Baltimore Sun

A Southeast Baltimore woman who broke into her former home last week as part of a demonstration against foreclosures surrendered to police and was criminally charged in connection with the incident, police said yesterday. Donna Hanks was being held at Central Booking, a day after the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now activist who helped her by breaking a padlock on the door was charged with fourth-degree burglary. ACORN organizer Joe Cox said the charges against Hanks, who owed more than $260,000 when a bank foreclosed on the home, were “not unexpected” and that the group will assist her with the criminal case and post bond, if necessary.

Related:
ACORN activist charged with breaking into house
ACORN breaking into foreclosed-upon homes

Baltimore Sun

Louis Beverly, an activist with the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) who has tried to call attention to foreclosures in the city, turned himself in to police this morning to face a burglary charge, authorities said.

He is being accused of breaking the padlock on a home so that the homeowner could reclaim the dwelling as part of a protest effort, according to city police.

Last week, according to WJZ, ACORN called the act of breaking into Donna Hanks’ home near Patterson Park an act of civil disobedience. ACORN has been trying to draw attention to the foreclosure crisis in cities across the country, while also urging a moratorium on foreclosures.

Michelle Malkin has more information on Donna Hanks’ mortgage and criminal record.

Related:

Legislation proposed to aid foreclosure “victims”
ACORN breaking into foreclosed-upon homes

WBAL.com

Baltimore City Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke wants homeowners who have received foreclosure notices to remain in their homes longer to give them time to work out new mortgage terms with banks and lenders.

Clarke calls it “buying time” legislation. Clarke and Councilman Bill Henry will introduce their legislation Monday before the City Council.

Under current law banks and lending institutions are allowed 14 business days from the mailing of a foreclosure notice until they evict the homeowner. Councilwoman Clarke says her bill would extend that time to one year.

“It is intended for victims of mortgage foreclosure in Baltimore City who have not been afforded the opportunity to negotiate modified terms,” Clarke tells WBAL Radio.

No word on whether ACORN will assist in getting owners back into their homes by breaking and entering.

Examiner

Attorneys for the nation’s largest mortgage lender Wednesday criticized Baltimore City officials for having the “chutzpah” to file a discrimination lawsuit to recover money allegedly lost to the foreclosure crisis.

Attorneys for lending giant Wells Fargo urged U.S. District Court Judge Benson Legg to dismiss the suit alleging the bank targeted minority homeowners for predatory loans, resulting in thousands of foreclosures and millions in lost property taxes to the city. They called Baltimore a city “thirsting for revenue by going after companies” and repeatedly attacked the city for foreclosing on homes for unpaid water bills.

“It defines the word ‘chutzpah’ for the city of Baltimore to be filing this kind of case under those circumstances,” said Wells Fargo attorney Andrew Sandler. “This is the largest financial firm in the nation and when they foreclose on a home, they have an investment in that property. They have a responsibility to the community. They maintain it and they pay taxes on it.”

Wells Fargo said 70 percent of the 10,000 loans made in Baltimore during this decade were fixed-interest — not the type of predatory products that have contributed to the national housing crisis.

The city is attempting to recoup millions in property taxes and increased fire and police service required to keep order amid the soaring number of vacant homes. Baltimore officials have identified more than 300 homes foreclosed by Wells Fargo between 2000 and 2007, during which they allege the company engaged in “reverse redlining,” or targeting black neighborhoods for bad loans that resulted in mass foreclosures.

More specifically, Baltimore City attorney John Relman said Wells Fargo lured homeowners into loans with two-year “teaser” interest rates that later skyrocketed. The result, he said, was massive short-term profits for Wells Fargo, which then sold the loans on Wall Street.