Foreclosure and Eviction Fighters From ACCE / Occupy Meet Wells Fargo re Predatory Loans

Update: Later on May 15, 2013, Wells Fargo evicted disabled African-American senior Bernetta Adolph after years of struggle.


Update: On May 15, 2013, Merrie Jo and Edzel Musni received a called from Wells Fargo’s HELOC department referencing Miguel Bustos, so there is at least one positive outcome of the meeting.


IMG_3608_1On May 14, 2013, five Foreclosure and Eviction Fighters and supporters from the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE), Occupy Bernal, Occupy Noe, and the Occupy the Auctions and Evictions Campaign met with Wells Fargo executive Miguel Bustos regarding Wells Fargo’s predatory and discriminatory lending practices and how to resolve 18 default, foreclosure, and related eviction cases in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Wells Fargo executives who attended the April 10, 2013, meeting of the San Francisco Employee Retirement System (SFERS) Retirement Board and offered repeatedly to meet during the SFERS meeting, then snubbed all the email invitations sent to them after the SFERS meeting was over. So, ACCE and Occupy activists entered a Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Center at 2258 Market Street and demanded a meeting with one of the executives.

If Miguel Bustos was sincere in his commitment to make a real effort to settle the 18 cases brought to him, including the case of Bernetta Adolph who faces eviction on May 15, 2013, then the meeting was a successful one.

Links: Videos    Photos

Videos

Photos

25 Cameo Way: Home Protected by Occupy

The home of Larry Faulks at 25 Cameo Way in San Francisco is protected by Occupy.

Prospective buyers and realtors should be aware that Wells Fargo sold the property illegally at a foreclosure auction to DMG Asset Management, which then illegally evicted Larry from the home.

Realtors should provide buyers with full disclosure about the illegal foreclosure and eviction before showing the property to any potential buyer.

There are currently three federal agencies investigating the case, since Larry never received notice of the foreclosure sale from the trustee and only heard about it when an auction investor visited his home less than an hour before the foreclosure auction.

Occupy the Auctions on December 13 in San Francisco

On December 13, 2012, auctioneers sold one family’s home at a foreclosure auction in San Francisco: auctioneer Thomas from Lender Processing Services / Agency Sales and Posting (LPS/ASAP) sold 2100 29th Avenue back to lender Bank of America (BAC HOME LOANS SERVICING, LP).

Auctioneer Thomas from Lender Processing Services / Agency Sales and Posting (LPS/ASAP) conducts auction business on City Hall steps counter to city policy.

Auctioneer Thomas from Lender Processing Services / Agency Sales and Posting (LPS/ASAP) read postponements and cancellations. Auctioneer Steve Neil of Cal Agent Services read postponements and cancellations.

Auctioneer Thomas from Lender Processing Services / Agency Sales and Posting (LPS/ASAP) sold 2100 29th Avenue back to lender Bank of America (BAC HOME LOANS SERVICING, LP).

Person who claims to be top manager at DMG Asset Management reacts to his eviction of disabled African-American senior Larry Faulks.

ALERT: Wells Fargo Stop the Foreclosures and Evictions of the “Wells 32”

As #1 in foreclosures in San Francisco, Wells Fargo is putting 32 families at risk of losing their homes due to foreclosure and related evictions. Wells Fargo is foreclosing on and evicting veterans and disabled and senior homeowners and families with children, as well as targeting homeowners with life-threatening illnesses. Wells Fargo has engaged in predatory, fraudulent, and racist lending practices and has contributed to a rash of foreclosure deaths.

Take action to stop Wells Fargo from foreclosing on and evicting the “Wells 32”–

  • Contact Wells Fargo staff with the following phone and email message:

    • Brenda Wright, Senior VP of Community Relations, +1 415-623-7738
    • Alfredo Pedroza, Director of California Local Government Relations, +1 415-396-0829
    • Ruben Pulido, Communications Staff, +1 415-852-1279
    • John Stumpf, CEO, +1 866-878-5865

     
    Sample message:
     
    To: brenda.wright@wellsfargo.com, alfredo.pedroza@wellsfargo.com, ruben.pulido@wellsfargo.com, john.g.stumpf@wellsfargo.com
    Cc: action@occupybernal.org
    Subject: Stop the Holiday Foreclosures and Evictions of the “Wells 32”

    Dear Wells Fargo staff,

    Please take IMMEDIATE action to stop holiday foreclosures and evictions. Please meet the demands listed for each of the 32 families listed below who Wells Fargo has put at risk (Name, Demand, Address, Loan #, Priority) and stop dual tracking by continuing to list foreclosure auctions while negotiating loan modifications:

