Plymouth Park Tax Services, aka Xspand, Cuyahoga County victims of this corruption deserve Justice

Submitted by Gone Fishin on Wed, 08/03/2011 - 00:07.

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The above picture is a former homeowner on eviction day.  His family owned the home in which he was evicted for nearly 50 years. 

The property owner was evicted from his home after a property tax foreclosure was ordered in Cuyahoga County, Ohio.  The tax lien holder was Plymouth Park Tax Services, a subsidiary of J. P. Morgan Chase.

The homeowner lost his home - owned for nearly 50 years- for property tax arrears in the amount of $2,000, despite paying nearly $6,000 to Plymouth Park Tax Services, aka Xspand, towards the arrearage and in an effort to settle this case. 

(see copies of the payments below)

 

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Below are copies of the excessive fees issued by Plymouth Park Tax Services, aka Xspand, subsidiaries of J.P. Morgan Chase

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Below are photos of the property tax foreclosure victim also on eviction day.  The mentally ill victim is looking out his door after realizing that representatives from Plymouth Park Tax Services were knocking on his door- to kick him out of his home owned for nearly 50 years.

Unfortunately, due to the victim's mental health status, he was not fully aware of what was about to happen and did not pack or move any of his belongings prior to the knock on his door.

 

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The former homeowner now resides in a homeless shelter.
 

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The victim leaving his home owned for nearly fifty years- for the last time.

 

 There was highly suspicious activity regarding the purchase of the above victim's property.  The victim's friends offered to pay off the tax lien in order to save the homeowner's house.  Plymouth Park Tax Services refused the offer and sold the property for $7,500.  The purchase of this property was intended to benefit the nephew of the new owner.  The nephew wanted the house to start a business working with the County Landbank to maintain the yards of properties in the County Landbank.

 

The photo below is of the victim's house, along with two other properties.

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The victim's home was in control of Plymouth Park Tax Services, the second house was in control of Cleveland Housing Court:

 

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And the third house pictured was in control of Safeguard Properties:

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Another example of this scam and other victims:

Below are copies of suspicious property tax liens that have already cost the homeowners (senior citizens) their property.

However, there is a pending civil lawsuit regarding these suspicious liens.  The homeowners have requested privacy, so all of the information identifying the homeowners has been redacted.

 

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Notice in the above photo (circled areas)  that the original tax lien was filed on 10/13/2000, with the time stamp date simply crossed out, and refiled again on  11/16/2004- four years later.

The reason for this suspicious refiling is because the tax liens are cancelled after six years, according to O.R.C. 5721.37

The tax foreclosure was filed on November 7, 2007- which would have made the above tax lien , originally dated October 13, 2000, invalid due to time limitations.

 

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Above is another copy of a second tax lien, relative to the same property, which was time stamped on 10/17/02 , original date crossed out, and refiled again on 11/16/2004- two years later.

 

The following pictures are of three additional victims.  All three of these families have lost their mortgage free homes to Plymouth Park Tax Services, aka Xspand, aka J. P. Morgan Chase.

 All three of these houses were each owned for decades.

 

 

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 The Ali family

 

 

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Tim Pickett

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 Darren Johnson 

Cuyahoga County is under a massive federal corruption investigation which publicly began in 2008.  Search warrants were isssued for the homes and offices of several public officials.

The ongoing investigation has resulted in numerous convictions and pending federal charges.  I believe that Plymouth Park Tax Services is directly involved with the county corruption.

 I am not the only person that was suspicious of this company and county officials:

 

According to former Mayor Eric Brewer via Cleveland.com:

Gus Frangoes never called me. I do, however, understand Jim Rokakis' oft-handed comments.
 
I wrote him a letter in 2006 asking that he not sell anymore properties through third-party tax lien sales to GLS Capital and Plymouth Park Investments out of East Cleveland. Mayor Frank Jackson had also asked him not to sell tax liens from Cleveland. 



 

I was critical of Rokakis pushing this blight-causing deal in 1999 when I hosted a radio show on WERE. I think it's absolutely horrible how he, as an elected official, pushed for a tax lien sale state law that created blight in East Cleveland by letting third party investors sit on vacant properties without cutting the grass, boarding them up, maintaining or rehabilitating them. If Steve Litt wants to write a real story, investigate Rokakis' third party tax lien sales and the impact they've had on school district budgets. He claimed it helps the schools but empty houses don't generate property taxes. Rokakis' policies have done much to decimate the East Cleveland school district's budget and that of every other community in Cuyahoga County where he's been selling tax liens to third party investors.
 
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.

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Former Cuyahoga County Treasurer - Jim Rokakis- has given this company no competition - no bid- land grabs since 2004.  story

  

Jim Rokakis also gave Plymouth Park Tax Services a $50,000 grant to "study" delinquent property tax liens in Cuyahoga County.

 

 

 

 

Jim Florio, the former Governor of New York, is politically connected and is also the former owner of Plymouth Park Tax Services, aka Xspand.   

Xspand, which was founded by former New Jersey Governor James Florio in 2000, was acquired by Bear Stearns Cos. six years later. Also known as Plymouth Park Tax Services, it became part of JPMorgan when the New York-based bank took over Bear Stearns in 2008 to prevent a collapse.

James Joseph "Jim" Florio (born August 29, 1937) is a Democratic politician who served as the 49th Governor of New Jersey from 1990 to 1994, the first Italian American to hold the position, and the first incumbent governor of the Garden State to fail of re-election

 link to story

 

 

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.  Many of the deliquent taxes were owed to the county for well over one year and the properties were also owned by Plymouth Park Tax Services during this time period:


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 on which they foreclosed?

J. P Morgan Chase has been given billions of tax payer dollars as an incentive to work with families to avoid foreclosures.  In one hand, J. P Morgan Chase took the financial incentive from the government, and with the other hand they filed tens of thousands of tax lien foreclosures forcing people from their homes for a couple thousand dollars owed in delinquent property taxes.

 

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.


Rokakis says the program only applies to homes that are tax delinquent, abandoned or vacant. 

link to story here

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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.
Florio's son, Christopher, asked for a decrease for a North Royalton home, valued at $187,400 in April 2007. He received a $19,100 reduction within 17 days, records show. Again, the decision was made without a public hearing.     

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.

MRS concluded its court filings thusly: “It is highly improper and a violation of the State Ethics Act for any public official to leak confidential information to vendors …about Montgomery County’s strategies” because such pre-meeting disclosure of “non-public, confidential information…violated the public trust and betrayed the public interest.”
The “Pennsylvania Public Official and Employee Ethics Act”prohibits office-holders from gaining personally from their public service. They are prohibited from releasing confidential information, defined as “Information not obtainable from reviewing a public document or from making inquiry to a publicly available source of information.”

 link to full story regarding Pennsylvania Public Corruption with Plymouth Park Tax Services, aka Xspand.

 

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.

 story

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.      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

link

The Obama administration has recently punished three of the nation's largest banks, including J.P. Morgan,  judging them unworthy of receiving financial incentives through its signature foreclosure relief program until they improve their practices.

