can the same county officials that were responsible for stealing Freddie's house - owned for 46 years- and stolen for $2,000 in delinquent property taxes not be held to the same standard?
How can Gus Frangos be the President and General Counsel for the County Land Bank - which targets delinquent tax payers- when he or his numerous LLC's are delinquent with paying their own property taxes?
If Ed Fitzgerald wants to crack down on those that owe delinquent property taxes, I suggest that he start collecting from Gus Frangos and his numerous LLC's that apear to be above paying their own property taxes.
Gus Frangos is President of the County Land Bank which targets those that owe delinquent property taxes for foreclosure purposes. And Gus and his numerous LLC's do NOT pay their own property taxes.
WAKE UP CUYAHOGA COUNTY OFFICIALS AND KILL THE LAND BANK!
18% interest in unconscionableSubmitted by dw on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 12:16.
Lily, do you know what amount these tax liens are being sold? You have an excellent point that these discount tax lien sale offs should be offered to the homeowner first, and I will add, with a reasonable payment plan. To sell for pennies on the dollars to these predators that rape our neighborhoods and leave us with blocks of boarded homes is outrageous.
LOBBYING CUYAHOGA COUNTY ADMINISTRATION..ED FITZSubmitted by ANGELnWard14 on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 11:54.
Ed Fitzgerald, I believe it was at the Plain Dealer interviews that I cited something that was statistically analyzed in our country..... & Reported by the PD.... "SMALL BUSINESS INVESTMENTS HELP OUR COUNTRY OUT OF THE RECESSIONS...." Small Business Investors include those people who do start ups in storefronts and do Real Estate Investments (Buy Houses, Rehab them, Rent them & Resell for profit.) My years of experience in this industry saw several key elements of demise in OUR COUNTY.... First, your predecessors ALLOWED PREDATORY CIRCUMSTANCES B/C THEY BENEFITED WILDLY FROM IT-EVEN THOUGH IT WAS OBVIOUSLY A CRASH WAITING TO HAPPEN. The Commissioners and the City Leadership of Cleveland FAILED to put protective measures in place for things like: Fraudulent Appraisals portrayed on low income houses across our city. They benefited from the fraudulent inflation. They lived on false numbers that were "UNSUSTAINABLE". Leadership had the ability to implement PROTECTIVE MEASURES that took care of our "PEOPLE" and prevented "ABUSIVE PRACTICES"... but they didn't stop it or even try to....
Over the years, I have met with countless middle class Cuyahoga County citizens who worked regular jobs and who wished to become "REAL ESTATE INVESTORS". The business of buying a house in Cleveland became a joke by the mid 2000's. It was out of control. Lending was out of control, appraisals were overinflated, and inner city houses were used as tools for greedy investors. There are bad apples in every industry and locally our bad apples sat at the County Administration Building collusively engaging in corruption that hit everyone. The little investors who bought a double house, rehabbed it, and refinanced it only to rent it out were ending up in unsustainable loans that were more than the rental income to be earned. Countless times; I advised people not to get caught up in "PREDATORY LOANS" in these scenarios....and to remember that the AVERAGE RESIDENT IN CLEVELAND CANNOT AFFORD RENTS IN EXCESS OF 1/3 OF THEIR INCOME (Average in Cleveland under 20k/yr). (SINCE THE CENSUS BUREAU AND A BACKGROUND CHECK EMPOWER LANDLORDS TO DO DEMOGRAPHIC REVIEWS-COUNTLESS CITIZENS WERE UNSTABLE EVEN THEN.) Ultimately, when you earn a lot of money-you forget that the average low income (QUOTA) citizens survive all year on what you make in a month or less. I ASK THAT YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT THAT IDEA.....HOW DO THESE FOLKS SURVIVE ON $689/MONTH.....BECAUSE A GREAT DEAL OF THEM ARE PAYING PROPERTY TAXES, PAYING RENTS, OR ARE HOMELESS BECAUSE THEY CANNOT FIND AFFORDABLE RENTS..... ONLY GREED COULD MASTERMIND USING THEM TO KEEP BUILDING MORE PROFITEERING NOT FOR PROFIT AGENCIES.... HOW HARD WOULD IT ALL HAVE BEEN TO PROTECT THESE LOW INCOME PEOPLE WITH REASONABLE RESOLVES???? WE HAVE AN ENTIRE POPULATION OF THEM IN CLEVELAND. (Take Care of Our Own). SINCE COMMON SENSE DOES NOT PLAY A ROLE IN THIS; I ASK THAT YOU LOBBY AND WORK DIRECLTY WITH THE CITY OF CLEVELAND TO IMPLEMENT RENTAL LAWS THAT PROTECT TENANTS & LANDLORDS. MY HEAVENS, HOW HARD WOULD IT HAVE BEEN TO MAKE CONCESSIONS FOR SOME OF THESE SENIORS WHO WORKED THEIR LIVES AWAY AND NEEDED A LITTLE CONSIDERATION? (pAYING TAXES). WITH TECHNOLOGY, YOU ALL COULD HAVE SET UP AUTO PAYS FROM BANK ACCOUNTS AND SO MUCH MORE...AUTO BILL PAY WHERE BILLS GET PAID TO THE COUNTY ON TIME. LOTS OF LITTLE THINGS COULD HAVE TOTALLY TURNED THESE DYNAMICS TO LEVEL GROUND.... Stabilizing our people in distress early on...instead of sending them into nightmare bureacratic trails leading to no help anyway. BUT THE REALITY IS THAT COUNTLESS CITIZENS WALKED INTO THAT ADMINISTRATION BUILDING AND WERE BOGARDED BY DROVES OF CORRUPT JERKS WHO THOUGHT THEY OWNED US ALL! I hope that you start using the consideration of true demographic data to support future actions in this county... We do appreciate you "SLING LOADING" LOTS OF THE TRASH! Always Appreciative, "ANGELnWard14"
J..P. Morgan Chase, aka Plymouth Park Tax Services, ADMITS rigging tax lien sales in Ohio- $211 million settlement-Submitted by Lily on Sat, 09/03/2011 - 08:07.
 J.P Morgan Chase and it's subsidaries, Plymouth Park Tax Services and Xspand, recently admitted their guilt in rigging delinquent property tax liens in 33 states- including Ohio. JPMorgan Chase & Co. has agreed to pay $211 million after admitting one of its divisions rigged dozens of bidding competitions to win business from state and local governments. Our local government in Cuyahoga County made the bid rigging process very simple for Plymouth Park Tax Services. The NO BID contract was handed to Plymouth Park Tax Services, along with a $50,000 grant to "study" delinquent property tax liens in Cuyahoga County. (full story here) Plymouth Park Tax Services victimized tens of thousands of people in Cuyahoga County by charging 18% interest and numerous fees to release the liens. Hundreds of properties stolen. Neighborhoods blighted. Victims made homeless. And after Plymouth Park Tax Services foreclosed and obtained ownership of nearly 100 properties in Cuyahoga County, they DID NOT pay their own property taxes. ** Settlement information for victims and more details will be updated here on Tuesday, 9/6/11**
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OHIO LAW HAS NO PROTECTION FOR owner's 14th amendment rightsSubmitted by ANGELnWard14 on Mon, 09/05/2011 - 11:43.
regarding PROPERTY TAX CERTIFICATES................proven in a court of law...... (Remember: ROKAKIS AND Plymouth Park Tax Services aka JP MORGAN CHASE created those laws...intriguing; huh?)
>....they didn't put any protection in there for owner's of properties.
Always Appreciative, "ANGELnWard14" new
CDC ABUSIVE PRACTICES IN CLEVELAND:Submitted by ANGELnWard14 on Mon, 09/05/2011 - 11:40.
CDC's DEPRIVED CITIZENS OF AVAILABLE HELP TO SAVE THEIR HOMES: ....first you must understand that CDC's work in coordination with the hidden MASTER PLANS regarding neighborhoods and that they have had access to knowing which neighborhoods were slated for development and which were slated for demolition....They were able to definitively tell citizens if they "qualified" for assistance countless times....but instead; they used that information to TARGET distressed homes for future development plans while being 2 faced to owners who lived in them....I have 3 VERIFIABLE examples of this in TREMONT....and many more.... But who cares? These folks are running on their own set of laws! They don't give a hoot about the federal government oversight...they have their pals up in City Hall covering their behinds and empowering them to do this over and over and over.....why??? Because the results make them look good???? (Taste of Tremont?).... SO: before you waste your time TRUSTING a COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFO; DO YOU RECOGNIZE THAT THEY HAVE HIDDEN PLANS FOR DEVELOPMENT WHERE YOUR HOUSE IS LOCATED???? DO YOU REALIZE THAT THEY ARE THE ONES CODE ENFORCING YOU OUT OF YOUR HOME FOR THEIR LONG TERM DEVELOPMENT PLANS??? DO YOU REALIZE THAT THEY WILL NOT STOP UNTIL THEY OWN YOUR PROPERTY????? DO YOU KNOW THAT THEY ARE SENDING YOU ON A WILD GOOSE CHASE-CHASING YOUR TAIL....AND KNOWING THAT YOU CAN'T GET THE HELP IF THEY MAKE A QUICK PHONE CALL BEHIND YOUR BACK TO THE AGENCY'S THAT THEY SEND YOU TO FOR MORE ASSISTANCE??? EXAMPLE: THE ONLY PLACE IN TOWN THAT WAS FUNDED TO HELP WITH PROPERTY TAX ARREARS WAS NHS....AND TREMONT WAS SENDING PEOPLE TO OTHER HOUSING LOCATIONS TO PUT THEM IN TRICK BAGS....KNOWING FULL WELL THAT THE OWNER'S WOULDN'T GET HELP AT THAT LOCATION.... BUT WOULD SERVE AS A QUOTA.... UNREAL.
Always Appreciative, "ANGELnWard14" new
Collusion: EMPOWERED TAX CERTIFICATE GAME HERE....Submitted by ANGELnWard14 on Mon, 09/05/2011 - 11:30.
Tax Certificates are based on delinquent taxes.... The original property taxes for many parcels used to be based on low valuations such as in the Tremont neighborhood where countless people owned houses that were valued at around $10,000 with annual property taxes...but soon they were paying on excessive valuations of up and over $100,000 for dilpidated houses....which they could no longer afford on assisted incomes. FRAUDULENT and CONCURRENT FALSE PROPERTY TAX INFLATION of PROPERTY TAX BASES INCLUDED INFLATING TAX RATES WHILE CONCURRENTLY INFLATING VALUTIONS...
If you go back to the era when Jimmy Dimora and the last 10 years of commissioners started taking over Cuyahoga County fiscal management; you will realize that they learned that if they inflated the tax base itself; then they could drive income for the county that empowered them to "live large" and spend more money on things like the MEDICAL MART... (Look at the unreal hiring schemes at the Auditor's office and County Administration during this same period....lots of new (Unnecessary Employees hired by our county who were worthless and corrupt.....violating countless citizens...) ....and moreover the COMMISSIONERS and AUDITOR worked collusively to also control the scheme of manuevers and reject "HELPING" families save their homes. I must have called down there fifty times over the last few years trying to get help with a property tax foreclosure...denied, denied, denied.... And who had the power to fix human errors at the county administration building: the AUDITOR...particularly when the taxes were "WRONG".... then sold as tax certificates... The auditor's office did not value the 14th Amendment rights of owners for a long time...ILLEGALLY. When owner's began to realize that their property taxes had went from valuations of $10,000 to nearly a $100,000 in neighborhoods like Tremont due to the development of new housing in those neighborhoods; their attempts at recourse were met with stonewalling and steering....more HUD violations... The planning and objectives of usage with CDBG funds was abused in collaboration with this tax scheme...These players knew that they were driving out low income lifelong families from mortgage free homes for all too long....but that was their premitated plan. They figured that they could eradicate the blight by depriving those families of help again and again. This was all part of their "AGENDA"....since the late 90's..... Their plan has DESTROYED our sense of community and empowered corruption.
Always Appreciative, "ANGELnWard14" new
Settlement against J.P. Morgan is in disputeSubmitted by Lily on Mon, 09/05/2011 - 09:43.
JPMorgan Reaches $211 Million Settlement in State and Federal Muni Bond Bid-Rigging Probe A $65.5 million portion of Thursday's settlement with JPMorgan, which the state AGs say will go toward restitution already looks like it could get similarly bogged down. Michael Hausfeld of Hausfeld LLP told us he planned to bring the settlement to the attention of Manhattan federal district court judge Victor Marrero. "We'll be advising the court that this settlement suffers from some of the same deficiencies as the UBS and Bank of America settlements," he said. Plaintiffs Lawyers in Muni Bond Bid-Rigging MDL Delay JPMorgan Deal with State AgsFacing plaintiffs lawyers' arguments that a $211 million deal that JPMorgan reached this month in the giant municipal bond bid-rigging litigation was unfair, the federal judge overseeing the case has agreed to delay part of the settlement. www.silobreaker.com/plaintiffs-lawyers-in-muni-bond-bidrigging-mdl-delay...
Copies of the settlement, agreements and details of this crime can be found here, here and here ** notice how the settlement clearly states, " This agreement does NOT cover tax offenses or PUBLIC CORRUPTION offenses of any kind." ** This case is part of the public corruption scandal in Cuyahoga County.
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Who allowed Plymouth Park Tax Services to get away with this?Submitted by Lily on Mon, 09/05/2011 - 08:30.
Who allowed Plymouth Park Tax Services to get away with not paying their own property taxes after they foreclosed on delinquent property tax owners? The system of tax liens is very effective", said Jim RokakisThe system of tax liens is very effective, but make no mistake about it, there's an incentive for those guys to buy the tax liens," said Jim Rokakis, the Cuyahoga County treasurer. Cuyahoga County - the first in Ohio to sell its tax liens - has canceled its tax-lien sale program to pursue a land-bank program, also a first-ever in the state. Under the land-bank program, the county would try to use revenue from foreclosed homes to eventually buy the vacant foreclosed properties that some say have ravaged Cleveland's neighborhoods. While Mr. Rokakis is moving away from the tax-lien program, he defended its goals. "When somebody doesn't pay them, it means somebody who does pay them is picking up their obligation," Mr. Rokakis said. And the list above proves that Plymouth Park Tax Services was NOT picking up their obligation. Plymouth Park Tax Services failed to pay their own property taxes- some for well over one year. And no one said one single word. Plymouth Park Tax Services,aka J.P Morgan, admitted rigging the tax lien purchase process. Like you said, Dianna, it takes two to tango. Which public official tangoed with Plymouth Park Tax Services? new
Who lobbied for this legislation?Submitted by Lily on Mon, 09/05/2011 - 02:35.
Who lobbied for the legislation to pass tax lien certificate sales to corrupt companies- who have admitted their guilt? Tax Lien Certificate Sales When Jim Rokakis took office in 1997, Cuyahoga County had more delinquent property taxes owed to it than the next five largest counties combined. Some of these delinquencies were more than twenty years old. Because the process to collect these taxes was ineffective Jim lobbied the Ohio legislature to pass a law that would allow County Treasurers to sell delinquent property tax liens to third parties. This legislation (H.B. 371) passed in 1998. In 1998, Jim Rokakis lobbied for and passed legislation for the sale of delinquent property tax liens in Cuyahoga County. From 1999 thru 2008, the liens were sold to GLS Capital, aka Plymouth Park Tax Services, aka Xspand, minus any bidding process. new
Not so sure the targeting came from big corporate banksSubmitted by Lily on Mon, 09/05/2011 - 08:29.