    1. Bernetta Adolph, Stop eviction (20130303) Rescission of foreclosure sale and fair deal loan modification, 48 Lobos Street, SF, CA 94112, 44793073, 1
    2. Larry Faulks, Undo eviction (20121216), Rescission of foreclosure sale and fair deal loan modification, 25 Cameo Way, SF, CA 94131, 004 6406278, 1
    3. David Lewis, Rescission of foreclosure sale and fair deal loan modification, 442 Carl Street, SF, CA 94124, need loan #, 1
    4. Dollie and Sally Ross, Rescission of foreclosure sale and fair deal loan modification, 1075 Gilman Avenue, SF, CA 94124, 004 37815, 1
    5. Lehmann Brightman, Rescission of foreclosure sale (20130114) and fair deal loan modification, 2434 Faria Avenue, Pinole, CA 94564, 0044126233, 1
    6. Gloria Lomeli (and Alberto del Rio), Stop foreclosure auction (20130131) and fair deal loan modification, 565 Banks Street, SF, CA 94110, 47339080, 1
    7. Guadalupe Schmitt, Stop foreclosure auction (20130211) and fair deal loan modification, 11-13 Santa Marina Avenue, SF, CA 94110, 102484459, 1
    8. Benjamin and Irma Reed, Stop foreclosure auction (20130226) and fair deal loan modification, 2 Warren Drive, SF, CA 94131, , 1
    9. Emilia Hughetti, Stop foreclosure auction (20130228) and fair deal loan modification through loan servicer Chase, 1041 Florida Street, SF, CA 94110, Chase loan #20733507, 1
    10. Kim Mitchell, Postpone foreclosure auction until short sale, 601 Van Ness Ave #244, SF, CA 94102, , 2
    11. Segundina San Juan, Fair deal loan modification, 1074 Huron Avenue, SF, CA 94112, 00048634281, 2
    12. Maria and Washington Davila, New owner must keep Davilas as tenants under same rental conditions as before, 4255 Folsom Street, SF, CA 94110, , 2
    13. Armand and Maria Mejia, Stop foreclosure auction (20130204) and fair deal loan modification, 749 Athens Street, SF, CA 94112, 004 37815, 2
    14. Peter Fairfield (and L. Sweet), Stop foreclosure auction (20130205) and fair deal loan modification, 831 Chenery Street, SF, CA 94131, 1100225238, 2
    15. Eric (and John), Fair deal loan modification, 2
    16. Anonymous, Fair deal loan modification, Anonymous Street, SF, CA 94132, 004 5575008, 2
    17. Allen Stowers, Stop foreclosure auction and fair deal loan modification, 699 Peralta Avenue, SF, CA 94110, 0042836544, 2
    18. Sergio and Pureza Cardenas, Fair deal loan modification, 763 Silver Oaks Place, Walnut Creek, CA 94597, 0004274204, 3
    19. Dorothy Crawford, Fair deal loan modification, 407 Broderick Street, SF, CA 94117, 00045941416, 3
    20. Pei Jun Ding, Fair deal loan modification, 2227 38th Ave, SF, CA 94116, 00045599891, 3
    21. Henry Kielarowski, Fair deal loan modification, 1496 La Playa Street, SF, CA 94122, 7080043459395, 3
    22. Juan Lopez, Fair deal loan modification, 566 Madrid Street, SF, CA 94112, 00014382279, 3
    23. Edzel and Merrie Jo Musni, 2nd mortgage fair deal loan modification, 240 Randall Street, SF, CA 94131, 6511663531998, 3
    24. Sandra Reece, Fair deal loan modification, 1240 Revere Avenue, SF, CA 94124, , 3
    25. Margarita Rose, Fair deal loan modification, 908 Athens Street, SF, CA 94112, , 3
    26. Will Saltz, Loan payment grace period until property tax issue resolved, 177 Capistrano Avenue, SF, CA , 372095067, 3
    27. William Sandoval, Fair deal loan modification, 151 Beachview Avenue, Pacifica, CA 94044, 00156852519, 3
    28. Sheila Julia Walsh, 2nd mortgage fair deal loan modification, 112 Judson Avenue, SF, CA 94112, , 3
    29. Gladys Dewitt, 2nd mortgage fair deal loan modification, 772 Hampshire Street, SF, CA 94110, , 3

     
    San Francisco’s Mayor and Board of Supervisors have unanimously requested a halt to foreclosures and related evictions, especially since San Francisco Assessor-Recorder’s report showing that 84% of foreclosures have at least one legal violation and due to Wells’ $175 million settlement paid to resolve allegations of racial discrimination in providing mortgage loans in San Francisco’s Bayview-Hunters Point and other neighborhoods.

