Occupy Wells Fargo Vigil to Stop Evictions on March 26, 2013

IMG_2942_1The Occupy Wells Fargo Vigil to Stop Evictions on March 26, 2013, was again a smashing success! (well, we didn’t actually smash anything) 😉 Two of us gathered to demand that Wells Fargo stop foreclosing on and evicting our neighbors with their illegal, predatory, or discriminatory loans. They still had covered up the Wells Fargo “family jewels” — the Wells Fargo stagecoach.

As students from a local school headed into the Wells Fargo History Museum, we asked them to ask why Wells Fargo is throwing children and disabled seniors out of their homes.

We look forward to continuing the vigils this week and ongoing until Wells Fargo stops their illegal, predatory, or discriminatory foreclosures and evictions of folks like our neighbor Bernetta Adolph, a disabled senior retired Muni employee.

To find out more and RSVP for one of the vigil opportunities, see http://occupytheauctions.org/wordpress/?p=8570

Occupy Wells Fargo Vigil to Stop Evictions on March 25, 2013

IMG_2941_1The first day of the Occupy Wells Fargo Vigil to Stop Evictions on March 25, 2013, was a smashing success! Five of us gathered to demand that Wells Fargo stop foreclosing on and evicting our neighbors with their illegal, predatory, or discriminatory loans. Before we even arrived, they had covered up the Wells Fargo stagecoach — the Wells Fargo “family jewels” as it were — so that we couldn’t have nice photo ops of protestors and the stagecoach. Personally, I like the photo op of them being silly enough to cover up the stagecoach for five protestors much better! (see photo on the right and videos below)

We look forward to continuing the vigils this week and ongoing until Wells Fargo stops their illegal, predatory, or discriminatory foreclosures and evictions of folks like our neighbor Bernetta Adolph, a disabled senior retired Muni employee.

To find out more and RSVP for one of the vigil opportunities, see http://occupytheauctions.org/wordpress/?p=8570

ACCE Silent Auction and Community Recognition Ceremony

IMG_2916_1Things were cooking — good food and good times — down at the ACCE Silent Auction and Community Recognition Ceremony at the I.T. Bookman Center on the evening of March 23, 2013. Folks bid on all kinds of donated items and raised a good chunk of cash for the work to stop the banks’ predatory foreclosures and evictions in our communities. We also honored some community heroes and enjoyed some excellent company.

Here are the people who were recognized:

  • Ailed Paningbatan, Director of Community Engagement, Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center (by Buck)
  • Antoine Perry, Program Coordinator, One-Stop (by Nealie)
  • Steve Phillips and Susan Sandler, Community Activists (by Bernetta)
  • Palestine Tyson, Retired Civil Service Worker, Community Activist (by Gale)

Occupy the Wells Fargo Auction of Fairfield-Sweet Home

IMG_2782_1A dozen supporters joined Peter and Linnea Fairfield-Sweet in protesting Wells Fargo’s foreclosure auction of their Glen Park home in San Francisco. No auction investors were willing to pay the $630,000 opening bid, so the property went back to Wells Fargo.

More info: Action Alert

Auctioneer Thomas of Lender Processing Services / Agency Sales and Posting (LPS/ASAP) read postponements and cancellations.

Auctioneer Thomas of 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 ??? read postponements and cancellations.

Auctioneer sold 170 Staples Avenue back to the lender ???? for $584.415.03.

Auctioneer Steve Neil of Cal Agent Services provided status on sales.

Auctioneer Steve Neil of Cal Agent Services provided status on sales.

Auctioneer Steve Neil of Cal Agent Services sold 1626 32nd Avenue to auction investor Stephen Florida on behalf of Growth Investment One LLC for $775,000.01 (lender JP Morgan Chase).

Auctioneer Steve Neil of Cal Agent Services provided status on sales.

Auctioneer Steve Neil of Cal Agent Services provided status on sales.

Auctioneer Steve Neil of Cal Agent Services sold Peter Fairfield and Linnea Sweet’s home at 831 Chenery Street bank to the lender Wells Fargo (opening bid $630,000).