I think they just went with the flow. Who was picking and choosing select property owners to target? 5721.31 Selecting parcels for tax certificate sales.(A)(1) After receipt of a duplicate of the delinquent land list compiled under section 5721.011 of the Revised Code, or a delinquent land list compiled previously under that section, the county treasurer may select from the list parcels of delinquent land the lien against which the county treasurer may attempt to transfer by the sale of tax certificates under sections 5721.30 to 5721.43 of the Revised Code. new
What law did they break by targeting these areas?Submitted by ANGELnWard14 on Sun, 09/04/2011 - 23:48.
While I absolutely agree with you, Lily.... I ask one question...What exact law was violated by this big corporate bank specifically targeting these specific areas???
If we MAPPED EVERY SINGLE PARCEL EVER BOUGHT through Tax Certificates by PPTS....Then, we might see that these places are in direct OVERLAYS to Those maps we saw on the Power Point Presentation back in January...I sent a copy of that presentation to JB earlier this year... I see collusion and HUD violations....but we must annotate them... Always Appreciative, "ANGELnWard14" new
Minority property owners were targetedSubmitted by Lily on Mon, 09/05/2011 - 09:52.
Property owners on the East Side of Cleveland, East Cleveland, and minority concentrated Eastern suburbs were hit hard by these thieves. They were sold out by corrupt elected officials. I filed a complaint with the NAACP, but it was ignored. I met with a councilman for East Cleveland and he agreed with me. He told me that he already felt this way and tried to warn others. The councilman was outraged by my research and drove a copy of my research and complaint to George Forbes' home. I went to the NAACP myself and talked with Stan Miller several times about this issue. I referrred several victims to the NAACP. I wonder if the NAACP can still ignore my complaint now that J.P. Morgan has admitted rigging tax liens? Click on this link to view all of the liens owned by Xspand, aka Plymouth Park Tax Services, aka J.P. Morgan. Take a good look at this list of delinquent property tax liens that Plymouth Park Tax Services purchased from Cuyahoga County. Some say West by the street names, but that is mostly an error. There are very few West Side or Western Suburbs on this list. Read former East Cleveland Mayor Eric Brewer's words: According to former Mayor Eric Brewer via Cleveland.com: Gus Frangoes never called me. I do, however, understand Jim Rokakis' oft-handed comments. I had some blocks with 37 properties and 25 delapidated vacancies. Every year we had to divert general fund and HUD dollars from other purposes just to take care of abandoned properties. Go to Rokakis' website. He won't update the "tax lien certificate sales" information past 2006 because it will show just how his policies have devasted the county. Through 2006 it shows he sold the tax liens to 22912 properties from East Cleveland, Cleveland and other cities throughout the county. How many tax liens has Rokakis sold over the past four years? That's the number he's hiding from the public. He has refused to allow the individual tax delinquent homeowner to buy their own tax lien at up to a 30 percent discount, but he sells their tax lien to a third-party for that amount. Steve Litt. This is the real story.
Take a look at all of the property owned (at the time of my investigation last year) by Plymouth Park Tax Services. Almost every single property is on the East Side. 1. 1613 Elberon Ave, East Cleveland, OH 44112 delinquent taxes $2,053.47 2. 4150 E 138 St, Cleveland, OH 44105 delinquent taxes $1,592.59 3. 13909 Orinoco Ave, East Cleveland, OH 44112 delinquent taxes $1,568.73 4. 890 E 130 St, Cleveland, OH 44108 delinquent taxes $2,917.99 5. 13215 Alvin Ave, Garfield Hts, OH 44105 delinquent taxes $2,331.27 6. 1516 Luxor Rd, East Cleveland, OH 44112 delinquent taxes $1,297.17 7. 12414 Farringdon AVE, Cleveland, OH 44105 delinquent taxes $2,411.11 8. 1061 E 167 ST, Cleveland, OH 44110 delinquent taxes $2,090.81 9. 3234 W 88 St, Cleveland, OH 44102 delinquent taxes $1,608.16 10. 1622 E 84 St, Cleveland, OH 44103 delinquent taxes $2,667.86 11. 11806 Fairport Cleveland, OH 44108 delinquent taxes $1,451.10 12. 14113 Tokay AVE, Maple Hts, OH 44137 delinquent taxes $2,773.79 13. 11902 Fairport Cleveland, OH 44108 delinquent taxes $1,446.14 14. 14113 Tokay AVE, Maple Hts, OH 44137 delinquent taxes $ 2,773.79 15. 11902 Fairport Cleveland, OH 44108 delinquent taxes $1,446.14 16. 3529 East BLVD, Cleveland, OH 44105 delinquent taxes $3,253.54 17. 12904 Dove AVE, Cleveland, OH 44105 delinquent taxes $6,479.00 18. 13619 Christine AVE, Garfield Hts, OH 44105 delinquent taxes $5,581.56 19. 9607 Parmelee Ave, Cleveland, OH 44108 delinquent taxes $1,216.22 20. 10805 Earle Ave, Cleveland, OH 44108 delinquent taxes $2,451.29 21 805 E 131 ST , Cleveland, OH 44108 delinquent taxes $1,612.16 22. 3877 E 142 St, Cleveland, OH 44128 delinquent taxes $3,827.72 23. 3780 Mayfield RD, Cleveland Hts, OH 44121 delinquent taxes $10,164.97 24. 4046 Northfield Rd, Highland Hills Village, OH 44122 delinquent taxes $3,678.81 25. 24275 Donover Rd, Warrensville Hts, OH 44128 delinquent taxes $3,217.43 26. 15127 Granger RD, Maple Hts, OH 44137 delinquent taxes $6,291.79 27. 19919 Mountville Dr, Maple Hts, OH 44137 delinquent taxes $3,003.55 28. 3625 Washington BLVD, Cleveland Hts, OH 44118 delinquent taxes $5,174.37 29. 942 Pembrook Rd, Cleveland Hts, OH 44121 delinquent taxes $12,557.41 30. 1282 E 186 St, Cleveland, OH 44110 delinquent taxes $1,844.77 31. 4002 Trent AVE, Cleveland, OH 44109 delinquent taxes $2,015.08 32. 10321 Parkgate AVE, Cleveland, OH 44108 delinquent taxes $2,855.04 33. 11316 Durant AVE, Cleveland, OH 44108 delinquent taxes $7,981.65 34. 27701 Mills AVE, Euclid, OH 44132 delinquent taxes $2,232.32 35. 12325 Park Knoll Dr, Garfield Hts, OH 44125 delinquent taxes $1,818.64 36 13408 S Parkway DR, Garfield Hts, OH 44105 delinquent taxes $2,394.20 37. 4673 E 85 St, Garfield Hts, OH 44125 delinquent taxes $3,476.40 38. 13421 Emerson Ave, Lakewood, OH 44107 delinquent taxes $4,547.51 39 4072 E 139 ST, Cleveland, OH 44105 delinquent taxes $873.58 40 4344 E 141 ST, Cleveland, OH 44128 delinquent taxes $5,186.68 41. 4115 E 146 ST, Cleveland, OH 44128 delinquent taxes $1,362.21 42. 16205 Judson Dr, Cleveland, OH 44128 delinquent taxes $953.36 43. 19807 Longbrook RD, Warrensville Hts, OH 44123 delinquent taxes $2,376.01 44. 16105 Mendota AVE, Maple Hts, OH 44137 delinquent taxes $11,011.57 45. 16305 Friend Ave, Maple Hts, OH 44137 delinquent taxes $3,019.45 46. 19819 Kings HWY, Warrensville Hts, OH 44122 delinquent taxes $8,283.79 47. 3608 Palmerston RD, Shaker Hts, OH 44122 delinquent taxes $28,184.22 48. 5110 Philip St, Maple Hts, OH 44137 delinquent taxes $2,671.00 49. 19107 Gladstone Rd, Warrensville Hts, OH 44122 delinquent taxes $2,523.68 50. 3651 Latimore Rd, Shaker Hts, OH 44122 delinquent taxes $8,767.02 51. 1983 Warrensville Center RD, South Euclid, OH delinquent taxes $13,136.66 52. 2236 Edgerton Rd, University Hts, OH 44118 delinquent taxes $5,888.70 53 3388 Cedarbrook Rd, Cleveland Hts, OH 44118 delinquent taxes $3,845.20 54. 1164 Melbourne RD, East Cleveland, OH 44112 delinquent taxes $4,690.15 55. 907 Caledonia AVE, Cleveland Hts, OH 44112 delinquent taxes $7,444.12 56. 1680 Beverly Hills DR, Euclid, OH 44117 delinquent taxes $3,367.92 57. 25570 Tungsten RD, Euclid, OH 44132 delinquent taxes $3,231.96 58. 3967 E 121 St, Cleveland, OH 44105 delinquent taxes $3,357.74 59. 12528 Forest AVE, Cleveland, OH 44120 delinquent taxes $5,887.51 60. 3920 E 99 St, Cleveland, OH 44105 delinquent taxes $1,318.11 61. 9601 Heath AVE, Cleveland, OH 44104 delinquent taxes $1,203.47 62. 7812 Force AVE, Cleveland, OH 44105 delinquent taxes $1,930.77 63. 3279 E 130 ST, Cleveland, OH 44120 delinquent taxes $2,536.84 64. 1237 E 114 ST, Cleveland, OH 44108 delinquent taxes $2,351.40 65. 1827 Haldane RD, Cleveland, OH 44112 delinquent taxes $4,986.37 66. 16910 Grovewood Ave, Cleveland, OH 44110 delinquent taxes $2,043.33 67. 13417 Rugby RD, Cleveland, OH 44110 delinquent taxes $2,365.97 68. 15720 Mandalay Ave, Cleveland, OH 44110 delinquent taxes $1,855.10 70. 1998 Torbenson DR, Cleveland, OH 44112 delinquent taxes $3,877.43 71. 763 E 152 ST, Cleveland, OH 44110 delinquent taxes $12,565.98 72. 794 E 154 St, Cleveland, OH 44110 delinquent taxes $812.14 73. 341 E 156 St, Cleveland, OH 44110 delinquent taxes $8,262.92 74. 807 E 131 St, Cleveland, OH 44108 delinquent taxes $1,283.44 75. 1373 EAST BLVD CLEVELAND, OH 44106 delinquent taxes $3,993.51 76. 2850 E 127 ST, Cleveland, OH 44120 delinquent taxes $2,200.59 77. 4001 E 151 ST, Cleveland, OH 44120 delinquent taxes $4,794.80 78. 16201 Myrtle AVE, Cleveland, OH 44128 delinquent taxes $4,100.27 79. 3546 Raymont BLVD, University Hts, OH 44118 delinquent taxes $16,666.01 80. 861 Quarry DR, Cleveland Hts, OH 44121 delinquent taxes $18,367.91 81. 22701 Shore Center AVE, Euclid, OH 44123 delinquent taxes $33,336.34 82. 3962 E 41 ST, Newburgh Hts, OH 44105 delinquent taxes $7,703.00 83. 1521 Clarence AVE, Lakewood, OH 44107 delinquent taxes $15,719.32 84. 4328 E 143 ST, Cleveland, OH 44128 delinquent taxes $2,975.68 85. 3769 E 140 ST, Cleveland, OH 44120 delinquent taxes $6,851.10 86. 3279 E 128 ST, Cleveland, OH 44120 delinquent taxes $3,700.37 87. 7915 Sowinski AVE, Cleveland, OH 44103 delinqent taxes $13,719.84 88. 1642 Lockwood CLEVELAND, OH 44112 delinquent taxes $2,799.55 89. 857 E 75 ST, Cleveland, OH 44103 delinquent taxes $735.91
And I have more documentation to prove this issue.
new civil claimsSubmitted by Lily on Sun, 09/04/2011 - 19:50.
That is why I added this to my blog: ** Settlement information for victims and more details will be updated here on Tuesday, 9/6/11** I notified the attorney that has been working on this case to inform him of the settlement. As you recall, Dianna, last year this attorney met with a major law firm to discuss a class action case. He was to return to the law firm with documentation detailing the excessive fees, provide a presentation, and the firm would vote on taking on this case. The case was rejected because I could not get enough documentation from victims. Now that J.P. Morgan has admitted rigging tax lien sales, I have a feeling the law firm just might change their minds about this case. They have already shown interest and are familiar with this case. They have all of our research already. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just unbelievable how this continues in broad daylight: http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/09/32_people_indicted_in_cuyahoga.html Did York Management properties get dumped to County Land Bank?? See also how National City Bank appraiser extended line of credit to Kleem. Why is the appraiser not named here? Still in business at PNC? More coverage here: http://www.prosecutormason.com/mnc.aspx?type=News&mcid=746
With funding from the Ohio Attorney General's Office and the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, the Task Force was formed in December 2007. The Task Force is comprised of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The director of the Task Force is a Sergeant of the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Office.
The investigation was led by the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office, Ohio Attorney General's Office, Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Office, Beachwood Police Department, Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI), and the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission (OOCIC).
Contact: Maria (Pinzone) Russo, Public Information Officer, (216) 698-2819, cell (216) 299-9326 or mrusso [at] cuyahogacounty [dot] us
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~` Help stop Wall Street's sweetheart deal on mortgage fraudSubmitted by Lee Batdorff on Wed, 08/31/2011 - 14:24.
I've been reading the book Reckless Endangerment which gives an account of how our economy got into the fix it is in now. Mr. Geithner was one of the "regulators" that allowed the banks to take huge chances, fulling expecting a taxpayer bailout as their back up plan. It is now time to take on the big banks. The following petition is presented for signing by MoveOn.org: Subject: Help stop Wall Street's sweetheart deal on mortgage fraud Hi, Treasury Secretary Geithner is pushing a sweetheart deal for Wall I signed a petition insisting that states be allowed to conduct a full
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Roldo: "If this is reform, I'll take a bit of corruption."Submitted by dwebb on Thu, 05/31/2012 - 22:05.
Roldo writes on County Executive Fitzgerald's insistence that all of the revenue due to the county from the casino be spent on downtown Cleveland:
Anyone enjoying the near perfection of County Executive Ed Fitzgerald? This guy takes the cake. Smooth as frosting. Goes down ease. He wants all of the casino tax money due to the state to be spent in downtown Cleveland. Why? He's currying to the people who don't give a shit about Cleveland outside of that small area. It's pays allegiance to the corporate agenda here. And makes him friends among the bigwigs. It's the go-along to get-along standard of politics. It works for so many. Not the best either. What's so amazing about this non-debate debate about the casino cash is that it is being posed by our "reform" county government as a choice between downtown Cleveland and the inner suburbs, which are also hurting. But it's business as usual. More from the Cleveland Leader here
Roldo's blind spotSubmitted by lmcshane on Sat, 06/02/2012 - 10:07.
I have much respect for Roldo and I believe he is right on FitzGerald, but he also has a huge blind spot on Rokakis, Frangos and the shadowy Greater Cleveland Partnership crew that run the parking racket, and now, gambling racket, and the straw buyer HUD/CMHA flipping and demo for developers and fake "Transformation Plan" racket. There are a lot of rackets in this town and they are not getting the scrutiny deserved by the federal authorities. I also can't believe the timing of Bill Mason's crackdown on Internet Cafes --all to serve the already not-so lucrative downtown casino... And, is Roldo is confused? : On Mason BFF Pat O'Malley mentioned further in this Cleveland Leader post for his WKYC role...to my knowledge Pat O'Malley was County Recorder. I don't recall a stint as County Auditor...but I could be wrong. Wish it was not so hard to go back and reconstruct the past in this town. It helps to have a little institutional memory and, sadly, we can't count on the media for that... (WKYC should also mention that their other "expert" Mansfield Frazier has a con history --and his wife, too-- I am all for redemption, but sick of the retreads in this town--please, dear GOD, don't let Patrick O'Malley near any public office or any court room in Northeast Ohio... Roldo's excellent visionSubmitted by dwebb on Sat, 06/02/2012 - 13:24.