    Wells Fargo’s “waterfall” model, along with similar policies from other lenders, ensures that the bank can squeeze the most money possible from homeowners struggling to make payments while finally discarding them like trash if the bank can’t make a profit on every single loan. Running a mortgage loan business means assuming risks, especially after receiving billions in bailout funds from the taxpayers, many of whom are Wells’ mortgage loan borrowers.

    Stop contributing to the rash of deaths by foreclosure! Stop the single-minded greedy focus on profit! Stop ignoring the health and well-being of your customers and the communities where we live! Take whatever action is necessary to keep distressed families in their homes!

    This is an URGENT request, so please respond right away.

    Sincerely,

    your name here

  • Reserve December 6 and December 18 on your calendar for Wells Fargo protests on behalf of the “Wells 29”. (Update: Those protests took place with great success!)

Wells Fargo plans to foreclose on or evict the “Wells 29” despite:

This alert brought to you by Occupy Bernal, ACCE, and other supportive organizations coordinated within the Occupy the Auctions and Evictions campaign.

Links: Wells 32 Action Flyer (four to page)    Wells Pays $175 Million to Resolve Allegations of Racial Discrimination in Providing Mortgage Loans    Larry Faulks Profile    Larry Faulks Eviction Witness    DMG Asset Management Profile    Occupy DMG Home Action    Occupy Wells Fargo Noe Branch    SF Chronicle Coverage    Bay Area Reporter Coverage    Occupy Wells Fargo HQ    Occupy Senior and Veteran Evictions and Foreclosures (Occupy Anniversary)    Upcoming Bank Auctions of Foreclosure/Eviction Fighter Homes    Foreclosure/Eviction Fighter Profiles

For updates and this action alert: http://occupytheauctions.org/wells

ACTION: Witness Faulks Eviction — Protest Wells Fargo and DMG!

Update as of about 7am on December 13, 2012: DMG Asset Management attorney Jak Marquez and Sheriff’s deputies evicted Larry Faulks. He’s now on the road, sleeping in his van.


IMG_1839_1Update as of 7:30pm on December 12, 2012: Greeted by a rainbow and a light rain shower, a group of about 30 supporters of Larry Faulks came to his home to bear witness the eviction, including holding up signs and banners, lots of friendly discussion, wonderful hot cappuccinos and tea from Larry’s brother, and a carol rendered as “Silent Night, Homeless Night” thanks to Tommi Avicolli-Mecca. We also made calls to DMG Asset Management principals and Wells Fargo Senior Vice President of Community Relations Brenda Wright to try to get them to stop the eviction. When the eviction hadn’t materialized by 11:30am or so, so a group of us took Larry out to lunch, then he requested that we head on our way while he went back to take a nap.

Media coverage: Bay Area Reporter

Video and photos of the event appear below. Thanks to everyone who participated.


Foreclosure and Eviction Fighter Larry Faulks’ eviction has been delayed for the last time.

What: Larry Faulks Eviction Witness

When: 8am (check back for updates) on Wednesday, December 12

Where: 25 Cameo Way, Diamond Heights, San Francisco (map, buses 52, 48, 37, plan for tricky routes!)

Stay tuned for the gathering time which we will post on the web page at http://occupytheauctions.org/wordpress/?p=6915.

Investment firm DMG Asset Management plans to evict disabled African-American senior Larry Faulks even after they agreed to postpone the eviction to work with him and his family on negotiations with Wells Fargo. Wells Fargo has not yet agreed to rescind the foreclosure sale of Larry’s home, which they did while negotiating a loan modification with him. This practice is called dual tracking and it will be illegal in California starting January 1, 2013, under the 2012 Homeowner Bill of Rights.

Please take action:

  1. Come to the Eviction Witness on Wednesday, December 12. Time is tentatively scheduled for 8:00am (will post updates to this page).
  2. Respond to the Wells Fargo action alert to try to stop the eviction.
  3. Respond to the DMG Asset Management action alert to try to stop the eviction.

Larry Faulks and his brother — both disabled — as well as their renter want to stay in the home their parents purchased in 1962. The Faulks’ were the first African-American family in the Diamond Heights neighborhood and at a time when only the Eichler company was willing to sell homes to black families. Please come to the Eviction Witness (there may be an opportunity for those who wish to participate in nonviolent direct action to block the eviction).