Peter Fairfield thanks his supporters.

ALERT: Wells Fargo Stop Auction of Fairfield-Sweet Home!

Please join us to protest Wells Fargo’s foreclosure auction of Peter and Linnea’s home.

What: Occupy the Auction – Stop Wells Fargo from selling the Peter and Linnea’s home

When: 1:45pm, Tuesday, March 19

Where: City Hall Steps, 400 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco (*not* Civic Center side)

Please bring whistles and earplugs if you can. Also please make calls and send emails below.

PLD.croppedTake action to stop Wells Fargo from auctioning off Peter Fairfield and Linnea Sweet’s home of 33 years–

  • 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 March 19 Foreclosure Auction of Peter Fairfield and Linnea Sweet’s Home (loan# 1100225238)

    Dear Wells Fargo staff,

    Please take IMMEDIATE action to stop the March 19 foreclosure auction of Peter Fairfield and Linnea Sweet’s home at 831 Chenery Street (America’s Servicing Company loan# 1100225238) in San Francisco’s Glen Park neighborhood and offer them a fair deal loan modification.

    The Fairfield-Sweet family accessed their home equity to save their photography business with a predatory loan that a mortgage broker assured them they could refinance when payments skyrocketed. But that turned out to be false once the economic crisis set in. Now that their family business is secure, Peter and Linnea (who is disabled) are seeking to live out the rest of their senior years with a loan modification that has affordable payments so they can remain in their home.

    Please also meet the demands for each of the 32 families who Wells Fargo has put at risk of foreclosure and eviction and stop dual tracking by continuing to list foreclosure auctions while negotiating loan modifications.

    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


Background:

When their photography business got dot-commed out of a SOMA office building with 30 days notice to vacate, Peter Fairfield and Linnea Sweet decided to access their home equity to save their main source of income. A mortgage loan broker convinced them that a sub-prime loan with escalating payments could easily be refinanced when the payments ballooned, so they thought their problems were solved. But the economic downturn made a refi impossible and Wells Fargo (America’s Servicing Company) foreclosed on their home of 33 years. Peter and Linnea are seeking a fair deal loan modification from Wells Fargo so that they and their dog Dagmar can remain in their home.

Wells Fargo is #1 in San Francisco foreclosures. 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.


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

Links: Wells 32 Action Alert    OLD Wells 32 Action Flyer (four to page)    Wells Pays $175 Million to Resolve Allegations of Racial Discrimination in Providing Mortgage Loans    Occupy Our Homes Wells Fargo Bayview Branch Action    Occupy Wells Fargo Noe Branch    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    Previous Action Alert

For updates and this action alert: http://occupytheauctions.org/wordpress/?p=8524

Fairfield-Sweet Home With Banner

PNC Bank Protest — Help Yin Wong Stay in Her Home!

IMG_2779_1On March 15, 2013, few dozen protestors from the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment, Occupy Bernal, Occupy Noe and other organizations protested PNC Bank’s seventh attempt to evict disabled senior Yin Wong from her San Francisco Bayview home even though she made all her payments on time. The Foreclosure and Eviction Fighters and their supporters shut down the entrances to the PNC Bank branch on the 28th floor of 575 Market Street, as well as access to the rest of the building except through a loading dock on the rear side of the building. The group demanded that PNC Bank cancel the eviction and sell Yin Wong her home.

Media coverage: Huffington Post

Videos and photos:

Links: Action Alert    Protest at PNC on August 27, 2012    Protest at PNC on July 26, 2012    OLD PNC Action flyer in English    OLD PNC Action Flyer in Chinese

Occupy the Auctions on February 8, 2013, in San Francisco

On February 8, 2013, auctioneer Thomas of Lender Processing Services / Agency Sales and Posting (LPS/ASAP) sold one family’s home at the foreclosure auction in San Francisco, that is, 596 36th Avenue to auction investor Raymond Grinsell for $711,100 (lender JP MORGAN CHASE BANK N A).