Roldo has excellent vision but maybe needs a better editor to exchange the word "Auditor" to "Recorder". He also also written at length about the Greater Cleveland Partnership. It is possible that Roldo does not find Rokakis and Frangos to be corrupt; many people would share that conclusion. new Russo and DimoraSubmitted by lmcshane on Sat, 06/02/2012 - 17:04.
And, I am sure many still believe that Russo and Dimora were framed... Some facts are glaringly obvious--Frangos and Rokakis are self-serving: http://realneo.us/content/gus-frangos-president-and-general-counsel-cuya... Illegal activity? Where do you draw the line? Making political decisions that benefit friends and family and deprive communities of tax dollars for basic services like road repair, schools, libraries, and rec centers. I would draw the line between "forgiving" taxes for folks like Frangos and NOT forgiving the tax liens for folks like and ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Does Gus Frangos, President of the Land Bank, deserve to be foreclosed upon?Submitted by dwebb on Fri, 08/31/2012 - 10:09.
Former Cleveland Councilman Gus Frangos is the President of the Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corporation. The same site also touts "In September 2004, Mr. Frangos was retained by the Cuyahoga County Treasurer to craft legislation to help expedite the tax foreclosure process, specifically on vacant and abandoned properties." Additionally "Mr. Frangos is the President and General Counsel of the Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corporation". What a dream job. First, change some laws to expedite foreclosures, then create another entity that "reutilizes" land and then become President of it all. A number of properties seized under the expidited foreclosure process were not vacant property, but were owner occupied for many years, and taxes were in arrears. The property of Freddie was in arrears for about $2,000, and though he had proof that he was making payments, his home, yes home, was seized under an expedited foreclosure and he was evicted. How many times has this happened throughout Cuyahoga County? How many times has this happened to people who do not have the ability to fight back? So is turnabout fair? Should Mr. Frangos have his property seized, under the same rules? Oh, wait, does Mr. Frangos actually own property? According to a former worker of Frangos, he does. That worker testified to that effect (Judgement entry, Cuyahoga County Court, Juvenile Court, Case no. SU11703939). This is public record. Here is the interesting part: The Court finds that the Plaintiff testified that he worked as a self-employed agent for Gus Frangous and that he oversaw and collected rentals for his properties. He testified that he worked at the properties at 6311 St. Clair, at 1168 and 1160 East 61st Street, and at two sublots on Queen Court, and that he is not the owner of those properties. He testified that Mr. Frangos did not quit-claim those properties to him nor did he go to Court for evictions proceedings as the owner. He testified that he never had any ownership interest in the properties through an LLC or otherwise. He testified that he did not receive rental income from the properties. He testified that he was no longer working for Mr. Frangous and the last time that he collected rents for him was six months ago. He testified that his last reported income from Mr. Fangous was on his 2010 tax return as part of his self-employment income with his construction company. He testified that he earned $10,000 in 2010 through his construction company and some from Mr. Frangous. He offered his 2010 tax return into evidence which was admitted. He offered copies of deeds of the properties into evidence which were admitted. So is there a sleight of hand here that will say that Frangos is NOT the owner via the LLC? And that these properties were seriously tax delinquent? And that some still are? Will Cuyahoga County exercise the law to expedited foreclosure of the property purported to belong to the President of the Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corporation? Will there be a different type of process than that which Freddie was subjected to in his loss of his family home? Thanks to the help of a buddy who researched for me, here is what he found: Parcel No. 105-10-014 6311 St. Clair Owner’s name 6311 St. Clair, LLC Previous owner Gus Frangos Gus Frangos incorporated the LLC Transferred from Frangos to 6311 St. Clair LLC on 1/9/03 Mortgage dated 3/23/05 – Gus Frangos signed mortgage as, “ Gus Frangos, Member 6311 St. Clair, LLC. Delinquent property taxes $ 4,472.46 No property taxes paid since 2008
Parcel No. 104-13-069 1154 East 61st Street Owner’s name 1158 East 61St Street, LLC Previous owner John Stover Revocable Trust ( John Stover is Councilman in Parma) Gus Frangos incorporated the LLC Transferred from Stover to LLC on 1/9/03 Delinquent property taxes owed $7,604.48
Delinquent since 2006
Parcel No. 104-13-070 1158 East 61st Street Owner’s name 1158 East 61st Street, LLC Previous owner John Stover Revocable Trust ( John Stover Councilman Parma) Gus Frangos incorporated the LLC Transferred from Stover to LLC on 1/9/03 Delinquent property taxes owed $ 10,405.35 Delinquent since 2007
1160 East 61st is not showing up in county records; a ride is in order!
Parcel No. 1051600 2 905 East 70th Street aka Quinn Court Property Owner’s name Quinn Court Property LLC Previous owner Gus Frangos Gus Frangos incorporated the LLC Transferred from Frangos to the LLC on 5/30/02 Delinquent property taxes in the amount of $6,341.67 was paid recently after being delinquent since 2009
Parcel No. 10516088 913-917 East 17th Street aka Quinn Court Property Owner’s name Quinn Court Property LLC Previous owner Gus Frangos Gus Frangos incorporated the LLC T ransferred from Frangos to the LLC on 5/30/02 Delinquent property taxes in the amount of $8,170.16 were recently paid after being delinquent since 2009. Gus Frangos signed the mortgage as “ Gus Frangos, member Quinn Court Property LLC
Give Gus Frangos equal treatment?
Gus Frangos' Banking
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Gus Frangos deserves equal treatmentSubmitted by dwebb on Fri, 09/07/2012 - 12:16.
Gus Frangos deserves equal treatment under the same process that were applied to others. Will that happen? Gus Frangos' BankingSubmitted by dwebb on Sun, 09/02/2012 - 21:33.
In order to get rid of some trash posting, I had to delete the below post. It raises a good point. Gus Frangos' Banking too many layersSubmitted by dwebb on Fri, 08/31/2012 - 19:14.
The Cuyahoga County Land Bank has too many layers for people to easily grasp. lacking accountability at the Land bankSubmitted by dwebb on Tue, 09/04/2012 - 20:11.
In theory, the concept of a land bank is laudable. But as a private, not for profit, that takes public money? The Cuyahoga County Land Bank is independent of County oversight, yet at the same time, dependent upon public county funds, as well as other taxpayer based funding. And to have as President the very person who "crafted" the legislation to put the the LandBank into place smells pretty putrid to many. The Plain Dealer interviewed Frangos on 9/18/12. To help people understand the layers : ".....Many believe it is a county agency. In fact, it is a nonprofit community improvement corp., which he describes as a "marriage between good government powers and the flexibilities and powers of a corporation." Like government, it can do nuisance abatement, including demolition. Like a business, it engages in redevelopment, including rehabbing and selling properties." Read the entire story at cleveland.com, here
Again, possibly good concept, but I think that it should not be in the hands of Frangos, and it should not be privately managed, publicly funded, and unaccountable to the taxpayers.
crafted by FrangosSubmitted by dwebb on Sun, 09/30/2012 - 21:15.
The question is why the deliberate crafting of legislation to keep the Land Banks in Ohio from being under the control of voters? "A CLRC is created pursuant to the provisions of R.C. 1724 and is, in effect, a different class of Community Gus Frangos, President of County Land BankSubmitted by JohnDoe on Sun, 09/30/2012 - 19:55.
Copy of Mortgage Deed signed by Gus Frangos, MEMBER of 6311 St Clair . Primary Owner of the property located at 6311 St Clair is 6311 St Clair, LLC. Gus Frangos incorporated 6311 St Clair LLC and named Ladon Ruffin as the agent. Ladon Ruffin swore under oath that he has no financial connection to this property and only collects rent money and then hands the rent money over to Gus Frangos. Part of Ruffin's sworn testimony according to the official court's judgment entry: "The Court finds that the Plaintiff testified that he worked as a self-employed agent for Gus Frangous and that he oversaw and collected rentals for his properties. He testified that he worked at the properties at 6311 St. Clair, at 1168 and 1160 East 61st Street, and at two sublots on Queen Court, and that he is not the owner of those properties. He testified that Mr. Frangos did not quit-claim those properties to him nor did he go to Court for evictions proceedings as the owner. He testified that he never had any ownership interest in the properties through an LLC or otherwise. He testified that he did not receive rental income from the properties. He testified that he was no longer working for Mr. Frangous and the last time that he collected rents for him was six months ago. He testified that his last reported income from Mr. Fangous was on his 2010 tax return as part of his self-employment income with his construction company. He testified that he earned $10,000 in 2010 through his construction company and some from Mr. Frangous. He offered his 2010 tax return into evidence which was admitted. He offered copies of deeds of the properties into evidence which were admitted."
Property Taxes delinquent since 2008 Current property taxes owed $ 4,655.06 Previous owner GUS FRANGOS prior to the transfer to the LLC in 2003. On December 1, 2008, Gus Frangos signed the mortgage deed as being a member of 6311 St Clair LLC. Is the PRESIDENT OF THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY LAND BANK - GUS FRANGOS - not paying his own property taxes while targeting others for delinquent property tax foreclosures?? !!
 
 Thank you for the documentation on FrangosSubmitted by dwebb on Sun, 09/30/2012 - 21:13.
May this lay to rest some of the questions directed to me about his culpabilty in the arrears on his properties. People like Frangos hurt the school systemsSubmitted by dwebb on Mon, 10/01/2012 - 20:57.
Since the schools depend on property taxes, and when people don't pay, the schools (kids, teachers, taxpayers) are hurt. It is especially painful in the Cleveland area where test scores are poor, the system may go into receivership, the 2013 state budget will cut more funds to the schools, and a huge levy is proposed. I know many people who are in anguish over this levy. It is a poorly planned levy, without a real cost accounting, that gives a percentage to select charter schools. People who would normally support a levy are not supporting this one, and they feel terrible. They also wish that the energy channeled through the "Right Plan, Right Now" organization was focused on enforcing the Ohio Supreme Court ruling that the current method of distribution/funding of schools is unconstitutional. Wonder how Frangos feels?
Land Bank and the long historySubmitted by dwebb on Tue, 10/09/2012 - 21:22.
I heard Dan Kerr speak tonight. Dan wrote Derelict Paradise. Homelessness and Urban Development in Cleveland, Ohio.More on all of that later. What was interesting is that "urban development" includes the land bank. Kerr spoke of decades ago, the powers that be, together with George Voinovich, created the County Landbank, with planned blight, by decreasing services to certain parts of the city, to encourage disinvestment of neighborhoods. This allowed the landbank to begin to accumlate land for what they see as the new, revitalized, upper income, white, city. I invited Roldo, as he had written a review of the book this past spring. If he will agree, I plan to pump his brain for more details as he lived this piece of history. The Land Bank issue is something that people need to take seriously (and get over the whining). There are areas that get less, or none, code enforcement, less city services, from fire, police, and structural investments, paint programs, weatherization services, and on and on. Encouraged blight.
Urban Development targeting minorities = Land BankSubmitted by JohnDoe on Wed, 10/10/2012 - 05:10.
There are recent and ongoing studies regarding the targeting of minorities with tax delinquent property tax foreclosures across the country. http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=646231
The targeting of minorities to 'cleanse' certain areas of Cuyahoga County - specifically in the University Circle area and other nearby east side neighborhoods - began years ago with the sale of delinquent property tax liens under a 'no bid' process to select political companies.
From 2004 thru 2008, the majority of delinquent property tax liens in Cuyahoga County were sold in areas which were minority concentrated. Most of the homes that were lost to these suspicious tax lien companies were located on the east side of Cleveland. Many minority homeowners lost their homes - some owned for decades mortgage free. Each and every time the minority homeowner was delinquent paying property taxes, county officials sold them out by selling a delinquent property tax lien immediately. While other non-minority property owners that were delinquent for years were NEVER targeted with property tax liens.
Below is a list of properties obtained via tax delinquent lien foreclosures. NOTE the location of nearly every single property:
1. 1613 Elberon Ave, East Cleveland, OH 44112 2. 4150 E 138 St, Cleveland, OH 44105 3. 13909 Orinoco Ave, East Cleveland, OH 44112 4. 890 E 130 St, Cleveland, OH 44108 5. 13215 Alvin Ave, Garfield Hts, OH 44105 6. 1516 Luxor Rd, East Cleveland, OH 44112 7. 12414 Farringdon AVE, Cleveland, OH 44105 8. 1061 E 167 ST, Cleveland, OH 44110 9. 3234 W 88 St, Cleveland, OH 44102 10. 1622 E 84 St, Cleveland, OH 44103 11. 11806 Fairport Cleveland, OH 44108 12. 14113 Tokay AVE, Maple Hts, OH 44137 13. 11902 Fairport Cleveland, OH 44108 14. 14113 Tokay AVE, Maple Hts, OH 44137 15. 11902 Fairport Cleveland, OH 44108 16. 3529 East BLVD, Cleveland, OH 44105 17. 12904 Dove AVE, Cleveland, OH 44105 18. 13619 Christine AVE, Garfield Hts, OH 44105 19. 9607 Parmelee Ave, Cleveland, OH 44108 20. 10805 Earle Ave, Cleveland, OH 44108 21 805 E 131 ST , Cleveland, OH 44108 22. 3877 E 142 St, Cleveland, OH 44128 23. 3780 Mayfield RD, Cleveland Hts, OH 44121 24. 4046 Northfield Rd, Highland Hills Village, OH 44122 25. 24275 Donover Rd, Warrensville Hts, OH 44128 26. 15127 Granger RD, Maple Hts, OH 44137 27. 19919 Mountville Dr, Maple Hts, OH 44137 28. 3625 Washington BLVD, Cleveland Hts, OH 44118 29. 942 Pembrook Rd, Cleveland Hts, OH 44121 30. 1282 E 186 St, Cleveland, OH 44110 31. 4002 Trent AVE, Cleveland, OH 44109 32. 10321 Parkgate AVE, Cleveland, OH 44108 33. 11316 Durant AVE, Cleveland, OH 44108 34. 27701 Mills AVE, Euclid, OH 44132 35. 12325 Park Knoll Dr, Garfield Hts, OH 44125 36 13408 S Parkway DR, Garfield Hts, OH 44105 37. 4673 E 85 St, Garfield Hts, OH 44125 38. 13421 Emerson Ave, Lakewood, OH 44107 39 4072 E 139 ST, Cleveland, OH 44105 40 4344 E 141 ST, Cleveland, OH 44128 41. 4115 E 146 ST, Cleveland, OH 44128 42. 16205 Judson Dr, Cleveland, OH 44128 43. 19807 Longbrook RD, Warrensville Hts, OH 44123 44. 16105 Mendota AVE, Maple Hts, OH 44137 45. 16305 Friend Ave, Maple Hts, OH 44137 46. 19819 Kings HWY, Warrensville Hts, OH 44122 47. 3608 Palmerston RD, Shaker Hts, OH 44122 48. 5110 Philip St, Maple Hts, OH 44137 49. 19107 Gladstone Rd, Warrensville Hts, OH 44122 50. 3651 Latimore Rd, Shaker Hts, OH 44122 51. 1983 Warrensville Center RD, South Euclid, OH 52. 2236 Edgerton Rd, University Hts, OH 44118 53 3388 Cedarbrook Rd, Cleveland Hts, OH 44118 54. 1164 Melbourne RD, East Cleveland, OH 44112 55. 907 Caledonia AVE, Cleveland Hts, OH 44112 56. 1680 Beverly Hills DR, Euclid, OH 44117 57. 25570 Tungsten RD, Euclid, OH 44132 58. 3967 E 121 St, Cleveland, OH 44105 59. 12528 Forest AVE, Cleveland, OH 44120 60. 3920 E 99 St, Cleveland, OH 44105 61. 9601 Heath AVE, Cleveland, OH 44104 62. 7812 Force AVE, Cleveland, OH 44105 63. 3279 E 130 ST, Cleveland, OH 44120 64. 1237 E 114 ST, Cleveland, OH 44108 65. 1827 Haldane RD, Cleveland, OH 44112 66. 16910 Grovewood Ave, Cleveland, OH 44110 67. 13417 Rugby RD, Cleveland, OH 44110 68. 15720 Mandalay Ave, Cleveland, OH 44110 70. 1998 Torbenson DR, Cleveland, OH 44112 71. 763 E 152 ST, Cleveland, OH 44110 72. 794 E 154 St, Cleveland, OH 44110 73. 341 E 156 St, Cleveland, OH 44110 74. 807 E 131 St, Cleveland, OH 44108 75. 1373 EAST BLVD CLEVELAND, OH 44106 76. 2850 E 127 ST, Cleveland, OH 44120 77. 4001 E 151 ST, Cleveland, OH 44120 78. 16201 Myrtle AVE, Cleveland, OH 44128 79. 3546 Raymont BLVD, University Hts, OH 44118 80. 861 Quarry DR, Cleveland Hts, OH 44121 81. 22701 Shore Center AVE, Euclid, OH 44123 82. 3962 E 41 ST, Newburgh Hts, OH 44105 83. 1521 Clarence AVE, Lakewood, OH 44107 84. 4328 E 143 ST, Cleveland, OH 44128 85. 3769 E 140 ST, Cleveland, OH 44120 86. 3279 E 128 ST, Cleveland, OH 44120 87. 7915 Sowinski AVE, Cleveland, OH 44103 88. 1642 Lockwood CLEVELAND, OH 44112 89. 857 E 75 ST, Cleveland, OH 44103
( categories: )
Kill the LAND BANK
Submitted by lmcshane on Fri, 10/29/2010 - 10:36.