Links: Wells 26 Action Flyer (four to page)    Wells Pays $175 Million to Resolve Allegations of Racial Discrimination in Providing Mortgage Loans    Larry Faulks Profile    Larry Faulks Eviction Witness    DMG Asset Management Profile    Occupy DMG Home Action    Occupy Wells Fargo Noe Branch    SF Chronicle Coverage    Bay Area Reporter Coverage    Occupy Wells Fargo HQ    Occupy Senior and Veteran Evictions and Foreclosures (Occupy Anniversary)    Upcoming Bank Auctions of Foreclosure/Eviction Fighter Homes    Foreclosure/Eviction Fighter Profiles

Occupy Wells Fargo Homeless Shelter on November 17, 2012

On November 17, 2012, Foreclosure and Eviction Fighters and their supporters gathered at a Chase bank branch at 15th and Market Streets in San Francisco to protest the effect of bank foreclosures and evictions on homeowners and renters. About 10 police officers turned out for the protest.
Meanwhile, someone altered the signage at a nearby Wells Fargo Home Mortgage location so that it became a Wells Fargo Homeless Shelter.

The protestors moved to the Wells Fargo location on Market Street between 15th and 16th Streets and set up a soup kitchen, played music, and spoke about the problem of foreclosures, evictions, and homelessness, as well as connections with the banks investing in prisons and environmental degradation.

The protestors highlighted the case of Larry Faulks, a disabled African-American gay senior — while negotiating a loan modification with him, Wells Fargo sold his home at a foreclosure auction and now refuses to buy it back from DMG Asset Management, the company who bought the property at the auction. Wells Fargo also refuses to give Larry Faulks a fair deal loan modification.

As one participant read off the names of families at risk from Wells Fargo’s foreclosures and evictions, the group responded by chanting “…shall not be moved” after each name.

Thanks to Arizmendi for donating delicious bread and pastries from their worker-owned cooperative bakery and to Space Transformers for organizing the fabulous soup kitchen. Representatives from many groups participated, including Occupy Bernal, ACCE-SF, Occupy Direct Action Workgroup, Occupy Action Council of SF, Occupy SF Environmental Justice Workgroup, Community Not Commodity, Occupy Noe, San Francisco Tenants Union, Senior and Disability Action, Manilatown Heritage Foundation, Communities United in Defense of Olmsted, and Occupy South San Francisco.

Media coverage: Huffington Post

Thanks to Peter Menchini for first video below.

Thanks to Peter Menchini for the last 15 photos below.

ALERT: Eviction Witness for Larry Faulks – Protest DMG Asset Management and Wells Fargo!

Update: Larry’s eviction has been delayed probably for the last time and is scheduled for Wednesday, December 12. Please respond to the Wells Fargo action alert to try to stop the eviction.


Update as of 12:10pm on November 14, 2012: Larry Faulks’ eviction postponed by two weeks until Wednesday, November 28. Please mark your calendar in case DMG and Wells haven’t come to their senses.

Keep those calls to DMG coming! (see numbers below).

Link: Video and photos of Eviction Witness action


Investment firm DMG Asset Management plans to evict disabled African-American senior Larry Faulks today even after they agreed to postpone the eviction to work with him and his family on negotiations with Wells Fargo.

Larry Faulks and his brother — both disabled — as well as their renter want to stay in the home their parents purchased in 1962.

DMG plans to evict Larry at 1:00pm today, Wednesday, November 14.

Please take action to help the Faulks family–

  1. Please come to this action–

    What: Eviction Witness Action
    When: 12:30pm, Wednesday, November 14
    Where: Larry Faulks’ home at 25 Cameo Way, San Francisco (Diamond Heights neighborhood)

  2. Call DMG management, their real estate agent, and their attorney with the following message:

    • Daniel Woo, +1 415-706-6170
    • Angela Woo Lee, +1 415-420-8881
    • Gilbert Chung, +1 916-947-8625
    • Marcus Lee, +1 415-999-2022 (real estate agent)
    • Jak Marquez, +1 415-495-8500 x12 (attorney)

     
    Sample message:

    Please stop the eviction of Larry Faulks and his brother — both disabled — as well as their renter. The Faulks family has lived in the family home at 25 Cameo Way in San Francisco for 50 years. Wells Fargo promised in writing not to foreclose on the Faulks during the modification process, but instead sold the property to you. DMG agreed to postpone the eviction to work out a plan to sell the property back to Wells Fargo at the price you paid, so that Wells Fargo can offer the Faulks family a loan modification to remain in their home.

    Please don’t put disabled African-American seniors out onto the streets.