 J. P. Morgan was cut off from receiving it's $6 Million monthly incentive for failure to provide foreclosure relief to the thousands of property owners victimized by J.P. Morgan and it's affiliate, Plymouth Park Tax Services.

 

Article Posted By Alex Ferreras on August 8, 2011 in Banks
Bailed-Out Banks Snap Up Tax Liens

Banks that took bailout money were supposed to use part of the taxpayer-provided cash infusion to help customers avoid foreclosure, but instead, many of them are buying up struggling homeowners’ tax debt.

Although the primary goal of the $700 billion bailout was to prop up struggling banks stung by the mortgage crisis, the government has criticized banks that took bailout money for not doing enough to help customers stay in their homes. In June, the U.S. Treasury Department withheld an estimated $24 million in combined monthly incentive payments from three — Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo — for not doing enough to help homeowners, and it could do the same for July.

And last month the federal inspector general monitoring the bailout issued a stinging report supporting the penalties.

Schumacher suspects banks really don’t want people to know they are buying tax liens. If customer knew they were buying up tax liens after they took bailout money, banks could suffer a public relations hit, he said.

Banks were involved in creating the mortgage crisis and took the federal government’s money when they hit the wall, Alexander said.

Once they took the public’s money, he said, the banks are in no position to say they no longer have to act in the public interest.

  

link 

  *** Update*** J. P Morgan, aka Plymouth Park Tax Services, has admitted their crimhttp://www.lilymiller.us/e of rigging tax lien bids in over 33 states- including Ohio- and have agreed to pay a $211 Million dollar settlement.  link to details ***

 

* My blogs expressing my Freedom of Speech Rights, especially on matters of public concern, are my opinion and not the opinion of my friends, family or employer*

 LILY MILLER       (216) 386-6546          llymiller [at] yahoo [dot] com                http://lilymiller.us/

( categories: )

Plymouth Park pillage

Most excellent post, Lily. It even has a "happy" ending: J P Morgan has recently announced that Plymouth Park Tax Services, aka Xspand, will quit tax lien purchases. However, the saying of too little, too late for thier victims, or is it? I hope that the victims are able to become victors in their lawsuit. That truly would be a happy ending.

 

J P Morgan, aka Plymouth Park, no longer buying tax liens

And this is exactly why J P Morgan Chase made the  recent announcement to quit purchasing delinquent tax liens.  J P Morgan does not like it's monthly multi-million dollar government incentive money disturbed.

 

Friday, July 29, 2011

JPMorgan Chase & Co. is winding down Plymouth Park Tax Services LLC, a business inherited from Bear Stearns & Co. that buys and collects delinquent property tax liens.

 
 

The unit, which uses the brand name XSPAND, will continue to service existing tax liens but will not take on any more business, JPMorgan Chase announced Friday. Plymouth Park was not a core business for JPMorgan's investment bank, says spokeswoman Jennifer Zuccarelli.   link

 

 
 
 
 
 
AND THIS:
 
 
Article Posted By Alex Ferreras on August 8, 2011 in Banks
 
Bailed-Out Banks Snap Up Tax Liens

Banks that took bailout money were supposed to use part of the taxpayer-provided cash infusion to help customers avoid foreclosure, but instead, many of them are buying up struggling homeowners’ tax debt.

Although the primary goal of the $700 billion bailout was to prop up struggling banks stung by the mortgage crisis, the government has criticized banks that took bailout money for not doing enough to help customers stay in their homes. In June, the U.S. Treasury Department withheld an estimated $24 million in combined monthly incentive payments from three — Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo — for not doing enough to help homeowners, and it could do the same for July.

And last month the federal inspector general monitoring the bailout issued a stinging report supporting the penalties.

Schumacher suspects banks really don’t want people to know they are buying tax liens. If customer knew they were buying up tax liens after they took bailout money, banks could suffer a public relations hit, he said.

Banks were involved in creating the mortgage crisis and took the federal government’s money when they hit the wall, Alexander said.

Once they took the public’s money, he said, the banks are in no position to say they no longer have to act in the public interest

link

J P Morgan hit hard - losing 6 million a month from government

Someone in the federal government finally woke up and cut off J P Morgan Chase's 6 Million monthly incentive payment.

J P Morgan, aka Plymouth Park Tax Services, got too greedy.  :)

 

3 big banks lose mortgage modification incentives

The three banks received $24 million in payments through the program last month, the Treasury Department said. No more payments will be made to the three banks until the mortgage servicers improve their performance.

"It's about time," said Paul Leonard, California director for the Center for Responsible Lending. "We're two years into the modification program and only now is the Treasury Department taking action to enforce its own program rules. Unfortunately, it comes too late for all the thousands of borrowers who have already passed through the program into foreclosure."

link

 

has areas requiring substantial improvement.After considering all relevant factors, J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, NA servicer incentives will be withheld at this time.Permanent reductions of incentives may commence in subsequent quarters if J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, NA fails to demonstrate improvement.

 

 

Treasury is publishing quarterly assessments of performance by the 10 largest program participants.  Review how your money is being wasted here                             

 

Big Bank Profile: JPMorgan Chase

Federal taxpayer bailout received: $94.7 billion
Lobbying fees in 9 months after bailout: $4.2 million
Campaign contributions in 2008 federal elections: $6.0 million
Profits for 1998-2008: $97.6 billion
Profits for the first half of 2009: $4.86 billion
Bank fees for first half of 2009: $3.45 billion
Change in bank account fees (2003-08): +249.5%
Percent of first half 2009 profit from fees: 71%
Credit card income for first half of 2009: $3.56 billion
Median JPMorgan Chase bank teller wage: $10.58/hour or $22,006 annually
2008 CEO Jamie Dimon pay: $19.7 million (893 times median teller wage)
2008 bonus pool: $8.7 billion
First half 2009 bonus and compensation pool: $14.5 billion
Cash bonuses (top 5 execs) last 10 years: $254.9 million
Effective tax rate in 2008: -33.4%
Offshore subsidiaries in tax havens: 53

        

More on J.P. Morgan Chase here

J. P. Morgan Chase Bank, NA

tax lien companies that fail to pay their own property taxes

Companies that buy liens fall behind on taxes themselves

 

Companies that buy Fulton County liens for unpaid property taxes themselves owe hundreds of thousands of dollars in overdue property taxes, calling into question the county's justification for selling the liens: that it saves taxpayers' money.

 

Fulton County government's practice of allowing private companies to collect delinquent taxes is controversial and barred by almost every other Georgia county and by 30 states, largely because of its potential to victimize property owners.  

link

In Cuyahoga County, did Rokakis

In Cuyahoga County, did Rokakis move to foreclosure on Plymouth Park, Xspand, for unpaid taxes? In many cases, the unpaid taxes where in the thousands for Plymouth Park, and the county foreclosed on private citizens for much less in unpaid taxes.