***stop unscrupulous abuse of government powers***and gross waste of taxpayers' dollars.
Kill the New Cleveland Plan
Submitted by Norm Roulet on Fri, 10/29/2010 - 11:06.
Kill the New Cleveland Plan - it is all their fault - they have a plan for the land bank but it is so evil they can't speak it in public. Disrupt IT
" you should take the buyout because you're an incompetent"
Submitted by Gone Fishin on Mon, 09/05/2011 - 21:37.
Cuyahoga County Treasurer Jim Rokakis attacks Budget Director Sandy Turk over cost analysis of land bankCuyahoga County Treasurer Jim Rokakis wants the county's budget director fired for producing an analysis that shows Rokakis' land bank initiative could cost county taxpayers millions of dollars. Rokakis, who has billed the land bank program as a money maker, said Tuesday that he considers the analysis by Budget Director Sandy Turk to be flawed and that he intends to ask county commissioners for her removal. "She deliberately misstated numbers to create the illusion that the land bank would cost the county money," he said. Turk, who has served as budget director for 19 years, said Tuesday that she stands by the analysis. "All I'm doing is my job," she said. The report warns that a loan to the land bank would earn a smaller return for the county than leaving the money in other investments. The report concludes that the county could lose $2 million a year. Rokakis denied making any reference to becoming a commissioner, but he acknowledged advising Turk to retire early: "I said, 'You know Sandy, you should take the buyout because you're an incompetent.' "
Private ownership of property is a right protected under the U.S
Submitted by Gone Fishin on Sat, 10/30/2010 - 06:39.
Private ownership of property is a right protected under the U.S. Constitution. Government control over private property further threatens an economic recovery when property remains in the hands of incompetent and corrupt government officials and out of reach to potential investors. Who is best able to make decisions regarding the use of property — individuals in a free market or government officials? The Genesee County Land Bank owns - and is responsible for- over 7,000 properties. SEVEN THOUSAND properties that taxpayers are responsible for maintaining - while the properties generate NO property taxes. Maintaining means the costs of boarding up and securing the property, grass cutting, demolition fees, etc. Also, the Cuyahoga County Land Bank puts the following sign on all of their properties:
Who do you think is responsible to pay Al for his home repair services? Who pays the cost when the property is vandalized? Who pays for the corrupt and connected demolition companies? TAXPAYERS The decision to determine the best use of land is in the hands of the same incompetent and corrupt officials that created this mess in the first place. How smart is this? The Land Bank was created to benefit a select few - with OUR tax dollars: Jim Rokakis wants workers at the new land bank to have access to the state's retirement plan Associated PressJames Rokakis, treasurer, Cuyahoga County, left, thinks workers at the new land bank should have access to the state's retirement plan.CLEVELAND — Cuyahoga County Treasurer Jim Rokakis wants taxpayers to contribute toward public pensions for employees of a new countywide land bank that other officials consider to be a private organization. So far, however, Rokakis' lobbying on behalf of the workers -- including a $142,000-a-year president -- has been rejected by county commissioners and the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System. Pension administrators advised in an opinion sent to Rokakis that the land bank workers do not qualify as public employees. And after a closed-door meeting with the treasurer, commissioners refused to support his contention that the workers are public employees. link here $142,000 salary a year for the 'president' alone. Rokakis was determined to get PERS - at the expense of taxpayers - for his buddy Gus Frangos and others. The Cuyahoga County Land Bank will not help to reverse the decline of the city but rather will serve as a barrier to the private investment necessary to revitalize the economy. Potential investors do not want uncertainty and government interference with their Constitutional Right to own property. The Land Bank creates uncertainty as the private sector is susceptible to the land use planning at the whims of corrupt and incompetent county officials. Disolve Cuyahoga County's Land Bank NOW before it further devastates our neighborhoods. We are allowing the exact same fools that are responsible for the largest federal public corruption probe in U.S. history, as well as being the creators of the foreclosure crisis itself, to make decisions on private property ownership.
Al's Home Repair
Submitted by lmcshane on Sun, 10/31/2010 - 09:56.
I wish a guy named Al was in charge.
Submitted by Norm Roulet on Sun, 10/31/2010 - 09:59.
It's actually a guy named Barack - and he's in town today. Let's see what he repairs. Disrupt IT
Cuyahoga County Corruption 2012 in Review
Submitted by lmcshane on Wed, 12/26/2012 - 08:54.
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echo-primaryColor">Baumann? Are you kidding me? The guy who is hoping to get his landfill permit renewed in Old Brooklyn--the Bradley Landfill? I give up. This town is sick, sick, sick. http://realneo.us/content/4430-bradley-road-clevel......
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action-stream action-stream-comment"> Maybe, just maybe, PD might investigate an outfit know as Aberdeen Investments? Taxpayers paid to have that "development" torn down after it sat rotting for years in Old Brooklyn. Funny thing, that property is not in the land bank despite the tax liens on the property and fact that the LLC doesn't even exist any more. County still lists properties in the possession of Aberdeen Investments. So many shell games. It is so easy to camouflage big tax debt and have it mysteriously disappear when the time is right, but for the little folks with small tax liens and no mortgage. Well, that's another story. Google Frank Giglio....
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action-stream action-stream-comment"> PD should look into CoreLogic. http://www.corelogic.com/ Yes, they are flipping properties and the CDCs -grossly over-paid, inexperienced young staffers who work at useless non-profits funded by council folk with HUD Community Development Block Grant funds--know all about it. Properties are underwater and folks can not sell their houses for anywhere close to what they paid for it. Investor heaven...but believe me, this parasitic model is still better than the land bank shell game for con artists....more
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action-stream action-stream-comment"> Land Bank is a massive fraud and swindle and former county official Sandy Turk called it right http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/06/cuyahoga_c...
I don't understand how this paper can ignore the biggest and most obvious story related to HUD dropping the land bank- fact that the land bank director is one of the county's biggest tax scofflaws. BTW, homes unloaded by HUD and revamped by the CDCs are NOT selling. See Old Brooklyn--Rokakis' old stomping ground as councilman, which he left in the hands of Merle Gordon, then Emily Lipovan, then Brian Cummins, now Anthony Bracatelli--where Bradley Landfill is still an issue, because afterall, it is costly to dump all that toxic demo debris. But, who knows?? Fifty years from now it could be a city park a la WC Reed field...reimagine!!!
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echo-primaryColor">Only folks making out in this town are demo contractors and PD doesn't even think to consider the ties between demo contracts at the city and the land bank...is this Lightning Demo, too? Who got the demo contract. This all stinks to high heaven and it continues to stink as long as we have the Frangos brothers calling the shots in this sad, sad town. And, of course, he who shall not be mentioned...because he has done so much for this county...and now is managing Thriving Communities....with this and demo of John Marshall...I just want to throw up....
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echo-primaryColor">Cleveland versus Pittsburgh--on saving our history and having a story to tell? Pittsburgh doesn't allow two-bit mobsters to destroy their history...
Entities tied to Frangos paid more than $9 million for the properties near the casino site. Yet his many companies are plagued with financial troubles, including more than $450,000 in overdue property taxes in Cuyahoga County and defaults on two county loans, totaling more than $1.5 million. ...more
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action-stream action-stream-comment"> FACT: Land Bank Director does not pay taxes on his own properties. FACT: http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/06/post_316.h...
See Lily's original post above. Kucinich can't do anything for his old buddy and Sherrod Brown should definitely distance himself from endorsing the land bank this time around. It's a huge sucking sound of federal monies spent and no results. Special reduced price will not sell these HUD homes given to Land Bank. See Old Brooklyn CDC- houses for sale......more
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action-stream action-stream-comment"> This is the second time HUD has pulled the plug on Land Bank (see 2010)- Obama and his admin don't need local dems any more and should expose the entire Land Bank outfit for the evil it is--a massive fraud and swindle. The only folks making out are demolition contractors. Communities have been destroyed by Rokakis and Frangos and it's high time some one put them out of business....
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action-stream action-stream-comment"> And I say all this as someone who similarly worked at a CDC at her age...though I am still here...didn't get that sinecure....
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action-stream action-stream-comment"> I agree-this is a really premature article that serves no purpose other than to illustrate that CDCs in CLE are revolving doors for young "talent", who eventually move out of the city as soon as they get some foundation job or other sinecure a la Walter Wright. I am tired of CDCs sucking the life blood out of neighborhoods. Ohio City is hot now...and I suppose that will suck the life out of Tremont. There is only one model for "urban" development. Restaurants and bars. It's tired and old. I want something for my neighborhood and I have two CDCs...what are they doing for me with all their young blood??...
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echo-primaryColor">China versus US? Even with environmental laws and supposed federal oversight, City of Cleveland continues to allow developers to poison residents. The NRP project is an example of criminal incompetence. City gave land and right to NRP to build housing that serves primarily African-American senior population. Should the residents at Foster Point be mad? Yes, of course. But, this is America. Make a buck and let someone else worry about the consequences. The new carpetbaggers....
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echo-primaryColor">Sandy Rozhon who compiles the Brooklyn Centre wiki and grew up in the area confirms that City routinely dumped florescent lights into the ravine, too--which means mercury leeching into the watershed. And, yes --this was a very deep ravine....more
echo-primaryColor">Please google Denison Senior Housing and REALNEO. Denison Ave. is a sandy ridge--one of the oldest thoroughfares in NEO, most likely an Indian Trail. North of Denison, unnamed tributary flowed from west to east terminating at Cuyahoga River. Enough water to at one time fill lakes that were features at adjacent Riverside Cemetery. By no means is this creek gone. Visit Riverside Cemetery where major culverts can be seen and heard--water rushes underneath at all times of year. South of Denison Ave is the Big Creek watershed. A major sewer line that is treated at Southwesterly NEORSD station runs under Denison Ave. Water is only partially treated most of the time as sanitary waste during storm events flows directly to Big Creek....more
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echo-primaryColor">City of Cleveland and CMSD administrators are destroying gym, track, and pool at John Marshall High School as this article was written. This is your tax dollar.
Satinder Puri tried to present this time and time again. It took international media attention to get the Plain Dealer to write an article covering his protest. Finally, Mark Naymik wrote about it, demeaning Mr. Puri for his efforts. ...more
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echo-primaryColor">Here is a photo of how city provides for residents:
http://realneo.us/system/files/Recreation.jpg Destroying this recreational opportunity ....
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echo-primaryColor">Here's an aerial from the time:
http://brooklyncentre.com/wiki/images/0/04/1949_Aerial_View_of_Barbarowa_neighborhood.jpg... echo-linkColor echo-clickable" style="display: none;">more beecher1 likes this.
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echo-primaryColor">The PD is downplaying the incompetence of City Officials here. In 2009, I protested the city's decision to plant a 61-unit, subsidized senior housing unit (granting part of the park to the developer NRP) on the fill of this nameless ravine that feeds directly to the Cuyahoga River. Not only did this construction take place--it did so despite the city-prepared FONSI (finding of no significant impact) that clearly identified the contamination present. The City of Cleveland also allowed this new construction to tie into an existing and antiquated sewer main that drains to a CSO (combined sewer outlet) along Big Creek. The NEORSD signed off on the deal, despite being in violation of a federal mandate to eliminate CSOs. Appalling and sick behavior. At the city meeting I attended (taking off work to do so)-Councilman Cummins presented the proposal and Councilman Cimperman recused himself from the vote. The ward is now in Cimperman's domain and Cummins has the other half of Brooklyn Centre. I should also point out that if WC Reed field is contaminated then so is Clark Field, Jefferson Park and a number of city-owned recreation facilities that also consist of fill dump and occur along water ways in this city....more
coachcliff likes this.
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echo-primaryColor">Will the PD write a story on the hydroponic operation that was supposed to happen in the old YMCA building on West 25th near the zoo?? What's up with that project--http://www.rezthreadscleveland.com/Rez_Threads_Cleveland/Welcome.html...
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echo-primaryColor">But thar's money to be made....right?...and cheap land in the inner city......
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echo-primaryColor">Old Brooklyn Greenhouse on West 11th is only family-run operation left in City of Cleveland and it has not been easy for them. City of Cleveland Summer Sprout contract used to help them out. I wish success for this enterprise, but as the original poster points out--back to the future. It would make more sense to rebuild a new local greenhouse operation where it made sense in the first place--Old Brooklyn and Brooklyn Heights. ...
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echo-primaryColor">Thank you Leatrice and Erin-truly a heroic effort on your part. And, congratulations on finding an attorney willing to take on the sad machine in this city, county and state. We allow ourselves to live under dictatorship. It's a sad, sad time for this country. Who else is willing to stand up and speak out for our civil rights?...more
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> cckkcc: I shouldn't have used word "coasting." Many CMSD teachers are shell-shocked. Can you get up every morning and hold the attention of 20-30 kids? How about being switched from teaching fifth grade to first grade three months into the school year? How about having unruly kids dumped in your class for you to babysit? How about being laid-off every year and waiting to find out if you will be assigned a school. Or, being transferred to a low-performing school after teaching in one neighborhood for years and building a rapport with families. It's all so easy to vilify teachers. What kind of country do we live in?...
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> PD should also follow up on the massive amount of public monies going to demolition contractors - who owns these outfits? ...
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> Yes-CMSD closed and slated for demo other beautiful school buildings:
http://www.clevelandareahistory.com/2010/05/clevel... I plan on taking pictures of South High when I can get out there, because the demographics especially did not warrant closing down a High School, with a new football field and track paid for by taxpayers. The scheme is all about ethnic cleansing the east side for future real estate investment. It's pretty sick all around.... echo-clickable" style="display: none;">more
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> For some reason, the PD deemed his posts as not complying with their on line standards. His account was disabled. ...