Auctioneer Thomas of 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 of Lender Processing Services / Agency Sales and Posting (LPS/ASAP) delays auction.

Auctioneer Thomas of Lender Processing Services / Agency Sales and Posting (LPS/ASAP) delays auction.

Auctioneer Thomas of Lender Processing Services / Agency Sales and Posting (LPS/ASAP) began sale of 596 36th Avenue to auction investor Raymond Grinsell for $711,100 (lender JP MORGAN CHASE BANK N A).

Auctioneer Thomas of Lender Processing Services / Agency Sales and Posting (LPS/ASAP) continued sale of 596 36th Avenue to auction investor Raymond Grinsell for $711,100 (lender JP MORGAN CHASE BANK N A).

Auctioneer Thomas of Lender Processing Services / Agency Sales and Posting (LPS/ASAP) continued sale of 596 36th Avenue to auction investor Raymond Grinsell for $711,100 (lender JP MORGAN CHASE BANK N A).

Auctioneer Thomas of Lender Processing Services / Agency Sales and Posting (LPS/ASAP) sold 596 36th Avenue to auction investor Raymond Grinsell for $711,100 (lender JP MORGAN CHASE BANK N A).

Occupy the Auctions on February 7, 2013, in San Francisco

On February 7, 2013, auctioneer Thomas of Lender Processing Services / Agency Sales and Posting (LPS/ASAP) sold one family’s home at the foreclosure auction in San Francisco, that is, 1200 Revere Avenue to lender Washington Mutual Bank (JP Morgan Chase) for the opening bid of $457,275.

Auctioneer Thomas of Lender Processing Services / Agency Sales and Posting (LPS/ASAP) fields question about a 43rd Ave property.

Auctioneer Thomas of Lender Processing Services / Agency Sales and Posting (LPS/ASAP) read postponements and cancellations.

Auctioneer Thomas of Lender Processing Services / Agency Sales and Posting (LPS/ASAP) delays auction of 1200 Revere Avenue.

Auctioneer Thomas of Lender Processing Services / Agency Sales and Posting (LPS/ASAP) sold 1200 Revere Avenue to lender Washington Mutual Bank (JP Morgan Chase) for the opening bid of $457,275.

Occupy the Auctions on February 6, 2013, in San Francisco

On February 6, 2013, auctioneer Thomas of Lender Processing Services / Agency Sales and Posting (LPS/ASAP) sold one family’s home at the foreclosure auction in San Francisco, that is, 12 Bell Court to auction investor Stephan Alexander Florida of Last Mile Properties for $394,400 (lender Wells Fargo Bank).

Auctioneer Thomas of Lender Processing Services / Agency Sales and Posting (LPS/ASAP) read postponements and cancellations.

Auctioneer Thomas of Lender Processing Services / Agency Sales and Posting (LPS/ASAP) began sale of 12 Bell Court to auction investor Stephan Alexander Florida of Last Mile Properties for $394,400 (lender Wells Fargo Bank).

Auctioneer Thomas of Lender Processing Services / Agency Sales and Posting (LPS/ASAP) continued sale of 12 Bell Court to auction investor Stephan Alexander Florida of Last Mile Properties for $394,400 (lender Wells Fargo Bank).

Auctioneer Thomas of Lender Processing Services / Agency Sales and Posting 12 Bell Court to auction investor Stephan Alexander Florida of Last Mile Properties for $394,400 (lender Wells Fargo Bank).

Occupy the Auctions on February 5, 2013, in San Francisco

On February 5, 2013, auctioneers didn’t sell any family’s homes at the foreclosure auction in San Francisco.

Auctioneer Andrew Zheng of Cal Agent Services read postponements and cancellations.

Auctioneer Thomas of Lender Processing Services / Agency Sales and Posting (LPS/ASAP) read postponements and cancellations.

Auctioneer Thomas of Lender Processing Services / Agency Sales and Posting (LPS/ASAP) read final cancellation.