Shame on Ed Fitzgerald if he allows this to continue. I am very disappointed that the new county government has decided to pursue selling tax liens. It is a George W. and Wall Street concept that is destroying the foundations of neighborhoods and communities throughout the country. Long time home owners, with families and elderly occupants, have fallen on hard times. Owing small amounts of money in unpaid taxes, they are being used as a source of revenue by our county government. Our neighbors and families are being used as a revenue source!

For additional reading:

 

Wall Street's Newest Crime: Tax Lien Investing

Bailed-out banks snap up tax liens - Arizona Daily Star - Wall ...

 

Wall Street Finds Lucrative Market In Tax Liens

 

 

 

FEDS get guilty pleas in property tax bid rigging scheme

FORBES 8/25/11

Tax Lien Public Auctions

When owners of real estate fail to pay taxes on their property (e.g., real estate, water, and sewer), the local taxing authority often attaches a lien for the unpaid balance.  Typically, following a statutorily mandated waiting period, the lien may be sold at public auction.

Federal prosecutors allege that from at least 2003 through approximately February 2009,

  • Isadore H. May of Margate, N.J.;
  • Richard J. Pisciotta Jr. of Long Beach Township, N.J.; and
  • William A. Collins of Medford, N.J. 

entered into and engaged in a combination and conspiracy to suppress and eliminate competition by submitting non-competitive and collusive bids at certain public auctions within New Jersey for tax liens conducted by municipalities (of which there are some 566 cities, townships, and boroughs). Sharis A. Pozen, Acting Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division, believes that the “collusion taking place at these auctions is artificially raising the interest rates that financially distressed home and property owners must pay, and is lining the pockets of the colluding investors.”

link

 

Plymouth Park Tax Services, a subsidary of J. P. Morgan Chase was involved with this investigation:

BLOOMBERG   4/02/10

JPMorgan Unit Subpoenaed in U.S. Investigation of New Jersey Tax-Lien Bids

 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

With so many homeowners struggling these days, it is more important than ever that all aspects of real estate transactions, including tax-lien auctions, remain competitive and free from collusion,” Scott D. Hammond, deputy assistant U.S. attorney general for criminal enforcement of the department’s antitrust division, said in a prepared statement last June.

link

And after J.P. Morgan, aka Plymouth Park Tax Services, aka Xspand got busted, they recently announced their decision to discontinue purchasing tax liens:

 

J.P. Morgan to Exit Tax Lien Business

Friday, July 29, 2011
 
 

J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. said Friday that it would exit a tax lien business that it took on as part of its acquisition of Bear Stearns in 2008.

Plymouth Park Tax Services, also known as XSPAND, was started in 1997.

It purchased, financed and collected real estate tax liens for local governments.

XSPAND will still service existing tax liens for its third-party clients and for its own portfolio. J.P. Morgan said it won't pursue any new business in the tax lien area.


link

The FEDS are requesting tips of tax lien fraud.  Feel free to contact them about Cuyahoga County officials engaging in corrupt and collusive acts with Plymouth Park Tax Services that has devasted numerous neighborhoods, stole homes from hundreds of people in Cuyahoga County,  victimized thousands of Cuyahoga County property owners, and then failed to pay their own property taxes.

I worked with an attorney last year on this issue and we have already talked to the FEDS in New York who handled the above investigation and referred us to the the local FBI office in Cuyahoga County. My complaint was made over one year ago.  Please contact the FEDS below to push the local issue of tax lien collussion and fraud in Cuyahoga County by our elected officials.

 

If you have information about bid rigging or fraud related to tax lien auctions, you should

Good news for one victim of Plymouth Park Tax Services

Tim Pickett was an unfortunate victim of tax lien fraud by Plymouth Park Tax Services in Cuyahoga County.   Tim Picket's family owned their house since 1965-MORTGAGE FREE.

095_crop.jpg

Tim Pickett

Unfortunately, members of  the Pickett family had medical issues that led to their deaths, and the Pickett family fell behind on their property taxes.  Plymouth Park Tax Services foreclosed on the Pickett home - owned since 1965 mortgage free- and was attempting to evict Tim Pickett.

Plymouth Park Tax Services has recently notified Tim Pickett that they will give him his house back for $5,000.

Unfortunately, Tim Pickett was not expecting to hear any good news from Plymouth Park Tax Thieves and is struggling to come up with the $5,000 needed to get his house back.  The $5,000 offer is available for a very limited time and Tim Pickett needs help.

Tim Pickett was born in this house and has a lot of fond memories of his family's history in this house.  Tim Pickett told me, "If I am able to save my family's home, I promise to never get myself in this situation again."

If you would like to donate money to save the Pickett home, please send checks or money orders payable to PLYMOUTH PARK TAX SERVICES to:

Lily Miller, 2220 West 20th Street, Cleveland, Ohio  44113

 ** If Tim Pickett is unable to come up with the $5,000 needed to save his house, any donated money will be returned to the sender. **

Tim Pickett needs help!

 Plymouth is dangling a tidbit for a limited time. A tidbit for Plymouth and an enormous amount for this struggling man whose family owned his house for over 45 years. Please help.

Plymouth Park Tax Services takes childhood home of Pinkey Carr

Nice story on Cleveland Municipal Judicial Canidate Pinkey Carr in the PD.   http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/09/high_profile_success_in_serial.html

 

Unfortunately, the theft of Carr's childhood home by Plymouth Park Tax Services is also mentioned in this story.  Below is my comment posted to this story:

 

Lily_Miller_520 September 26, 2011, 7:05AM

Nice story. I wish Pinkey Carr the best and hope that she is successful in the Judicial race.

Ms. Carr should be interested in the fact that the company that stole her childhood home, Plymouth Park Tax Services, just admitted to rigging the tax lien process in over 30 states- including Ohio. There is highly suspicious activity regarding this company targeting many minority homeowners in Cuyahoga County.

The Carr family lost their home- owned for decades- for tax liens in the amount of $4,942.89. Plymouth Park Tax Services obtained ownership of the Carr home on April 25, 2008 and did NOT pay any propery taxes on this property until 2011. Plymouth Park recently paid their own delinquent property taxes in the amount of $2,998.32. This company owed almost as much money in delinquent property taxes than what caused the Carr family to lose their home in the first place.

Plymouth Park Tax Services recently sold the Carr family home for $6,000.

Ms. Carr is welcome to contact me via Face Book for additional information regarding Plymouth Park Tax Services.

Plain Dealer Bitches deleting my comments

I wish they would quit hiding this information from vulnerable property owners.  They deleted my comment above, so I posted another one:

Lily_Miller_520 September 26, 2011 at 7:43AM

 

Ms. Carr can also thank former Treasurer Jim Rokakis and Gus Frangos for selling out her family to Plymouth Park Tax Services, aka Xspand, subsidaries of J.P. Morgan Chase.

The majority of property tax liens that were sold to this company appears to have highly targeted minorities.

It is my understanding from an insider in the County Treasurer's office and several emails back and forth to the Plain Dealer, that the Plain Dealer is working on a story regarding Plymouth Park Tax Services.

This case continues to be under federal investigation and I believe it is part of the county corruption probe.

Plymouth Park recently admitted their illegal activity and has agreed to pay $211 million to over 30 states.