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> Please see post by architect Daniel DeAngelo. There is time to rectify this huge mistake:
http://thecivicartcleveland.blogspot.com/2012/11/a... More architects in this town need to speak out. ... echo-linkColor echo-clickable" style="display: none;">more throughthickandthin and herpaderp like this.
The "new" school as proposed is shoddy and inferior.
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> Plain Dealer should ask Bond Accountability Commission members for their opinion on the proposed new school. How about a follow-up ?
BAC MEMBERS Alfonso Sanchez, Chair Lillie Bell Diane Downing Robert Jackson Ralph Johnson Sandra Morgan Eric Paszt Nancy Schuster Peter van Dijk... echo-clickable" style="display: none;">more herpaderp likes this.
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> Here is the proposed "new" school-
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oIPEc-2sgIc/UKU8wCyhpyI/AAAAAAAAAQI/wSBPajgNuUQ/s1600/John+Marshall+render+crop+2halfw.jpg... echo-linkColor echo-clickable" style="display: none;">more
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> PD does not usually allow links so they will most likely delete this, but while you can see:
http://thecivicartcleveland.blogspot.com/2012/11/a...... echo-linkColor echo-clickable" style="display: none;">more
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> Local man starves to draw media attention to criminal mismanagement of CMSD facilities plan- worth noticing? your headline is condescending and marginalizes his efforts....more
herpaderp, throughthickandthin and Ilovewienerdogs like this.
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> Thank you for your memory-both schools by George Hopkinson--well-designed. Rhodes was renovated. The amazing Harrison Dillard recently rededicated the Jesse Owens tree there. We have so many local heroes and history worth saving. Unfortunately, Mayor Jackson, Martin Sweeney and administrators at CMSD don't get it. Sweeney was listed in the Cuyahoga County corruption probe for his ties with recently indicted Michael Forlani. Why the PD can't seem to connect the dots is beyond me....
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herpaderp, throughthickandthin and Ilovewienerdogs like this.
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> CMSD is now employing the same lack of maintenance strategy at Benjamin Franklin-another landmarked school also slated for eventual destruction. It is an intentional strategy meant to disinvest the community. It's sick. Google Benjamin Franklin School Cleveland. The only folks making out in any of this are demo contractors and architectural outfits. See Bond Accountability page that only recently was updated:
http://www.cmsdnet.net/Resources/Community/BAC.aspx... echo-linkColor echo-clickable" style="display: none;">more throughthickandthin, jaymeng, Ilovewienerdogs and herpaderp like this.
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> Thank you for the highlighted link that directs to Plain Press article in December issue on Mr. Puri-Plain Press is also struggling like any print media. There is not a timely on line version of the Plain Press, but it is archived for posterity on microfilm at your local library. So, history will reveal the crime here. And, regarding PILOTS. That ship is not going anywhere, though it was tossed out as a solution to helping fund our schools by a former Cuyahoga County administrator. Sadly, a smoke-screen for all the folks who get away with not paying taxes in Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. Like the head of the Cuyahoga County Land Bank....
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throughthickandthin, Ilovewienerdogs and Lily_Miller_520 like this.
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> 1.) Ask teachers at Denison and Benjamin Franklin (CMSD) schools about the dumping of kids into their school when they fail out of nearby charter schools. Constant disruption is the rule at CMSD " which allows kids to be withdrawn and re-enrolled somewhere else in the system almost at will. Some schools don't have to play the "accept" any kid roulette. For fun, ask CMSD administrators to explain...
2.) Parental involvement...all for it...not entirely against charters...but the way the system is set up ...they can cherry pick. They do have more committed teachers than CMSD, but if those same teachers could get a position with CMSD..most would take it for the pay increase and better benefits. And--btw, not ALL CMSD teachers are just coasting on their union benefits (some are)--award-winning, tenured, senior staff continue to win awards (Olga Gueits at Lincoln West stands out) 3.) Horizon Denison is one of the charters mentioned in the above article...less than a mile down the street from CMSD Denison School. Why can't CMSD get on truancy?? You tell me  ...more
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> It has been long standing practice of charters to be able to unload their low performing, disruptive students on CMSD right before test time. Charters can hold parents and students to a standard that CMSD has apparently decided is not worth their effort. Truancy is especially bad at CMSD schools. Horizon Denison doesn't put up with that....
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> Once again, the PD shows just how out of touch they are with the reality of life in CLE. Still pushing this "Opportunity Corridor" agenda so the folks behind the "land bank" can make a buck off the families they've displaced through the social engineering and re-imagining the east side and East Cleveland. ...more
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> But this is okay...
http://www.cleveland.com/cuyahoga-county/index.ssf...... echo-linkColor echo-clickable" style="display: none;">more
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> Does the Plain Dealer have no shame? Is it so important to put a puppet in the governor's office so that local interests can make out on the "Opportunity Corridor"? See comments to this PD post:
http://www.cleveland.com/cuyahoga-county/index.ssf... Does any one care?? Does any one care that this CE and his inner circle continue to allow overcrowding at the County Jail and under staffing that is dangerous and unethical? http://connect.cleveland.com/staff/hspector/posts....... echo-linkColor echo-clickable" style="display: none;">more
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echo-primaryColor">Grateful for this article and appreciation for Art Deco architecture. Unfortunately, we are destroying the Art Deco design of George Hopkinson as Cleveland Metropolitan School District demolishes John Marshall High School. It truly makes me sick. The construction standards today are deplorable. We are lucky that the Bolton family saved this treasure. ...
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> Jake22: thanks for the info on the donor. I suspected as much and the Plain Dealer should put this information in their story. Again, this donor was savvy enough to know that WRLC is bogus. Getting Metroparks to accept the donation was key. There is a taxpayer component to maintaining and conservation management. Parma is an example of partnership with Metroparks on West Creek Reservation. Overall, most Cuyahoga County taxpayers are satisfied with how Metroparks stewards the public trust. But, we're all strapped. Now, more than ever, municipalities and public agencies like the Metroparks have to work together to protect our watersheds and prove their value to taxpayers. South Euclid and Cleveland Heights failed with the opportunity to protect water quality and manage storm water within their community. It's bad for all of us....more
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> Garry: It is unsettling, but not surprising. Don't fall for the bogus land bank and "thriving communities" green plan for NEO. Re-imaging the east side's forgotten "triangle" and Greater University "circle"-it is indeed disheartening....more
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> Seems to me that someone on Acacia board was more knowledgeable on transferring properties to a REAL land conservancy. Unfortunately, in NEO it's about the flipping of property for a buck and not long term legacy and protection of critical wetlands and headwaters to our local watershed (Euclid Creek), which supply our drinking water and will drive NEO's economy as other parts of the country suffer depletion of their aquifers. I am concerned, too for Hawthorne Golf Course (Tinkers Creek), like Oakwood -likely to be subdivided at some point for a buck. I am aware that former Metropark Board President Fred Rzepka has tried unsuccessfully for years to submit a development plan. Evidently, he doesn't care so much for the legacy of protecting green space.
http://www.cleveland.com/chagrinsolonsun/index.ssf...... echo-linkColor echo-clickable" style="display: none;">more
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> It is telling here that residents brought in Conservation Fund from Virginia and not much touted, local "conservancy", fake "thriving communities" Western Reserve to broker this land deal. Grateful that the Metroparks will manage this new park holding. ...
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> We are all called to action to improve the lives of children in NEO. Olivet Institutional Baptist Church has taken the first step to expose the injustice of mass incarceration. As The New Jim Crow Author Michelle Alexander noted: We are funneling children from school to prison in this country. There is a disturbing disconnect between urban, suburban and exurban America. I know that you are working to wake up our populace. Pray for this President. He needs the courage to throw the moneychangers out of the temple....more
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> See Cleveland Neighborhood Development Corporation for the full extent of this "slush" fund for developers (PD's censor will not allow links):
* Bellaire Puritas Development Corp. * Buckeye Area Development Corporation * Burten, Bell, Carr Development Corporation * Cleveland Action/Support Housing (CASH) * Cleveland Habitat for Humanity * Cleveland Housing Network * Collinwood & Nottingham Villages * Community Housing Solutions * Cudell Improvement, Inc. * Detroit Shoreway Community Dev. Corp. * Downtown Cleveland Alliance * Fairfax Renaissance Dev. Corp. * Famicos Foundation * Glenville Dev. Corp. * Harvard Community Services Center * Historic Gateway Neighborhood Corp. * Historic Warehouse District Dev. * Kamm's Corners Dev. Corp. * Little Italy Redevelopment Corp. * LiveCleveland! * Maingate Business Development * Maximum Accessible Housing of Ohio * Midtown Cleveland, Incorporated * Mt. Pleasant NOW Development Corp. * Neighborhood Housing Services * Northeast Shores Development Corp. * Ohio City, Incorporated * Old Brooklyn Comm. Dev. Corp. * The Campus District * Shaker Square Area Dev. Corp. * Slavic Village Development * St. Clair Superior Neighborhood Dev. Assn. * Tremont West Dev. Corp. * Union-Miles Dev. Organization * University Circle, Incorporated * Westown Comm. Dev. Corp. * WIRE-Net Corporate Sponsors * Chase Bank * Dollar Bank * Dominion East Ohio * Fifth Third Ohio * FirstMerit Bank, NA * Huntington Bank * KeyBank * PNC Bank * Third Federal Savings Supporting Members * Broadway School of Music & the Arts * Cleveland Restoration Society * The Community Partnership for Arts & Culture * Council for Economic Opportunities * Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corp * Eden, Inc. * Enterprise Community Partners * Greater Cleveland Partnership * HZW Environmental Consultants,Inc. * KPFF LLC * Mount Pleasant Community Zone * Neighborhood Progress, Inc. * NRP Group, LLC * Ohio Canal Corridor * Ohio CDC Association * Partners Environmental Consulting * Playhouse Square District Development Corporation * Safeguard Properties * Work in Northeast Ohio Council ... echo-linkColor echo-clickable" style="display: none;">more
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> CDCs are part of the great real estate racket in NEO. The Plain Dealer needs to start asking questions and stop covering up for years and years of special deals that only applied to some folks, while homes w/no mortagage liens, but small tax liens primarily owned by African American familes were cashed in. Here is the amount of tax lien on Tom Newman's Flats property:
The Newman property located at 1250 Riverbed is tax delinquent $13,600.63. This property has been tax delinquent for years. How about an investigation PD?? The Newmans owned several rental properties, too. Do I have to do the research?... echo-linkColor echo-clickable" style="display: none;">more
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> The PD will almost certainly NOT investigate the rental properties owned by the Newmans. Chances are that these folks did not pay taxes on their rental income properties. This has been the signature game in effect for years under our previous county treasurer who selectively cashed in tax liens usually on families in areas slated for federal dollars,knowing all the while that the current land bank director and his brother Lou Frangos got away for years without paying taxes. It's also been well known that flipping has benefited a lot of safety force personnel especially as they acquired properties, and collected Section 8, CMHA monies on properties, while not paying taxes on these properties. I would not be surprised at all to learn that the Newmans' were IN on to the way the game was played all along....
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> The burden on accountability for this levy passage falls on the Plain Dealer. Put your reporters on every administrator and account for every penny spent. Your paper has contributed to the culture of corruption in this town. Why don't you justify your campaign to save the daily publication by calling out the corruption and kickbacks involved with the slated demo of John Marshall High School. Make yourselves relevant to the taxpayers and readers in NEO. For REAL....more
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> I have a great respect for your ministry and your ability to move the masses, but with an ethic of giving, we need also need an ethic of responsibility. For too long we have allowed the strong to destroy the weak in NEO. Our school system is an example of how business interests use the camouflage of "helping kids" to serve their own interests. I hope that Mayor Jackson really does experience a soul-saving transformation. He has allowed so many carpetbaggers to destroy community in NEO. You represent the conscience he needs to wake up and change from Saul to Paul....more
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echo-primaryColor">CDCs should be disbanded. Council folks ARE directly responsible for the monies they approve to the CDCs. The funds are Neighborhood Development Allocations. Community Development Dept at City of Cleveland is ultimately responsible for the outcome and performance of these CDCs--and they have been criticized for their incompetence=criminal sloppiness (Google Westtown, Afford-A-Home). There is no accountability. Google Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluative Review Cleveland. Federal monies are squandered and no one pays any attention. The reality: CDCs work for developers, not residents. Most CDC directors make upwards $60-80,000 dollars and most of these CDC employees don't even live in CLE. They don't care. The big push now is demos for developers and serving the "land bank". Google it. Check out how taxpayers end up clearing and priming land in commercial corridors like West 25th Corridor where Paris Theatre was demolished at taxpayer expense. From Councilman Cummins:
The Paris Art Theater is being demolished today. There were attempts to save the building leading up to 2007 but it fell into very bad disrepair. It was finally condemned in 2010 and the arduous process of getting it through legal and compliance finally completed in October. The property is delinquent in taxes worth more than $14k and the demo cost is $26k. We'll ultimately seek a tax foreclosure on the property and bring it into the City's landbank for future potential development opportunities that we're working on for the W. 25th Street corridor. The building had become a serious nuisance with break-ins, graffiti and vandalism. Last owner on the building ? Clark Metro Development Corporation...the real estate manager at the time...??? Later at Ohio City Development Corp...who flipped his house to CMHA?? ...more Site4SinkingCivility and angelnward14 like this.
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> The Plain Dealer needs to seriously start investigating Community Development Corporations and determine how Neighborhood Development Allocations are spent. There is so little accountability with these outfits, by design. Housing Court also figures into this story because of Delores Newman's position there as a chief housing specialist. There is much more to investigate. ...more
wildcuyahoga, weezel, Bandit1, Site4SinkingCivility, honeymountain and 2 more like this.
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> agneau: I too hope the levy fails, and I agree that lack of parenting and values and standards are part of the problem, but please don't paint this as a "race" issue, because that is exactly how the GCP folks think they can "win" votes. The subtext behind all of the CMSD machinations is real estate and shifting population. No one wins in their sick plan--regardless of ethnicity. ...more
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> Thank you Mr. Filipelli--can you also vote against this levy? I hope so--because Mayor Jackson's brother Nick is an overpaid CMSD administrator, who will most likely make sure that you get assigned the worst students possible. I know that is what CMSD has done to tenured teachers they want to unload. Thank you for speaking out. I suspect you have some seniority and can hopefully retire soon. ...
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MrGrinchy and ThePhoenician like this.
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> Greater Cleveland Partnership folks and their sick "Transformation Plan" now "Cleveland Plan" intentionally shuts out parental involvement in the schools so they can profit with outfits like Knowledge College...surrogate parenting for students and $$$ for unproven tutors. It's a great masterplan...with racist underlying motivations...based on some perverted noblesse oblige mentality. ...
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MrGrinchy likes this.