For updates and this action alert: http://occupytheauctions.org/wordpress/?p=5948

Links: Larry Faulks Profile    DMG Asset Management Profile    Occupy DMG Home Action    Occupy Wells Fargo Noe Branch    Bay Area Reporter Coverage    Occupy Wells Fargo HQ    Occupy Senior and Veteran Evictions and Foreclosures (Occupy Anniversary)

 
Videos and Photos

ALERT: Demand DMG Assets Stop Eviction of Faulks Family

Investment firm DMG Asset Management is threatening a San Francisco family with eviction after DMG agreed to postpone the eviction to work with the family on negotiations with Wells Fargo and even though disabled family members can’t find housing elsewhere.

Larry Faulks and his brother — both disabled — as well as their renter want to stay in the home their parents purchased in 1962.

DMG plans to evict Larry on Wednesday, November 7.

Please take action to help the Faulks family–

  1. Call DMG management, their real estate agent, and their attorney with the following message:

    • Daniel Woo, +1 415-706-6170
    • Angela Woo Lee, +1 415-420-8881
    • Gilbert Chung, +1 916-947-8625
    • Marcus Lee, +1 415-999-2022 (real estate agent)
    • Jak Marquez, +1 415-495-8500 x12 (attorney)

     
    Sample message:

    Please stop the eviction of Larry Faulks and his brother — both disabled — as well as their renter. The Faulks family has lived in the family home at 25 Cameo Way in San Francisco for 50 years. Wells Fargo promised in writing not to foreclose on the Faulks during the modification process, but instead sold the property to you. DMG agreed to postpone the eviction to work out a plan to sell the property back to Wells Fargo at the price you paid, so that Wells Fargo can offer the Faulks family a loan modification to remain in their home.

    Please don’t put disabled African-American seniors out onto the streets.

  2. Please mark your calendar for a possible eviction defense at 7:00am on Wednesday, November 7.

For updates and this action alert: http://occupytheauctions.org/wordpress/?p=5636

Links: Larry Faulks Profile    DMG Asset Management Profile    Occupy DMG Home Action    Occupy Wells Fargo Noe Branch    Bay Area Reporter Coverage    Occupy Wells Fargo HQ    Occupy Senior and Veteran Evictions and Foreclosures (Occupy Anniversary)

Occupy Wells Fargo Headquarters to Save the Faulks Home

Supporters of Foreclosure and Eviction Fighter Larry Faulks gathered at the Wells Fargo headquarters in downtown San Francisco on October 30, 2012, to demand that Wells Fargo rescind the sale of the Faulks home to DMG Asset Management and offer Larry a fair deal loan modification. Larry and his brother are elderly and disabled and don’t deserve to be thrown to the curb after Wells Fargo illegally sold their home at auction while negotiating a loan modification with them (a practice called “dual tracking”). The group also voiced support for Bernetta Adolph of San Francisco, Jacqueline Barber of Georgia, and Ana Casas Wilson in Los Angeles, California, all of whom Wells Fargo is trying to evict.

The group presented more than five hundred signatures to a representative of the bank who accepted them on behalf of Wells Fargo Community Relations Director Brenda Wright and Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf.

The action was organized by Occupy Noe, Occupy Bernal, and the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE) with participation from the Occupy Direct Action Workgroup (DAWG) and Community Not Commodity.

Occupy Wells Fargo to Save the Faulks Home

Supporters of Foreclosure and Eviction Fighter Larry Faulks gathered at the Wells Fargo branch in the Noe Valley neighborhood of San Francisco to demand that Wells Fargo rescind the sale of the Faulks home to DMG Asset Management and offer Larry a fair deal loan modification. Larry and his brother are elderly and disabled and don’t deserve to be thrown to the curb after Wells Fargo illegally sold their home at auction while negotiating a loan modification with them (a practice called “dual tracking”).

The group gathered hundreds of signatures to present to Wells Fargo Community Relations Director Brenda Wright and Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf.

Susan McDonough of Occupy Noe explains the situation with Wells Fargo, DMG Asset Management, and the Faulks family. She invites supporters to join an action at an open house of Climb Real Estate, the company that flips the homes DMG Asset Management evicts families like the Faulks family from. The protest will take place 12:00pm to 3:00pm on Sunday, October 28, at 1272 Rhode Island Street on Potrero Hill in San Francisco.

Larry Faulks talks about his situation and expresses his thanks to supporters.

The action was organized by Occupy Noe, Occupy Bernal, and the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE) with participation from the Occupy Direct Action Workgroup (DAWG) and Community Not Commodity.

Links: Bay Area Reporter coverage