This same company that stole hundreds of properties and victimized thousands of families did not pay their own property taxes after taking houses from delinquent property owners, and in return this company did NOT pay their own property taxes- some for many years.

Rokakis and Frangos looked the other way when this company failed to pay their own property taxes.

*****************************************************************************************************************

Does the Plain Dealer not want Pinkey Carr to know that her family was targeted by these thieves that stold her childhood home?

I will call her myself and tell her.  I wish the PD would quit covering up this admitted crime.  Plymouth Park ADMITTED this crime.

PD deleting comments

And they just deleted the above comment too.

Plain Dealer comment before it disappears

Comment posted successfully!

Your comment is now publishing and will appear shortly.

Lily_Miller_520 September 27, 2011, 9:08PM

"The city will spend nearly $9.8 million this year for weed cutting" ??
How can I get in on the weed cutting?

I think these folks should also protest Cuyahoga County officials for selling out property owners by selling delinquent property tax liens to tax lien bid riggers who have ADMITTED their crime - Plymouth Park Tax Services.

Thousands of liens sold to Plymouth Park Tax Services and Aeon Financial FBO CapitalSource Bank. Hundreds of properties taken by these suspicious companies. The property is then left vacant, vandalized and then these companies do NOT pay their own property taxes.

Don't blame this solely on banks. There is plenty of blame to go around.

link to story, although I am sure my comment will be long gone.

Good reporting

 Thank you for the follow up on this, Lily. Thank you for all that you do.

Hear, Hear, Lily

  I appreciate your perseverance.

Best, Jeffb

 

 

 

Thanks Jeff and DW

Now Plymouth Park Tax Thieves has three more victims they need to make offers to, and I might leave them alone.  Can't save the world, but I will do my best to save the three other victims that I have been working with: 

093_crop.jpg
 
THE ALI FAMILY
 
096_crop.jpg

 Darren Johnson 

 

And the elderly couple that desire to remain anonymous.   The elderly couple has a pending civil lawsuit against Plymouth Park for already foreclosing on their home and attempting to evict them.  The civil lawsuit stems from the altered tax liens that I discovered and took copies to their home:

The homeowners have requested privacy, so all of the information identifying the homeowners has been redacted.

 

005_crop.jpg

 Notice in the above photo (circled areas)  that the original tax lien was filed on 10/13/2000, with the time stamp date simply crossed out, and refiled again on  11/16/2004- four years later.

The reason for this suspicious refiling is because the tax liens are cancelled after six years, according to O.R.C. 5721.37

The tax foreclosure was filed on November 7, 2007- which would have made the above tax lien , originally dated October 13, 2000, invalid due to time limitations.

 

  006_crop.jpg

 Above is another copy of a second tax lien, relative to the same property, which was time stamped on 10/17/02 , original date crossed out, and refiled again on 11/16/2004- two years later.

 

PLYMOUTH PARK TAX THIEVES- BACK OFF!

Freddie Doe- victim of Plymouth Park Tax Thieves - update-

Freddie remains homeless and now resides in a homeless shelter.  After bouncing around from friend to friend, crashing on couches and sleeping on floors, Freddie was accepted into a homeless shelter.  Unfortunately, the homeless shelter where Freddie now lives offers housing for a limited time only- and Freddie will soon be bounced from the homeless shelter soon.  Probably just in time for Winter.

043_crop.jpg

 

J.P. Morgan Chase, aka Plymouth Park Tax Services, aka Xspand, is trying to improve their image.  They have a lot of work to do to improve their tarnished image.

J. P. Morgan Chase (Plymouth Park Tax Services) still owns nearly 100 properties in Cuyahoga County that they stole from tax lien victims.  Plymouth Park Tax Services needs to give one of the nearly 100 houses to Freddie.  Although they can not give him back his house - owned for nearly 50 years and stolen for $2,000- they can give him one of the other nearly 100 houses they still own.

Causing a mentally ill person to be homeless after taking $5,450 is unacceptable.

"Below are photos of the property tax foreclosure victim also on eviction day.  The mentally ill victim is looking out his door after realizing that representatives from Plymouth Park Tax Services were knocking on his door- to kick him out of his home owned for nearly 50 years.

Unfortunately, due to the victim's mental health status, he was not fully aware of what was about to happen and did not pack or move any of his belongings prior to the knock on his door."

 

 

 022_crop.jpg

 

My family and I spent our Thanksgiving Holiday and lots of money moving Freddie since he lacked the ability to do so on his own:

040_crop.jpg

 

029_crop.jpg

 

037_crop.jpg

And I am still in possession of Freddie's belongings since he is homeless:

 

  

 

079_crop.jpg

  Freddie's friends and I will kick J.P. Morgan's ass if they do not straighten this out:

 

031_crop.jpg

J.P. MORGAN CHASE, aka PLYMOUTH PARK TAX SERVICES, needs to correct this social injustice by giving Freddie one of their nearly 100 houses.  They made enough money in Cuyahoga County by ripping off thousands of property owners, now it is time to give back.

Have you ever seen a grown man cry?

021_crop_crop.jpg

JPMorgan pays $211M to settle bid-rigging charges -BUSTED

BUSTED. 

Now the local FBI needs to follow up with my complaint made last year.  This is why I could not give up on this case.  I knew it.

VICTIMS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY DEMAND JUSTICE FROM THESE THIEVES THAT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS DRAGGED INTO OUR COUNTY. 

CORRECT THE SOCIAL INJUSTICE.   BACK OFF THE ABOVE VICTIMS AND GIVE FREDDIE BACK A HOUSE. 

July 7, 2011

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

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC made at least 93 secret deals with companies that handled the bidding processes in 31 states, the Justice Department and Securities and Exchange Commission said Thursday. Those deals allowed the bank to peek at competitors’ offers.

 

link

Plain Dealer cover up for elected officials

I promised myself after I proved that Plymouth Park Tax Services was involved with the federal county corruption probe, I would expose how the Plain Dealer covered up for our elected officials despite our pleas and warnings:

 

LMcShane 11/28/10 10:43 AM >>>
Please call Lily Miller 216-386-6546 and Dianna Hill 216-254-9285. 

If your paper is serious about uncovering corruption you need to stop censoring/deleting your online comments and you need to seriously investigate the deals cut Plymouth Park Tax Services by County Treasurer Jim Rokakis.

Respectfully,
LMcShane
 

From: "HENRY GOMEZ" <hgomez [at] plaind [dot] com>
Date: Sun, 28 Nov 2010 13:41:29
To: GABRIEL BAIRD<GBAIRD [at] plaind [dot] com>; TED DIADIUN<TDIADIUN [at] plaind [dot] com>; <lmcshane
Cc: sfbrat; JOHN KROLL<JKROLL [at] plaind [dot] com>; <llymiller [at] yahoo [dot] com>
Subject: Re: Plain Dealer's failure to undercover corruption

Laura --

As I have mentioned to you and others before, we are looking at the Plymouth Park tips. It does, however, take time to pursue some of these threads. And as you know, Gabriel and I have been immersed in the board of revision stories for months. Some of the tips have not panned out -- that doesn't mean they won't, but they haven't yet.