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> Thank you Jim--You sacrifice a lot of your personal time to attend CMSD meetings and to protect the community from abuse and fraud. I am grateful that the compromised Plain Dealer actually published your editorial. ...more
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> See the editorial by Senator Shirley Smith:
http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2012/10... Attorney Michelle Alexander spoke tonight at John Hay High School. It would behove folks to understand how legislation like the "land bank" legislation is similar to the legislation that has allowed the mass incarceration described by Michelle Alexander. Read her book The New Jim Crow. Realize that laws were also changed to allow some folks to NOT pay their taxes while others had their liens "cashed in." I recommend that Ms. Alexander follow up her first book with a second book--The New Carpetbaggers. Mr. Rokakis definitely knows the carpetbagger playbook and he gets a lot of help from the media to "play" folks with his con.... echo-linkColor echo-clickable" style="display: none;">more
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> RTA train rider today gave a light homily today -asking riders to me mindful and courteous, to enjoy a beautiful day and above all--to do unto others......more
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> I commend the Plain Dealer for finally publishing opposition to this levy:
http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2012/10... Senator Shirley Smith is to be applauded for her courage. It's not easy to stand up and expose the corruption behind the machine in this town. ... echo-linkColor echo-clickable" style="display: none;">more
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echo-primaryColor">dougal: I do live in Cleveland and I second your comment. I am a regular RTA rider at all times of the day. RTA administrators only really care about the rush hour commuters. The netherworld of the mid-day and after hour shifts are when drivers are put at their greatest risk and they have very little support to deal with unruly passengers. I know many riders feel held hostage especially when the schools let out and our teenagers terrorize the bus. It's a breakdown in civility that is not exclusive to any one culture--though Mr. Morris' editors at the PD seem to think that he is the only person on their staff who can address this story. Sad....
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Euphemia Taylor and Boerboels like this.
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echo-primaryColor">Thank you Senator Shirley Smith!...more
fightin4life likes this.
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> See the PD spin on this article-Taxpayers voted for Warm, Dry, Safe schools --not some lottery to cash in on state funds so that carpetbagger contractors could make out at the expense of Cleveland school children. CMSD's facilities plan is a despicable mess. "New" schools have not improved academic standings. In fact, "old" schools originally threatened with demo like William Cullen Bryant have best performance. ...
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> brrgfan: only a sampling of folks who actually read the Plain Dealer......
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> Also there seems to be strong arming of folks living in the scattered Section 8 CMHA housing. You will find signs planted in their yards, too....
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goodnightgracie and Tom Diamond like this.
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> Mr. Larkin does not live in Cleveland. Plain Dealer has been complicit in the corporate school model for Cleveland since they actively recruited Sanders and Burns from Toledo. Bill Moyer's show yesterday explains the "greater good" mentality behind the elite folks who want to shove this levy down the throats of Clevelanders. It's all about the money and not about the kids and a lot of folks have made out on the money made by closing schools and shifting population around CLE. Look closer at how many folks got away and still get away with not paying taxes. Vote NO on Issue 107 and Issue 108! See the FB page of the opposition lead by Kimberly Brown and Save John Marshall High School. See Plain Dealer's own report on how more "affluent" sections of CLE will bear burden of this tax levy. West siders should be especially galled with tear down planned of John Marshall High School, so carpetbagger construction companies can put up a crap facsimile that will NOT have a pool and track and auditorium as the existing campus does....
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Dove2013, goodnightgracie and FiftyDollarHard6 like this.
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echo-primaryColor">Thank you Mr. Morley for framing the magnitude of this crime in progress. Retired Structural Engineer Satinder Puri has selflessly dedicated his time, money and energy to save John Marshall High School. If there is an attorney willing to help us frame the legal documentation for an injunction, please join Save John Marshall group on FB....
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> This probably opens the door for an appointment to reward a good soldier from the mess of Cleveland City Council fiefdoms and the world of Land Bank real estate schemes via the also quasi-governmental entities known as CDCs. Hmmm..."bilingual" councilman, Peace Corp experience, check, check...and then further down the line...a last sinecure with the Gund or Cleveland foundation. Spinning wheels......
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> PD and GCP brought Eugene Saunders and the Toledo crew that included Daniel Burns to CLE to destroy public school system in CLE. Corporate schools. This is what PD wants in NEO. Their greed knows no bounds. Folks don't realize that failing students in the boutique charters are dumped on the CMSD schools. PD is behind supporting the grossly mismanaged CMSD because without public schools the corporate "master plan" doesn't work. Former PD reporter Becky Gaylord (who makes up her own data as a consultant and gets away with it) sends her son to one of the boutique charter schools - she lives in University Heights--and her son attends the International School at CSU. This is the elitist, sick agenda at work. Any one in charter schools who does not make the cut before test time...gets dumped on the CMSD schools, so the vicious cycle continues until only the creme de la creme students are left in the boutique charters paid for by CLE taxpayers...it's a formula that benefits no one--except for folks like Gaylord who wants to put the cost of educating her son on someone else....
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action-stream action-stream-comment" style="padding-top: 0pt; width: 600px;"> Thank you rovingbroker for stating the obvious and getting the PD to essentially print a retraction to their original article. The Land Bank is the entity that warrants a full investigation. Brancatelli and the paid consultant-a former PD writer--are part of the overall Land Bank investment scheme we live with in this town. Federal dollars used to demo for developers. The Land Bank legislation crafted by ALEC Senator Bill Seitz(see the Bill Moyers special) sets up an agency that by design has no oversight....more
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echo-primaryColor">Norm Roulet called this years ago:
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echo-primaryColor">Taxpayers can save John Marshall--and save the millions going to unsavory contractors who handle demolition in NEO. Marshall will not been torn down until the end of the football season...Make NOISE. Make this stop....
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echo-primaryColor">I hope that Martin Sweeney is named in this federal indictment, sooner than later-as he rigged the vote that allowed demo and new construction of CMSD John Marshall High School. Ties to Forlani are obvious as sitting council president who steers the monies that make up campaign kitty for every council person who had and has to seek reelection. Focus is always on the east side, but the same play happens on the west side, too--especially with regard to schools and construction contracts there.
Ralph-Demo of John Marshall is part of overall mismanagement of CMSD and corrupt facilities plan. Half empty new schools on east side should be examined by PD. Leaking "new" Riverside torn down on west side that replaced beautiful original Riverside with a sad facsimile. Demo of School of the Arts and overall lack of accountability deserves media scrutiny, too. John Marshall facility as it stands NOW-offers more amenities to students than the pathetic, shoddy construction proposed. As a teacher--you know that I have been in these schools. Charter schools would love the building as is...and would make more of the opportunities and would maintain the school better than CMSD any day. Look to Horizon Denison Science Academy in former CMSD East Denison School--better technology and conditions for students than you will find at (West) Denison CMSD slated (at some point) to all be demo'd and rebuilt though constructed in the seventies.
secret meetings ...without the public...with taxpayers dollars!?
Submitted by mytown55 on Fri, 10/29/2010 - 12:22.
MMM...sounds like it has been going on for a long time....MASTER PLAN 2020? Which "back room" are "THEY" in today?
It has been going on for over a decade
Submitted by Norm Roulet on Fri, 10/29/2010 - 13:14.
It has been going on for over a decade and is all based on some shitty old that has fucked up lots of communites. Clusters, centers of excellence, running communities like company towns, diverting all public resources to the rich and their industry, giving industry control of government, social services, public education.... control the media. THEY HATE REALNEO and ME. This county executive transition is designed to firm their grip - I think it will turn out to be a disaster, but there ain't no turning back so enjoy the ride... and watch your back yard every second. Disrupt IT
Land Banking
Submitted by Gone Fishin on Sat, 09/24/2011 - 05:48.
Land Banking4411522 July 28, 2011 at 7:25PM
In 2007, South Euclid city officials, led by Mayor Welo, bought a commercial section of South Euclid called Cedar Center; they threatened to use eminent domain to put the deal through. South Euclid has had financial problems with it ever since. They have not paid down the bonds; they just keep rolling them over and now owe about $19 million. In 2009, the Cedar Center was put in the Land Bank, meaning that the Cleveland Heights-University Heights School District lost $330,000 that year in revenue.
This seems pretty unusual to me. Is it possible that the land banking of this large commercial site could have been the result of Mayor Welo getting preferential treatment from the Land Bank, as a member of its board? The circumstances with landbanking this commercial property (that was thriving before purchased by South Euclid and torn down) are sufficient for Mayor Welo to step down from the Land Bank Board. I certainly hope she recused herself when that decision was made, and that the other board members made sure she did so. The time of making up your own rules is over. We're sick of this disrespect for the rule of law. I say to Ed--keep up the good work. by 4411522 : hope Georgine Welo recused herself when the decision was made to land bank Cedar Center. Cedar Center is her administration's boondoogle. For only $19 million they forced owners to sell their land and businesses, and ripped down one of South Euclid's economic engines, transforming it into a pile of dirt. Then to avoid having South Euclid pay their taxes on the property, they put it into a land bank. Conflict of interest? Abuse of power? Absolutely, until we are shown otherwise. Please show the records where she recused herself from this decision. Posted on Cuyahoga County executive to appoint new land bank board members on July 30, 2011, 11:09PM
Norm
Submitted by mytown55 on Fri, 10/29/2010 - 12:25.
Why do you write ...DISRUPT IT? Is that for some legal protection? I want to say a lot...but, I am afraid of this POLITICAL MACHINES....and the CDC"s.
Disruptive Information Technology
Submitted by Norm Roulet on Fri, 10/29/2010 - 12:57.
I'm an IT consultant. Disruptive Information Technology (IT) is my specialty:
realNEO is disruptive IT. Disrupt IT
Disrupt the Land Bank
Submitted by Gone Fishin on Fri, 10/29/2010 - 18:30.
We are not a Communist Country and can not continue to allow the government to Disrupt our Country. Too much government control is never a good thing. Government control over automakers, student loans, houses, banks, medical insurance, etc., Put the real estate back on the market and cut the government out . The landbank was created by the same fools that greatly contributed to the foreclosure crisis and caused this mess in the first place. Now we are supposed to sit back and allow the same fools to 'correct' the mess that they caused. The landbank will only benefit select contractors, friends, family, campaign contributors, etc. Disrupt all of this shit. Wake up people. Excellent find, Laura........ : )
Disrupted Private Enterprise
Submitted by Gone Fishin on Fri, 10/29/2010 - 19:34.
The following comment was made to an earlier blog that I posted about the Land Bank: The Cuyahoga LandBank and other Public Entities Buying Property Submitted by Cleveland Brothers on September 25, 2010 - 4:19pm.
I am an investor and landlord in Collinwood are of Cleveland now for over 5 years, I have rehabbed and rented well over 50 doubles in the area. Until recently, I have never had to worry about a city or county stealing property from me, but that is the absolute case now. I usually buy most of my deals from the banks(foreclosures) but lately they have been going the public entities such as the cuyahoga land bank and some other agencies I am not even quite aware of. I am running a small business and I depend on getting these properties, but what is going on now is that the cities and County have been given money to "stabalize" neighborhoods, but if you ask me this is backwards, because, I know my business very well, I understand how to refurbish and rent apartments and houses, I really have a hard time believing that a public entity can do a better job than the private business/entrepreneurial operation. They are buying up a lot of properties, I am seeing pool sales to the Landbank in my area (Collinwood) SO my issue is that it isnt fair that the goverment should be handed these properties cutting out the private investor. Everything in this economy today seems to be against the small business operator/owner. Now I understand there are vacant run down garbage houses out there that need to be demolished, but, they are also taking over quality houses that have a lot of good equity and potential. I also understand ther are 2 sides to this issue as there are a lot of out of state investors and slumlords that purchased rentals and then walked away and local investors as well, but there ARE a lot of good responsible investors and landlords in Cleveland that do thigs right and maintain their properties... and they are getting screwed over. ________________________________________________________________ How do we expect the market to ever recover if the government has control over everything? United States of America = Communist Country
The following is what happens when crooked incompetent fools are in charge:
Cleveland's Foreclosure Mess: PD Reporter finds the Enemy, and learns that it's their Government The city of Cleveland has aggravated its vexing foreclosure problems and has lost millions in tax dollars by helping people buy homes they could not afford, a Plain Dealer investigation has found. The city provided mostly low-income buyers with down payment loans of up to $20,000 through the federally funded Afford-A-Home program, but did little to determine whether the people could actually afford to keep their homes. That lack of oversight persisted for years, even as hundreds of loan recipients defaulted on mortgages, many within two years, the newspaper found by analyzing property and loan records covering the period between 2000 and 2007. For example, nearly half of 584 homes sold by the top three for-profit companies that tapped into the program over the eight years have gone into foreclosure. More than one-third of those homes have sold at sheriff's sale or sit abandoned because banks did not take them back. The loss in Afford-A-Home dollars from failed purchases from Cresthaven Development Corp., Rysar Properties Inc. and Pebblebrook Properties Inc. thus far totals more than $2.3 million. Presented with the newspaper's findings, city officials acknowledged problems with the Afford-A-Home program and ordered tighter eligibility standards for buyers and sellers. full story here And this is another brilliant idea that further contributed to the foreclosure crisis -created by the same government fools: Rokakis' practice of selling delinquent property tax liens to this irresponsible out of state company has greatly contributed to the foreclosure crisis in Cuyahoga County. Cuyahoga County property owners have been sold out to this company and thousands of homeowners are in danger of losing their family homes. And in return, the same company that is foreclosing on homes when owners are unable to pay their property taxes fails to pay their own property taxes. See more on the government's brilliant idea here It makes no financial sense -whatsoever- for the government to take control of the real estate market. The banks -and other corrupt companies- are generous enough to 'donate' homes to the county so that taxpayers can foot the bill for the demolition companies, and forgive the delinquent taxes. The demolition companies are making a ton of tax payer dollars while their practices are quite questionable. see here The government created this mess and now they want to 'fix it". The numbers do not add up. Read more on the number game here.
Cuyahoga County Land Bank - deep tax dollar pockets
Submitted by Gone Fishin on Mon, 11/01/2010 - 05:24.
Add up the numbers like Sandy Turk (former Cuyahoga County Budget Director) did prior to her forced retirement over the number game. In part, Cuyahoga County Treasurer Jim Rokakis wants the county's budget director fired for producing an analysis that shows Rokakis' land bank initiative could cost county taxpayers millions of dollars. Rokakis, who has billed the land bank program as a money maker, said Tuesday that he considers the analysis by Budget Director Sandy Turk to be flawed and that he intends to ask county commissioners for her removal. "She deliberately misstated numbers to create the illusion that the land bank would cost the county money," he said. Turk, who has served as budget director for 19 years, said Tuesday that she stands by the analysis. "All I'm doing is my job," she said. According to Turk, Rokakis asked if she was going to take a buyout being offered to county employees. Then, Turk said, the treasurer added: "Maybe you will when I become the next commissioner next year." Rokakis denied making any reference to becoming a commissioner, but he acknowledged advising Turk to retire early: "I said, 'You know Sandy, you should take the buyout because you're an incompetent.' " Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones, who also serves on the land bank's governing board, said Tuesday that he knows of Rokakis' displeasure with Turk's assessment of the land bank and is willing to hear the treasurer's complaints. But Jones said Turk has a reputation for making conservative budget decisions. "I'm certainly not considering firing Sandy Turk right now," he said. link to story I wonder who is the 'incompetent'?
Cuyahoga County Land Bank transforming neighborhoods hit by foreclosureIn part,,,,, It's a renovation that didn't net the land bank any money. They bought the Old Brooklyn home for $1 and the rehab work cost a few thousand dollars more than the final sale price.
“I think the land bank is going to get itself into trouble"
Submitted by Gone Fishin on Mon, 11/01/2010 - 06:04.
Washtenaw County commissioners reconsider land bankIn part,,,,,, Commissioners also raised concerns about the cost of running a land bank. Among those costs are acquiring a property, its maintenance, rehabilitation and demolishment. McClary estimated demolishing a home at $10,000 and said the price of acquiring a home could range anywhere from $1 to tens of thousands of dollars for bigger properties. Gunn said those figures could be much higher. “I think the land bank is in going to get itself into a whole lot of trouble,” she said, pointing to problems the Genesee County Land Bank is having with owning thousands of foreclosed properties in Flint. McClary said the land bank could pick and choose which properties it acquires, and the bulk of those would likely be tax foreclosures, not mortgage foreclosures. “I’m having trouble voting for a shell,” Bergman said. “To put an organization out there with no funds is creating a shell, and that sounds quite political to me. I can’t vote for an organization that is a shell.”