The box that ran alongside today's story noted that it took us six weeks to analyze those campaign finance records and the tax data. The series that ran last week on Rule 29 took even longer for reporters to produce. I'm sure it can be frustrating to not see instant response to your tips in print, but that doesn't mean we haven't been researching them.

We are not ignoring the suggestions that come from readers like you, Lily and Dianna. In the meantime, if you have specific knowledge of something amiss or corrupt, we are interested. I can speak only for myself, but a lot of what I have heard so far is suggestive and needs to be supported by more analysis and investigation if it's to be printed. I haven't given up on that analysis or investigation, but my goal has been to first close the loop on these board of revision stories.

One final note: I do believe that my willingness -- and Gabriel's -- to pursue stories like these is without question.

Thanks, as always, for reading and commenting.

Henry

 

From: llymiller [at] yahoo [dot] com
Date: Sun, 28 Nov 2010 19:46:01
To: HENRY GOMEZ<hgomez [at] plaind [dot] com>; GABRIEL BAIRD<GBAIRD [at] plaind [dot] com>; TED DIADIUN<TDIADIUN [at] plaind [dot] com>; lmcshane

Reply-To: llymiller [at] yahoo [dot] com
Cc:Sfbrat JOHN KROLL<JKROLL [at] plaind [dot] com>
Subject: Re: Plain Dealer's failure to undercover corruption

Thank you for your response and excellent reporting, Mr. Gomez.  Our sense of urgency comes from the fact that thousands of people are indeed victims of corruption and the buddy system to plymouth park tax services.  People are losing their homes to this corrupt systyem including a mentally ill person that lost their home owned for 47 years.  This person was kicked to the curb Friday - the day after Thanksgiving.  He owed 2,000 and they refused to sell the home back to the victim owner.  However they did sell the home to someone that is working with the councilman and the county to maintain vacant properties.  No need to cover this story to protect victims, I will do it for you.  Stay tuned to realneo for my story with complete documentation.
 

From>>> <llymiller [at] yahoo [dot] com> 11/29/2010 6:38 AM >>>
Also as far as the comment, " what I have heard so far is suggestive", my response is, what exactly have you heard so far?  Not one single person from the pd has even bothered to contact me, so unless you folks have the ability to read my mind, the comment is confusing.   I have 100,s of hours invested in my investigation of plymouth park tax services and my research is far from being "suggestive".    I appreciate the stories uncovering corruption of yesteryear; however I am deeply concerned about the victims that are losing their homes Today.

 

Lily -

I have talked about this quite a bit with LMcShane and Dianna Hill, both of whom I believe you are in contact with. Either way, I would like to talk to you about this more, especially if you have actual evidence of corruption. But as I have said, things are incredibly busy with the board of revision series and will be for the next few weeks.

What's a good number to reach you at? I can call you this week to hear more. In the meantime, if you have public records that show something, I would love to see them or at least get suggestions on what to ask for. Good reporters rely on good sources, and if I don't know what to look for, I can't look for it.

Henry

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Plain Dealer never contacted me and never exposed the corruption that they were well aware of.  Political cover up by the Plain Dealer

Say it ain't so. Lily!

Say it ain't so. Lily! The PeeDee failed to cover corruption when it was being handed to them on a silver platter?

To be fair, realneo.us does abound with conspiracy theories.

For a busy reporter, it is hard to separate the probable from the possibles. I'd suggest that you give Henry another chance. Just one, and then call the master of flaying the PeeDee, Roldo, for tips on effective flaying.

There are some good reporters hidden away in at the PeeDee. Their hands are tied by the publisher, the mayor, the foundations, the cleveland special interest groups. advertisers and others.

Plain Dealer cover-up

I understand the Plain Dealer reporters are busy.  The only newspaper in town is busy reporting on what they want to cover and covering up for their political buddies. 

The back and forth correspondence from the PD has been going on for nearly one year. They never touched this serious issue with Plymouth Park Tax Services' no bid contract handed to the crooks by our elected officials. 

The PD often deleted my comments and Laura's about this subject that was posted on Cleveland.com.  They banned Laura as a user.

The Plain Dealer has not written one single word about J.P. Morgan's, aka Plymouth Park Tax Services, recent admission that they rigged the tax lien process in over 30 states- including Ohio.  Not one single word about the $211 MILLION dollar settlement for victims.

Not one single word about the 1000's of victims in Cuyahoga County alone.  Never mentioned the fact that after Plymouth Park Tax Services foreclosed on property owners for failure to timely pay their property taxes, Plymouth Park did not pay their own property taxes on nearly 100 properties. 

And the Plain Dealer did absolutely nothing to warn and protect the community.

Below is another email that I sent to the Plain Dealer:

FROM>>> <llymiller [at] yahoo [dot] com> >>>
HENRY GOMEZ" <HGOMEZ [at] plaind [dot] com>
December 2, 2010

Unfortunately I am not in contact with laura and dianna on a regular basis.  I was unaware that either of the two actually had contact with you or other staff at the pd other than a few e-mails that I was cc'd with.  I understand you are busy with the boards of revision stories and you are doing an excellent job.  Thank you for your hard work.  I am deeply concerned with the fact that plymouth park tax services has purchased thousands of tax liens and has the  ability to foreclose on all of the properties. Plymouth park has filed nearly ten thousand foreclosure cases with the courts and has several thousand outstanding liens and the ability to further victimize thousands of other people.  Plymouth park is foreclosing on folks that fail to timely pay their property taxes.  Plymouth park has foreclosed on and is now the owner of nearly 100 houses and they are tax delinquent on nearly every single property. How can they get away with being tax delinquent when that is the sole reason that people lost their homes?  There is an ohio revised code that clearly states they can not engage in tax delinquent lien purchases or redemptions if the company is tax delinquent.  Thousands of victims need to be protected

My upcoming story is based on the fact that a mentally ill homeowner of 47 years lost his home for $2000 the day after Thanksgiving.  As I stated in an e-mail to the pd months ago, you folks have a duty to investigate and warn potential victims.  You will be surprised  what you will find and the response from thousands of victims.  You can reach me at  216 386-6546.  Just as a heads up, I am going to include my e-mail to the pd advising of the obligation to warn and protect victims that I sent over two months ago when I post my story to realneo regarding the mentally ill homeowner of 47 years that lost his home this past friday over $2000.  His house was bought by someone who is working with the county landbank ,and plymouth park refused to sell the man his own house back.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

 

Plain Dealer Censorship

The Plain Dealer let me get in a few comments here , but when I tried to answer a question that a reader posted for me the Plain Dealer would not post my comment.

And I did not even mention the "R" word.

I did get  a few words in on Scene's story here

Is he related to someone over there?

Rokakis sold the public on the fact that the delinquent taxes paid by the third party investors would send money to the county's school districts. But the school districts only got paid until the vacant properties on hundreds of streets drove out residents, increased crime, drove down property values and increased blight on the east side of Cleveand, East Cleveland and parts of Cleveland Heights. Vacant houses don't generate property taxes. And, if he wants to complain about the "foreclosure crisis," always remember that he started selling off tax liens early in 1999 ... long before the foreclosure crisis.