"I am not feeling well...."
Submitted by lmcshane on Wed, 01/05/2011 - 05:52.
See full text of Buffalo, Erie County comptroller and XSpand/Plymouth Park Tax Servcie testimony--thanks to Dianna Hill for her relentless research :) Erie County Comptroller Mark Poloncarnz says..."I am not feeling well..." Hmmm...collusion? That's bad thing, isn't it? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ repalltheway November 06, 2010 at 12:17PM
Mr. Gomez, THANK YOU for taking the time to reply to this article. It shows you care and are interested. I said the treasurer's land bank was set up for selfish reasons. Citizen X and countyinsider and many others are pointing out some disturbing things that I always believed but never could prove or really had time to prove. I am sad about Dolan loosing. I wish Fitzgerald the best. Countyinsider highlights several things that need to be commented on by you or others. Here they are. (I hope others use this list and add to it). Mr. Gomez will you look into these things. 1. How did his wife get her job? HE IS LEAVING. DO NOT LET HIM LEAVE WITHOUT EXPOSING HIM! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Landbank BSSubmitted by Lily Miller on July 5, 2010 - 8:14pm.
The land bank will only benefit a select few. Check out land bank and HUD give-a-ways to friends, family and CDCs. Add up the numbers. According to the Cuyahoga County Auditor's website: 600 Jefferson Avenue, permanent parcel # 004-19-180. Gift from the land bank: July 20, 2006, Cleveland City of LB91 to Thomas P. Leneghan $0 September 27, 2006, Thomas P. Leneghan transferred to Lori Properties (Sam Catania from Tremont West), transferred for $0 December 15, 2006, Lori Properties sold to private owner for $270,000. New house built and sold in less than three months. This is what happens when homes are built in less than three months. Little wonder that the Tree House (Leneghans) have sought assistance from Sam Catania regarding Tremontsoul's property. (see letter from Leneghan to Catania here) Sam Catania, aka Lori Properties, is a for profit developer in the Tremont area and also a paid employee of Tremont West Development Corporation. Catania has bought numerous parcels of land in the Tremont area for pennies on the dollar (while employed by TWDC) and has sold his developed land for big bucks. I wonder why he has so many pending county lawsuits and foreclosures filed against him and his company? I wonder why Sam Catania, an employee of Tremont West Development Corporation, offered to buy Frank Giglio's land prior to the demolition? It is a major conflict of interest for a member of Tremont West to attempt to privately purchase Frank Giglio's home when Tremont West was a major party that targeted Frank's home and insisted on demolition. It is a conflict of interest for a for profit developer to work for a CDC, expecially in the same ward in which the employee is developing land. _______________________________________________________________________________________
Also named in a lawsuit filed 08/06/09 by National City Bank. Many Connections. Sammy Catania SII Development Director/Project Manager - developer/owner of Lori Properties, Inc., built by Sutton Builders, sells $395,000 condo to Tom Cook, President of TWDC Board, Tom Cook former employee of National City Bank. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Subtext-of underlying interest to me personally--how the country is figuring out how to run local government and protect tax support of public services like education, libraries, safety services etc. Why do we have to make everything so miserable? Is accountability so hard? Erie County has a County Executive form of government--and their consolidated library system kind of scares me...
On Collusion--from Erie County Minutes 2007
Submitted by lmcshane on Wed, 01/05/2011 - 05:59.
Director Keysa: “Do you think that that was the appropriate thing to do? and I commend your office for doing that, but are you comfortable with the fact that there were only two bids received? That they were solicited bids, that there are other companies out there that were not solicited and that the bids that were solicited were not required to sign a non-collusive certificate?”
Comptroller Poloncarz: “On the collusion item, I am not the County Attorney.”
Director Keysa: “No, you’re the fiscal watchdog.”
Comptroller Poloncarz: “If there are issues with collusion I have problems with collusion and I think in the final closing, I may not be the County Attorney, but I think that we can obtain statements from Xspand as to whether there were issues of collusion.” Later revealed--
Imcshane - Goldman Sachs' Eau de Collusion - a new Fragrance
Submitted by Jeff Buster on Wed, 01/05/2011 - 18:53.
Thanks for posting the link to The Businessweek article which describes that Goldman Sachs owns Plymouth / xpand. I was unaware of the fact that buying up real tax liens was a Goldman Sachs angle. This, and Lily Miller's research, puts the industry in an entire new light for me. However.... I have every confidence that Goldman Sachs rigorously trained its real estate tax lien purchasing staff to not just avoid collusion in this non-publicly bid business in Cuyahoga County, but to also smell collusion. This Smell the Collusion training wasn't done around the water cooler, but at Goldman's in-house formal seminars. Records were kept of the seminar attendance and there were exams - every attendee had to know the smell of Eau de Collusion - or they were OFF the Bond Selling Team. I also believe/know/first hand knowledge from living in Lower Manhattan - that 99.94% of Goldman Sachs employees came up through the Boy Scouts and one or more religous Ministry, as well as belonging to the Golden Rule Society. And we know for a fact that every business school across America requires at least 4 credits of Ethics classes every semester. Also, intense concentrations of MONEY make jobs, the good jobs. Don't lose perspective on that... best, Jeffb
high ethics at Goldman Sachs
Submitted by westward on Wed, 01/05/2011 - 20:03.
Satire-most convincing when it is close to the bone - and sharp
Submitted by Jeff Buster on Wed, 01/05/2011 - 21:52.
After I posted re Goldman, I had a telephone call from a Realneo'r who knows me pretty well, asking if I was kidding...So I need to confirm that my support of Goldman's ethics is satire. Way satirical...
over the top
Submitted by westward on Wed, 01/05/2011 - 22:18.
yes, Jbuster, I got that you were tongue in cheek but also felt the need to direct readers who did not know to a wee bit of da truth. and it is just a wee bit.
Paid Collusion: GLS Capital Cuyahoga Inc was paid $50K...
Submitted by ANGELnWard14 on Thu, 01/06/2011 - 00:29.
To lobby the legislators and structure the Tax Certificate Laws to benefit them personally while deliberately not putting any clauses in the Ohio Revised Code that would protect the interests of the property owners once those tax certificates were sold in BULK sales. There was no protection to the public at large outining bulk purchases of tax certificats, liabilities of the certificate buyers, codes of conduct for their collection practices, and much more... Most significantly, the meat and potatos of their cases make quantitative returns for the LEGAL INDUSTRY who represent them...
Someone please send me the info via email about Goldman Sachs association with Xspand/PPTS...It will help with connecting dots....really curious about this new line of connections... they are like roaches. They have infiltrated our government and hired former county prosecutors, administrators, and so forth in their coverage.
Bank of America...Capital SourceAeon...Plymouth Park..ad nauseum
Submitted by lmcshane on Fri, 08/05/2011 - 05:03.
BofA uses federal neighborhood stabilization funds to bury the bodies and skates on future taxes owed on properties by dumping the properties to the mysterious-ask-no-questions-about-it land bank...schools, libraries and communities suffer. Read all about it!
See also: http://realneo.us/content/bac-home-loans-servicing and ...why does Freshwater Cleveland think this is a good thing?? http://www.freshwatercleveland.com/inthenews/bofadonateshomes072811.aspx ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Subtext-of underlying interest to me personally--how the country is figuring out how to run local government and protect tax support of public services like education, libraries, safety services etc. Why do we have to make everything so miserable? Is accountability so hard? Erie County has a County Executive form of government--and their consolidated library system kind of scares me...
From comments posted to this PD article: An astute South Euclid resident comments:
4411522 July 28, 2011 at 7:25PM
In 2007, South Euclid city officials, led by Mayor Welo, bought a commercial section of South Euclid called Cedar Center; they threatened to use eminent domain to put the deal through.
This seems pretty unusual to me. Is it possible that the land banking of this large commercial site could have been the result of Mayor Welo getting preferential treatment from the Land Bank, as a member of its board? The circumstances with landbanking this commercial property (that was thriving before purchased by South Euclid and torn down) are sufficient for Mayor Welo to step down from the Land Bank Board. I certainly hope she recused herself when that decision was made, and that the other board members made sure she did so. The time of making up your own rules is over. We're sick of this disrespect for the rule of law. I say to Ed--keep up the good work. SEE also: http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/02/board_of_revision_problems_cos.html#comments ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From content added by Lily Miller: Aeon Financial aka CapitalSource Bank - Property Tax Foreclosure Thieves that do NOT pay their own property taxesSubmitted by Lily on Thu, 08/04/2011 - 20:28.
STOP THE PROPERTY TAX FORECLOSURE THIEVES
Aeon Financial, LLC, aka CapitalSource Bank, located in Chicago purchased thousands of delinquent property tax liens from Cuyahoga County and has filed nearly 2,500 property tax foreclosures since 2009.
CapitalSource Bank aka Aeon Financial currently owns 84 properties in Cuyahoga County and they are delinquent in paying property taxes for all of their properties. This company that foreclosed on property owners for failure to timely pay their property taxes does not pay their own property taxes. Aeon Financial aka CapitalSource Bank owes Cuyahoga County tens of thousands of dollars in delinquent property taxes, yet the county continues to allow this company to foreclose on property owners for not paying property taxes. This company owes nearly as much - if not more- than the original property owner owed in delinquent property taxes. A few examples below:
1. On February 18, 2011, Neal Wolf , the former owner of parcel # 110 20 029 , lost his property valued at $55,900 to this company for two delinquent tax liens in the amount of $ 957.39 and $1587.01. CapitalSource Bank, presently owes $1,496.65 in delinquent property taxes.
2. On February 18, 2011, Arnold & Gloria Lockett , the former owners of parcel # 109 19 110, lost their property valued at $12,200 to this company for two delinquent tax liens in the amount of $2,737.64 and $2342.50. CapitalSource Bank presently owes the County $ 8548.19 - which includes a demolition fee.
3. On February 18, 2011, Karen Pickard , the former owner of parcel # 113 21 013 , lost her property valued at $68,800 to this company for two delinquent property tax liens in the amount of $935.26 and $1,828.85 . CapitalSource Bank presently owes the County $ 1,843.38 in delinquent property taxes.
4. On February 18, 2011, Darnell Shields , the former property owner of parcel # 111 01 080, lost his property valued at $49,500 to this company for a tax lien in the amount of $1,379.87 . CapitalSource Bank presently owes $ 1,325.00 in delinquent property taxes.
5. On February 18, 2011, Mark Kotnik , the former property owner of parcel # 112 21 078 , lost his property valued at $69,500 for two delinquent tax liens in the amount of $1,074.80 and $1,148.17. CapitalSource Bank presently owes $1,809.85 in delinquent property taxes.
6. On February 18, 2011, Tracie Lee, the former owner of parcel # 108-21-038, lost his property valued at $120,000 for two delinquent tax liens in the amount of $2,009.78 and $1,851.73 . CapitalSource Bank presently owes $8490.42 in delinquent property taxes.
7. On February 18, 2011, Ricky and Ruth Taylor , former owners of parcel # 107-03-067, lost their property valued at $68,000 for two delinquent property tax liens in the amount of $2,074.95 and $1,926.82. CapitalSource Bank owes $ 1838.68 in delinquent property taxes.
If the goal of Cuyahoga County is to collect property taxes and the county believed that selling delinquent tax liens was the solution, what happens when the tax lien company that now owns 84 properties obtained via tax foreclosures fails to pay their own property taxes? NOTHING
Looks like a repeat of Plymouth Park Tax ServicesCOUNTY STEALS PROPERTY FROM STUNNED GRANDSON
By Dr. Laurie Roth
In part,,,,,
On December 7, 2010, Malik J. Tuma, attorney of record for Capitol source/fbo Aeon/tax lien law group, (now under investigation and lawsuit by Peter Nickels, Attorney General for the District of Columbia) filed a complaint to foreclose on Jeffrey’s right to redeem his property, even though his property had already been redeemed and revalidated as declared in the receipt issued by Baltimore County. In talking further with Jeffrey about the actions of Aeon Financial to foreclose and sell off his property in a tax sale, a sinister thought came to my mind. Are we looking at the potential of organized crime here, where payments and agreements are ignored, homes and properties seized, then resold. The record shows in 2010 that Aeon Financial sold 8500 homes in tax sales. How many of these people had made payments and signed contracts that had been ignored, manipulated or refunded??? That is called stealing in my book. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cuyahoga County government overhaul puts focus on campaign finance reformPublished: Saturday, October 31, 2009, 8:51 PMhttp://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/10/cuyahoga_county_government_ove.html citizenX November 07, 2009 at 10:16AM
For the curious--must see reading: http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/about/budget/budget09/ What constitutes NDA allocations??? Your tax dollar! See also:http://www.vacantproperties.org/resources/documents/CityofClevelandCodeEnforcementPartnership.pdf From February 08, 2009 article by Linda Chojnacki in the Real Estate section Plain Dealer ...beginning in April, the Land Bank will begin revitalizing our neighborhoods by addressing the foreclosure crisis. Properties will be obtained, massive demolitions will begin, and land will be held for 15, 20 or even 30 years... Does this sound familiar? This is how Forest City made their fortune. Buying up the devil strips...the "worthless" land...holding land of low tax value*..until the state or city or county is forced to buy it for an exorbitant amount. (*or even better no tax --non-profits are especially good nowadays...think non-profit set up by Rokakis appointee Merle Gordon...run by Sheryl Hoffman at one time**...then SPACES....now at the fake green "think tank" CMNH...married to Bruckman...of Old Brooklyn CDC, Clark Metro CDC, Ohio City Near West CDC...CSU...now Mentor?)
Alisa Finelli, Washington Justice Department on PPTS
Submitted by ANGELnWard14 on Thu, 01/06/2011 - 01:19.
Alisa Finelli, a spokeswoman for the Justice Department in Washington, declined to comment.
Archiving the comments-
Submitted by lmcshane on Mon, 08/15/2011 - 15:11.
IS THE PREDATORY TAX COLLECTOR KNOCKING ON YOUR DOOR? He will be if you owe delinquent property taxes in Cuyahoga County. Despite extensive research proving this is not a good idea, tens of thousands of victims across the country, hundreds of lawsuits, and extensive blight left by the tax lien purchasers, Cuyahoga County is broke and the county needs money. If you are delinquent paying property taxes in Cuyahoga County, do NOT ignore this warning. Pay your property taxes immediately. LEGAL ALERT
Targeting delinquent taxes, new Cuyahoga fiscal chief vows to step up collectionCuyahoga County's new fiscal chief plans to increase efforts to collect delinquent property taxes amounting to $345 million and step up the controversial sale of tax liens to private investors. The county's delinquency rate was 15 percent at last count, highest among Ohio's urban counties. Fiscal Officer Wade Steen said his goal is to reduce the rate to 11 percent and recoup millions of dollars in taxes. "The collection effort in the past was not as aggressive as it should be," said Steen, who promises new efforts to contact property owners and set up payment plans. In the sales, private firms buy up liens, pay the county overdue taxes and collect from property owners. The lien buyer can foreclose in one year if the property owner has not paid up. In the past, Cuyahoga officials allowed the tax lien purchasers to foreclose on property owners that were delinquent with paying their property taxes one year after the purchase of the tax lien. After purchasing the tax liens and enforcing foreclosure, the tax lien companies failed to timely pay their own property taxes on the properties obtained via tax foreclosures. Stories on two of these companies are here and here
And Scene Magazine reported on one of the above stories. see below: Plymouth Park Tax Services Takes Homes Over Late Taxes, Then Fails to Pay Taxes ItselfPlymouth Park Tax Services proudly proclaims that it has “provided over $4 billion to governments through the purchase of real estate tax liens.” About $33 million of that went to Cuyahoga County, where outgoing Treasurer Jim Rokakis has worked with the New Jersey company since 1999. The idea is that it’s preferable to get something rather than nothing out of people who don’t pay their property taxes. For the county, it’s essentially selling the debt to a collection agency. And Plymouth Park knows how to play tough: One year after it buys a tax lien from the county, it can take the house by foreclosure if the owner still hasn’t paid up. Problem is, Plymouth Park has a little payment problem of its own. A search of Cuyahoga County Auditor records shows that, among the roughly 100 Cuyahoga County properties Plymouth Park now owns, 37 still have outstanding tax bills. Many of those bills are for amounts comparable to the delinquent taxes that caused the county to sell the liens in the first place. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The tax lien purchased by these companies maintain first right liens and trump most other liens/mortgages already issued on property. If you are over one year delinquent with paying your property taxes, your property can and will be taken - often for less than a couple thousand dollars. There are thousands of victims across the country to the tax lien predatory tax collecters. They charge 18% interest rates and numerous other fees: And they will take your property in a minute. These companies have already filed thousands of property tax foreclosures in Cuyahoga County. more stories regarding tax lien foreclosures can be found here, here andhere
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TAX FORECLOSURE OPTIONS BEFORE TAX CERTIFICATE SALESubmitted by ANGELnWard14 on Mon, 08/15/2011 - 12:14.