GLS Capital, Plymouth Park Investments and other third party investors have also left cities throughout the county struggling with the blight caused by the vacant properties they own. Each has been forced to invest block grant dollars, and to pursue HUD Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds, to demolish blocks of vacant properties. Where cities could previously allocate federal block grant dollars to storefront renovation programs, Rokakis' bad policies and the housing foreclosure crisis have caused real "development" funds to dry up. All Rokakis is doing with the landbank is reallocating county dollars to solve a problem he helped create in the first place.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled against Allegheny County for doing to homeowners there what Rokakis has been doing to them in Cuyahoga County. The Plain Dealer would know this if its editors ever assigned a reporter to dig deep enough into Rokakis' community-busting scheme instead of singing his false praises all the time. Is he related to someone over there?

JP Morgan

 It would be nice to have more details. Large, credible newspapers worth anything will pursue this. Since this involved municipal bonds all over the country, the public has a right to know.

FBI....been following up on this since my complaint in 2009....

No results yet...

 

I think that our local FBI will take eons to figure this case out and how it violated our people....and to connect all the true players and dots in this stack of dominos would mean digging deep and accepting that there are high ranking civilian, politically tied folks to include congressmen involved in the kickbacks enjoyed from the frauds portrayed on our community at large. Thanks a million for keeping light on this subject.... I Remain frauded by PPTS, Cuyahoga County Treasurer Rokakis, and Cuyahoga County Auditor Frank Russo....what is this county doing to make all these fraudulent situations right with the people.??? NOTHING.... surreal.

Always Appreciative, "ANGELnWard14"

Victims across the country have contacted me about this blog

I received four phone calls from victims in other states.   Hundreds of thousands of people victimized by Plymouth Park Tax Services, aka Xspand, aka J.P. Morgan Chase.

Some of the victims want their information shared here on Realneo.   I will post it  once I receive the information.

The blog is traveling via Twitter:

 
 

You +1'd this publicly. Undo

Sign up for Twitter to follow Comian Tax Lien Fund (TaxLienQueen) and get their ... http://realneo.us/content/plymouth-park-tax-services-aka-xspand-cuyahoga- ...

And Facebook: 

 
 
  •  
2 people like this.
 

August 21 at 7:02pm
  •  

    Comian Investment Group above is just one story...there are complaints piling up all over the US. I'm sure they decided to exit rather than cooperate with all future inquiries...
    August 21 at 7:03pm
  •  
  •  
     

    Federal Prosecutors - County Corruption- ongoing investigation

    September 09, 2011

    The prosecutors, meanwhile, filed papers asking Lioi to allow them to file documents under seal that contain information related to an ongoing investigation that has not yet been made public.

    Plymouth Park Tax Service thieves admitted their guilt.  It takes two to tango.   Which public official(s) tangoed with Plymouth Park Tax Services?

     

    Copy before censored by Plain Dealer

    I have to copy/paste here before the Plain Dealer Houdini's me and Countyinsider- they pull out their magic wand- and POOF our comments disappear.
     
     
    It is a tug-of-war game that I have going on with the Plain Dealer.   I am not winning.
     
     
     
     
    Lily_Miller_520 September 10, 2011 at 7:09AM

     

    At the time of my investigation in September 2010, Plymouth Park Tax Services owned 89 properties and was delinquent with paying taxes on 88 properties.

    After I and an attorney exposed Plymouth Park and made a complaint with the Feds, they finally paid their taxes on almost every property - except one.

    Look at the dates of transfer and then notice the delinquent penalty that Plymouth Park was charged when they finally paid their taxes in 2011. They were charged delinquent penalties for the 2010 tax year on nearly all of their 89 properties.

    The reason the county webiste is not showing taxes owed is because you need to look in the "2010" tax year to see the delinquencies and penalties that were owed. The information will not be reflected in the county's website unless you look in 2010. The website defaults to 2011 taxes.

    Plymouth Park Tax Services is not "buying" properties up to July of this year, but rather "stealing" properties via tax delinquent foreclosures. And our elected officials looked the other way when Plymouth Park Tax Services failed to timely pay their own property taxes.

     

    Inappropriate? Alert us.

    Reply Post new

    countyinsider September 10, 2011 at 7:36AM

     

    For several years Jimmy "the Creep" Rokakis was given a free ride by the PD because of his knack for dropping dimes on most Cuyahoga County democrats...even himself. He was alot of bluster and little substance when it came to getting the job done. Many have been awaiting for the Feds to handcuff him, but it appears "the Creep" is well connected there as well. The damage that he has caused to the county and its neighborhoods will be felt for years to come. The saddest part about this is the the PD continues to ignore any investigation on these issues. Keep up the good work Liliy Miller.

     

    Inappropriate? Alert us.

    Reply Post new



     

    LInk disabled?

    visit www.justice.gov/atr/contact/newcase.htm

    Not opening...

    Always Appreciative, "ANGELnWard14"

    Social Networking - all concerned citizens step up and speak out

    Time for Social Media to kick in

    Please help me spread the word on this admitted crime that caused damage to tens of thousands of people in Cuyahoga County and is being covered up by local media.

    Please repost this blog to Facebook, Twitter, email contacts, your own personal websites and any and all other social media sites that you visit.

    Thank you.

    X

    *

    Plymouth Park Tax Services - 'donation' to county land bank

    Plymouth Park Tax Services 'donated' another property to the county land bank AGAIN:

     

    PARCEL ID 672-05-165
    OWNERS NAME CUYAHOGA COUNTY LAND REUTILIZATION CORPORATION
    ADDRESS 01252 BENDER AVE
    CITY EAST CLEVELAND
    ZIP 44112 Field Definitions

     

    This property has transferred back and forth from the land bank and Plymouth Park Tax Services several times:

     

    On May 14, 2010 -  Plymouth Park gave the property to the land bank:

     

    Transfer Date: 14-MAY-10

    CUYAHOGA COUNTY LAND REUTILIZATION CORP.

     

    PLAYMOUTH PACK TAX SERVICES, LLC.

     

     

    On June 16, 2010, the land bank transferred the property back to Plymouth Park:

    Transfer Date: 16-JUN-10 AFN Number: Receipt:
    Parcel Deed Type Vol / Page Sales Amt Convey. Fee Convey. No Multiple Sale / No. of Parcels
    672-05-165 Warranty Deed Ex / $0 $0 0 / 1
      
    Grantee(s) Grantor(s)
     
    PLYMOUTH PARK TAX SERV.
     
    CUYAHOGA COUNTY LAND REUTILIZATION CORP.