It is my understanding that delnquent homeowners can call the Cuyahoga County treasurer's office and talk to a "foreclosure specialist" to negotiate a "repayment plan".... You are required to pay one large sum (approximately 1 period or a half year amount and then pay all the arrears on monthly payments for an extended period. Moreover, you will also be responsible for paying the current taxes.... So, figuring out an affordable budget to repay your taxes is helpful... As an example: If your taxes are $1,200 a year, $600 per half and you owe perhaps two years arrears at $2,400.00; then it would go something like this: Down payment: $600 Arrears payment towards $2,400 payble for 48 months of $ 50/month Current tax payments of $50/month ================================== Results in $100/month tax payments being made to pay off old and new taxes in addition to the up front down payment. While this figure does not show all those fees, etc....There is a slight chance of getting fees reduced by filing a request with their offices outlining the hardships. If Cuyahoga County cannot be reasonable with it's own residents and homeowners-then there is definitely something wrong with America...particularly when families TRY to REPAY their debts and work to recover from defaulted situations!
Always Appreciative, "ANGELnWard14" Tax Collectors Charge much more than 18%...Submitted by ANGELnWard14 on Mon, 08/15/2011 - 10:08.
They charge: Research Fees Foreclosure Fees Filing Fees.. FEES...>FEES....and MORE FEES.... When less than $2,000 in taxes can turn into a $7,000 debt towards your house with no help locally to reduce these fees; is it really conducive to abuse already struggling homeowners with those fees or is it more reasonable to set up "AUTO PAYS" and technologically advanced methods such as working with banks of low income homeowners to set up AUTO BILL PAY on monthly plans?
Come on people...these are abusive practices....that are being effectuated on an already abused populace... YOU SHOULD BE PAYING THE CITIZENS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY DAMAGES FOR ALL THE FRAUD THAT THEY ENDURED OVER THE LAST 20 PLUS YEARS! WAIVE ALL THOSE FEES, HELP THEM TO GET ON AFFORDABLE PLANS, AND PUT THESE WORKERS TO WORK MAKING REASONABLE RESOLVES WITH DELINQUENT OWNERS.... WAIVING ASSESSMENTS ABOVE BASE RATES WOULD BE A "BEGINNING" TO SATISFYING SOME OF THE CITIZENS WHO'VE BEEN HURT AND ABUSED BY CORRUPT PRACTICES!!!! Always Appreciative, "ANGELnWard14" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thank you Lily and, especially County Executive candidate Dianna Hill for outlining the process. As Lily knows--we have a disabled senior family in my neighborhood who have been subjected to unfair tax status and liens, tax foreclosure and a repayment plan. It helps to know if and when the police powers of local government are being abused. In the case of the family in my neighborhood--they have been royally screwed over. I know that the local bureaucrats watching are conscious that this case is under scrutiny, so they will leave the family alone until the attention is elsewhere. Nonetheless, this behavior is sick and abusive. Waiting for folks to die, so they can swoop in and claim properties wanted by developers. SICK.
What does it take for HUD to recognize RICO behavior??
Submitted by lmcshane on Fri, 12/21/2012 - 11:16.
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2012/12/us_department_of_housin... National news is picking up story of HUD pulling funds from the shady outfit known as the Land Bank. First busted in 2010--but then we had the presidential election to worry about:
Cuyahoga County Land Bank - HUD notified
Submitted by JohnDoe on Fri, 12/21/2012 - 20:00.
I sent a letter and email to HUD , President Obama, County officials, FBI, Governor, etc., informing them of Gus Frangos and his suspicious real estate transactions. It is my opinion that the land bank is in very dangerous hands with Gus Frangos as the president.
From: To: info [at] hudoig [dot] gov Cc: Intranet [dot] Quorum [at] governor [dot] ohio [dot] gov ,,,, @cuyahogacounty.us Cleveland [dot] cv [at] ic [dot] fbi [dot] gov Sent: Friday, November 16, 2012 3:58 AM Subject: Conflict of Interest / Ethical Violations Cuyahoga County Land Bank
The land bank can be a valuable asset to demolish crime ridden and abandoned property. However the role of a county land bank should not be a permanent solution to housing issues. The government should not be in control of who gets what property, which demolition company gets the work, what company gets to safeguard the property, which company cuts grass, etc. These properties are costing tons of money and losing property taxes. Obama can not continue to waste money. The free market needs to take over now. HUD = Taxpayers can not continue paying millions and millions of dollars. We can not guarantee Gus Frangos or any other land bank employee a paycheck forever. Taxpayers have already taken a loss on HUD properties and can not continue giving the land bank property for $100.
This warrants INVESTIGATION
Submitted by lmcshane on Wed, 01/05/2011 - 18:58.
http://realneo.us/content/first-order-business-kill-land-bank#comment-26907 And today we find Medical Mart Hagan appointed to Metrohealth position....UNREAL...
I apologize to realNEO for being fooled by Commissioner Jones
Submitted by Norm Roulet on Mon, 11/01/2010 - 05:55.
I apologize to realNEO for being fooled by Commissioner Jones... watch him closely going forward. I won't be fooled by any Cleveland politicians again... vote smart folks. Disrupt IT
apology accepted : )
Submitted by Gone Fishin on Mon, 11/01/2010 - 06:17.
A lot of people were fooled by Public Official #9, Peter Lawson Jones. Jones was not identified by name in the indictment of Dimora and others, but a description of Public Official 9 matches that of Jones. Jones acknowledged today that he is Public Official 9. Knowing the Peter Lawson Jones serves on the land bank's governing board sure gives me a lot of faith in the land bank. I am so confident -that the landbank will FAIL.
He's pretty slick... what you would expect from Hahvahd
Submitted by Norm Roulet on Mon, 11/01/2010 - 06:37.
He's pretty slick... what you would expect from a Hahvahd educated lawyer. Bet they give him a job there in 2011... had to feather his next somewhere. He'll pop up inside one of the deals he put together while in office here... they turned him down for the new Gambling Commission so it looks to be the Land Bank, MedCon... the new County prison. Disrupt IT
and then theres "Re-imaging Cleveland" the lipstick on the pig
Submitted by noner on Mon, 11/01/2010 - 06:52.
and then theres "Re-imaging Cleveland" the lipstick on the pig project that pimps out any remaining altruistic people in this county. I knew something stank when NPI was sniffing around the green/gardening organizations, but it was too unclear to tell what the pigs were rooting for.
Rooting for truffles for our culinary revolution here
Submitted by Norm Roulet on Mon, 11/01/2010 - 06:59.
Rooting for truffles for our culinary revolution here. Pigs do have their uses. Unfortunately, truffles don't grow in Cleveland. Don't blame Kent Urban Design Collaborative... even if this poor re-Imagining of Cleveland is their fault. Terry Schwartz is from Arizona and doesn't know local growing conditions... hence the plans for the failed Agave Tequila Plantation in Hough. Disrupt IT
my gravest sympathies to Terry Schwartz
Submitted by noner on Mon, 11/01/2010 - 07:44.
my gravest sympathies to Terry Schwartz - she is brilliant in every way. She sees things where no one else can. She's a positive vital energy. But she doesn't see iT.
I think Arizona needs her back
Submitted by Norm Roulet on Mon, 11/01/2010 - 08:54.
I think Arizona needs her back Disrupt IT
WELCOME... ALL OUR "VISITORS"!...to our REALNEO site
Submitted by mytown55 on Fri, 10/29/2010 - 14:44.
I keep spreading the word about "this" site...I always, tell everyone, I meet; even, in the store lines waiting at the register...about OUR REALNEO site! I am going to begin making "cards" and passing them out, to whomever, I meet. WE ARE INFORMATION! God Bless Our REALNEO site....FOREVER!
Ad free, special interest free, spam free, and free
Submitted by Norm Roulet on Fri, 10/29/2010 - 15:02.
Ad free, special interest free, spam free, and free... seems like a good thing to me. Make sure you tell them to join the fun! BTW - the events calendar is kinda dead and I need photos for headers, if anyone wants to focus on those important matters... Anyone know any good local events.... post them. Anyone have some good local photos - post them or send them to me at norm [at] realneo [dot] us... isrupt IT
Land Bank Considerations
Submitted by ANGELnWard14 on Sat, 10/30/2010 - 11:13.
Okay...the land bank is being sold as a positive to the community at large..... Why wouldn't it be a "POSTIVE" to the community at large???? The Land Bank gets all the amenities that REAL ESTATE INVESTORS ARE DENIED access to again and again... They get COMPLETE TAX ABATEMENT..... They get millions in donations to run their business. They then rehab homes at EXHORBITANT COSTS....approximately 2-3 times the average cost it would have cost a "for profit" investor.... They get to dictate which properties are worthy and not of not being demo'd. They get to incorporate the County and City Planning Commission visions. They get to be paid unreal levels of salaries for their administration. They control the market to the little people.... Wow, then with their portfolio, they can dictate to world all kinds of stuff and pretend that they are our buddies. It's all a huge plan that empowers them to be PHILANTHROPIC, have big parties, seek out tons of federal grants that FOR PROFIT industry folks cannot get for development... and then they can be rulers of the world we live in!!!! I say any landlord in Cleveland should automatically get tax abatement just for providing low income housing...but that's a joke through Rokakis/Russo's regime.... What's next after their LANDBANK regime takes over guys???? CLEVELAND CENTRAL PARK.... First they decimated the community, then they demo it, then they devour the leftovers...What will they burp out next????? And while the people are not paying attention.... what's next???
My Daddy told me THEY" were all "CROOKS"....
Submitted by mytown55 on Mon, 11/01/2010 - 10:41.
May my Daddy ...rest in peace...THE TRUTH SHALL SET US FREE....and of all days' ...it is ALL SAINTS DAY.
"Daddy, why do you have to fight the coal plants here all alone"
Submitted by Norm Roulet on Mon, 11/01/2010 - 11:19.
My son says "Daddy, why do you have to fight the coal plants here all alone?" I tell him what your daddy said - "They are all crooks"! Disrupt IT
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Greedy banks and local corruption
Thanks for posting this Lee--FitzGerald and the whole Dem machine in town will still not blow the whistle because the chain of command goes right to the top.
Meanwhile, fake Dem Rokakis, the Land Bank, and banks like Wells Fargo continue to get a pretty cover up by the PD and now NPR.
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/08/tug-of-war_over_land_bank_boar.html
See comments from REALNEO poster
Kill the Land Bank.
The county taxpayers can not continue to pay for grass cutting, board-ups, maintenance, insurance, repairs, and safeguarding of the 100's of properties in the county landbank.
The landbank was created to keep property out of the hands of irresponsible out-of-state investors. The same irresponsible out of state investors that the county itself invited in the county via delinquent property tax lien purchases- minus any bidding process.
Public officials are responsible for much of the foreclosure crisis in Cuyahoga County by allowing tax lien purchasers to purchase delinquent tax liens and forcing 100's of people from their homes. After forcing folks from their homes, the tax purchasers greatly contributed to blight and vacant homes; however the tax lien companies did not contribute to the property tax collectors since they do not pay their own property taxes.
Property in the land bank also does not generate any property taxes.
Public officials are also responsible for the Afford -a -Home scandal that left behind numerous vacant properties in the county.
Now the same officials responsible for creating the blight and greatly contributing to the foreclosure crisis wants to correct the mess that they themselves created.
The county has issues maintaining the property that they already own.
Tax payers do not want to be responsible for paying for the 100's of properties in the land bank.
Let the free market take over. The less government control over anything-the better.
Thank you Lily for your continued vigilance. This has to stop now.
The entire tax lien sale to create the land bank was plagued with questions and concerns by people inside as well as outside the government. Early in the process " Bill Day" a laywer and CPA and clearly the brightest mind at the Georgia Tax Lien service identified extreme and improper large amounts of money not quite going to where it was intended to be going. When the well meaning MR.Day relayed his concerns with his superiors, he was immediately fired. This decision was made my jimmy "the creep" Rokakis. Millions of dollars flowed in the coffers of Resouce Title, owned by very large Rokakis contributor Richard Renell. Check out the campaign contribution filings at the Board of Elections. That will give you an idea on how our county is so broke. No raises for us workers for another two years.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For the impact of this GREED--see:
http://realneo.us/content/twdc-and-continued-nightmare-residents-giglio-schmitt-bell-redux#comment-31760
ATTN: FBI: COUNTYINSIDER CITES PROOF....FOLLOW IT!
This quoted PD Comment below and above is highly significant.....To those who understand the PPTS games...... this is serious....
countyinsider August 21, 2011 at 2:03AM
The entire tax lien sale to create the land bank was plagued with questions and concerns by people inside as well as outside the government.
Early in the process " Bill Day" a laywer and CPA and clearly the brightest mind at the Georgia Tax Lien service identified extreme and improper large amounts of money not quite going to where it was intended to be going. When the well meaning MR.Day relayed his concerns with his superiors, he was immediately fired. This decision was made my jimmy "the creep" Rokakis. Millions of dollars flowed in the coffers of Resouce Title, owned by very large Rokakis contributor Richard Renell. Check out the campaign contribution filings at the Board of Elections. That will give you an idea on how our county is so broke. No raises for us workers for another two years.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WHERE IS WILLIAM DAY NOW???????
WHY HASN'T The FBI met with this man and gotten the ammunition needed to stop this insane tax certificate sale process in OHIO at large..????? It's totally corrupt....and violates so many consumer protection laws, 14th amendment rights, and there is NO LEGAL AID FOR FAMILIES to fight this process....causing them to lose homes/??????
These two areas in OHIO REVISED CODE of Landbank and Property Tax Lien Certificate Sales were lobbied by Jim Rokakis to steer CDBG Funding and effectuate BLIGHT to file for BILLIONS in FEDERAL GRANTS to demo Cleveland and create a 2020 MASTER Plan that annihilated the low income and less than desirable demographics without any plan or vision for true Economic Development other than to STEER OUT COUNTLESS LOCAL INVESTORS and FAMILIES who didn't PAY TO PLAY.....CORRUPT, CORRUPT, CORRUPT..... No consumer protection, deprivation of public participation, and social unjustices countless times....
Always Appreciative, "ANGELnWard14"
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