     

     

    And on June 20, 2013, the property transferred again to the county land bank:

     

    Transfer Date: 20-JUN-13 AFN Number: Receipt:
    Parcel Deed Type Vol / Page Sales Amt Convey. Fee Convey. No Multiple Sale / No. of Parcels
    672-05-165 Limited Warranty Ex / $0 $0 0 / 1
      
    Grantee(s) Grantor(s)
     
    CUYAHOGA COUNTY LAND REUTILIZATION CORPORATION
     
    PLYMOUTH PARK TAX SERV.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    * My blogs expressing my Freedom of Speech Rights, especially on matters of public concern, are my opinion and not the opinion of my friends, family or employer*

    Thomas J. Tarantino...VP of PPTS

    Who's the signature on behalf of PPTS?????? The grantor signature.....on the actual deed???  THOMAS TARANTINO: VP OF PPTS....March 2013: Notarized by Theresa A. Fleming in New Jersey.... 

     

    Interesting to wonder if they are related.... See A Thomas J. Tarantino below who works with Climaco etc...........

    http://www.climacolaw.com/thomas-j-tarantino/

    Thomas J. Tarantino

    Thomas J. Tarantino is a principal attorney in the law firm of Climaco, Wilcox, Peca, Tarantino & Garofoli Co., L.P.A., where lends his expertise to the Firm in the areas of corporate and business law, investment adviser regulation, real estate, government law, and public finance. Mr. Tarantino has represented both private businesses and non-profit organizations in a wide range of complex transactions including asset acquisitions, stock transactions, mergers, commercial financing, franchise development and real estate acquisition and development. In addition, Mr. Tarantino regularly assists entrepreneurs and civic leaders in organizing new companies and non-profit organizations and providing continual advice and support on corporate governance matters.

    As part of his public finance practice, Mr. Tarantino has participated as bond counsel in note and bond issuances of several state, local and quasi-governmental agencies. He has also acted as special counsel in the creation of enterprise zones, commercial reinvestment areas, and in special assessment proceedings. He participated in the Firm's representation as underwriters' counsel and issuers' counsel in numerous other transactions, including the Gateway Economic Development Corporation and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum projects.

    Mr. Tarantino is admitted to the Supreme Court of Ohio, the United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Mr. Tarantino is a member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers, the Ohio and Cleveland Bar Association. A Lake County resident, Mr. Tarantino is also a member of the Lake County Bar Association, where he serves on the Real Estate Committee.

    Consistent with the Firm's commitment to community service and charitable support, Mr. Tarantino serves various area charitable and community organizations. In addition to his service as a board member and pro bono general counsel to several charities, Mr. Tarantino serves the citizens of Lake County as an appointed board member and President of the Lake County Board of Developmental Disabilities. Mr. Tarantino is also active in supporting charities devoted to addressing autism and other developmental disabilities.

    Contact Info:
    (216) 522-0262
    tjtara [at] climacolaw [dot] com

    Always Appreciative, "ANGELnWard14"

    The Florios

     The Florios of New Jersey may or may not be related to the Florios of Cuyahoga County. Chris Florio of New Jersey has a career outside of the scope of pillaging of peoples homes (here). The tepid PeeDee reports of the local Florios using the system to decrease taxes at the same time as thousands of applications for review of property taxes pile up, is poor reporting. THat is, unless I missed an editorial in the PeeDee demanding an investigation of the Florios, The questions that Lily raises about the name connections of Jim FLorio, founder of Plymouth Park, with the shenigans of the local Florios, needs to be answered. What would Roldo do? He would call the Board of Revisions and ask them. He would call the Florios and ask them, too, cause we can't count on the PeeDee to do its' job as a newspaper.

    Citizen Journalism (which Realneo exists to promote) deputizes u

     Today, no one needs any credentials to ask questions of anybody.  

    There is no longer any such thing as "press" credentials.   

    Every inquisitive person is a "journalist" if they report what they find, report what they believe, or make their cynacism known.

    There is no graduate degree necessary to inquire.  No "journalism training" required. 

    All that crap was in the age when advertizement paid for the news.  

    Can you believe it?

    For centuries (literally) advertizers paid the press which presented the "news" to the reader.

    Think there is any conflict with that scenario?

    So, finally, today with the internet, the cost of publishing is so low that advertizing is not required to support a corporate organization of "journalist" reporters and union press operators. 

    News is finally free from the advertizers.

    Citizens now own the news.

    Call the Florios.   Send 'em a certified letter.   

    Post your question to them here on Realneo.  Use an alias if you like or use your real identity. 

    Cross check the local name on Google. 

    Every citizen now has exactly the same research resources as the Corporate press.  

    Everyone has the internet.  

    The advertizer wagged (dog/tail analogy) corporate newsroom has been permanently scooped.

    Time moves on....and with journalism  this time movement is good...

     

    citizen journalism/commercial journalism

     So, JeffBuster, does the above statement mean that realneo will be kept free of commercial interest?

    Or will you find yourself needing to use the editing marker so as not to offend future investors?

    Re: the PeeDee, and Cleveland, are especially bad in kow towing to special interests. However, in defense of journalist who try to make a living doing what they love, I can see that there would be a few that really make a difference. Citizen  journalism is a good thing, but so is the degreed journalism, and knowing what the standards and ethics of real journalism are about. This is something that is taught in journalism school, and is valuable. Editors and publishers, though, skip over this for the bottom line of revenue. Sort of like US health care, news, a vital part of our life, is owned and operated by the corporate interests that rule.

     

     

    All of it was a

    All of it was a scheme....all of it...

    They were PAID CONSULTANTS TO CREATE THE STATE OF OHIO TAX LAW.... nothing in their case law provided relief to the taxpayers...except the "AUDITOR's" actions.... and just look at what "our" County Auditor "RUSSO" was doing for years...corrupt, corrupt, corrupt.

     

    GUS FRANGOS...another TREMONT SOCIAL CAPITAL PLAYER IN ALL OF THIS.....LANDBANKING.......

     

    THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO CUT ALL FUNDING TO CDC's and put the money back in the pockets of hardworking Americans.... This regime of CDC's and politically steered funding has turned into a nightmare...

    ....collusion, racketeering, failure to protect 14th Amendment rights, and so much more...all constructed by our "elected public servants in collaboration with big business!"

    ...just look at these people....greedy, democrats living large without regard for the most vulnerable in our community....shame, shame.

     

    ***** Don't forget the billions in Federal grants that were provided to our local government to help save homes from foreclosure.... right into the payroll checks of administration & paper pushers who regularly deny citizens from receiving assistance....comical...

    ONLY 1 place in Cleveland offering financial assistance to the citizens for property taxes....NHS (Neighborhood Housing Services....)))))) Seriously????? 

    Hmmmmmm...................................

     

    Always Appreciative, "ANGELnWard14"

    DOMESTIC TERRORISM in Cuyahoga County

     

     

    WILL ANY OF THE ABOVE ISSUES EVER RECEIVE SOCIAL JUSTICE?????????? 

    Will our local government repay the citizens who lost their homes for federal violations? 

    There are still countless victims fighting to save their homes in Cuyahoga County from these SHARKS!!!! Priceless....Where is the consumer protection? 

    Always Appreciative, "ANGELnWard14"

    Ed Fitzgerald is the key to changing Tax Certificate Sales...

    Cuyahoga County originally lobbied under a collusive relationship by and with Plymouth Park Tax Services to "CHANGE OHIO REVISED CODES" regarding establishing the "TAX CERTIFICATE SALE LAWS" and the "LANDBANK" Games...

    Perhaps he will lobby Ohio Lawmakers to "completely remove and reverse the law in effect" due to the illegal nature of how it all came about.

     

    There are ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS FOR CUYAHOGA COUNTY GOVERNMENT REGARDING TAX CERTIFICATE COLLECTIONS..AND SALES...

    GEAUGA & MEDINA COUNTIES BOTH SELL THEIR INDIVIDUALLY on the doorsteps of the Court Houses...and they don't go for cheap, but there are a considerably lower amount of taxes that end up on the sale sheet because homeowners in those locations KNOW that they cannot play games.... Both Counties have exceptional property values and attributes for doing business the old fashioned way...

    Let's get back to the basics on some things and put our people first!!! 

    Always Appreciative, "ANGELnWard14"

    tax liens / landbank

    Offer the delinquent  property owner the same discount that the tax lien puchaser gets from the county- prior to any tax lien sale.

    Don't target owner occupied homes like the county has in the past. 

    In the past, the majority of tax liens that were purchased by tax lien companies was concentrated in areas with mostly black homeowners- on the eastside and eastern suburbs.  Out of the nearly 100 properties owned by Plymouth Park, probably 95% were taken from minority homeowners and located on the eastside or eastern suburbs.  (See above for a list of the properties)

    Start enforcement with Aeon fbo CapitalSource Bank.   This company that now owns nearly 100 properties in Cuyahoga County obtained via delinquent tax foreclosures owes the county tens of thousands of dollars.  In 2011, Aeon fbo CapitalSource Bank filed 795 tax foreclosures in Cuyahoga County.  And in 2010, Aeon fbo CaptialSource Bank filed 427 tax delinquent foreclosures.

    Target investors that own numerous properties and are delinquent with their taxes.

    Selling tax liens is a temporary fix to collect large amounts of money at once and it leaves behind vacant and vandalized homes and these companies do NOT pay property taxes.  And the new fiscal officer promises to be "more aggressive'

    At this rate, nearly all of the property in Cuyahoga County will be owned by the Landbank or the tax lien companies.

    This is a serious issue and has devastated counties across the country.  People losing their homes for a couple thousand dollars to companies and in return the property still does not generate property taxes because the lien companies do NOT pay their own property taxes.

    The decision to sell delinquent property tax liens is also a sign that the county can not continue to enforce delinquent tax lien foreclosures and  put the property in the county landbank.  The landbank has already filed and taken numerous properties itself via delinquent tax lien foreclosures.

    The county can not afford to own and maintain the hundreds of properties that are already in the landbank.  The landbank can not afford to be property managers to 100's of properties.  The cost of board-ups, insurance, grass cutting, repairs, safeguarding the property, etc., costs taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars and also does not generate any property tax.

    The same county officials that created the majority of the foreclosure crisis in Cuyahog County by offering delinquent tax lien sales, Afford a Home Mortgage scam, etc., are the same exact officials that are now trying to correct the mess they made.

    The story on the  Afford a Home scandal that left behind numerous foreclosed properties, in part:

    City of Cleveland disputes it owes HUD for Afford-A-Home problems

    Cleveland officials dispute that the city owes hundreds of thousands of dollars for sloppy oversight of a federally funded mortgage program.

    An audit report released last month by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development says the city lacked adequate controls over its Afford-A-Home program.

    The report concludes that the city could owe as much as $900,000 for failing to properly substantiate the income of borrowers, for making loans to people who were not eligible for the program and for not recovering loan proceeds after houses sold at sheriff's sale.

    link to full story

     

    According to Rokakis, the landbank was created to keep property out of the hands of out-of-state irresponsible property investors.  The same exact out-of-state irresponsible property investors that Rokakis invited to Cuyahoga County via delinquent tax lien sales.

    Does this make any sense to anyone?  Who is more irresponsible- the tax lien companies and the county or other private investors?

    Let the free market take over and KILL THE LAND BANK and get it over with.  Shut it down!   Quit fighting over who gets to be appointed as board members and wasting money to get legal opinions on this issue., attempting to get employees of the landbank PERS benefits, etc.

    Cuyahoga County officials greatly contributed to the foreclosure crisis and now they want to fix the problems that they themselves created.

    THINK ANYBODY'S PAYING ATTENTION?

    6. Ohio
    Building permits/total housing units: 0.12%
    Decline in building permits (2005-2011): -76.61% (12th largest)
    Building permits 2011 YTD: 6,184
    Total housing units: 5,127,508

    Ohio has suffered, and continues to suffer, greatly from the housing crisis. Over 8,000 homes were foreclosed in July 2011, the ninth-largest amount in the country, according to real estate company RealtyTrac. With such a high foreclosure rate, currently at one in every 608 housing units, housing is already too inexpensive for people to want to build. Ohio has therefore had one of the greatest decreases in building permits in the country over the past six years. Median existing home sales are also down in many areas of the state, according to data from the National Association of Realtors. In Toledo, prices are down 17% from one year ago, the third largest rate in the country.

    Jerleen, can you provide a link to this?

    I would like to read this report in its entirety.   thanks!

    States where housing has tanked

      http://www.foxbusiness.com/industries/2011/08/18/states-where-no-one-wants-to-buy-new-home/

    Okay this is FOX, but still, I looked at a shack in Maryland--smaller and less acreage than my current home and it's still $7,000 more than I paid for my home in 1999.  Sad.

    thanks for the link

    Jerleen and Laura.  :)

    break down of victims by predatory tax collectors

    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.

    18% interest is unconscionable

    To add  to the misery of residents behind in their taxes bills by tacking on an additional  18% interest is unconscionable

    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 houses is outrageous.

     

    tax lien purchase price

    The liens that were sold by Cuyahoga County officials were not sold by auction, but rather by a no bid process to a very few select companies.

    Based on the liens that I reviewed on the County's website, it appears that the lien companies were given a 40% discount on the face value of the lien.  Although I am not positive about that figure,  that is what my research has found.

    For example, one lien had a total of $1,449.12 owed and Plymouth Park Tax Services received a discount of $579.65 for the lien.

    If you take the 40% discount and add the automatic 18% interest, the lien purchaser receives 58% on the lien purchase.

    Add on the additional and excessive fees,  as detailed below, and you create major issues for many people and high returns for the predators:

    083_crop.jpg

     

    In Freddie's case, Plymouth Park Tax Services purchased two tax liens in the amount of $1449.12 and $ 1450.62.   Freddie paid Plymouth Park Tax Services $5450.00 dollars , as detailed below, and still lost his home owned for nearly 50 years.  The predators insisted on foreclosure because Freddie could not keep up with all of the additional fees that Plymouth Park kept adding to his bill.  Despite paying $5450.00, he still owed Plymouth Park nearly $2,000 when he lost his home.

     

    080_crop.jpg

     

    Plymouth Park Tax Services, aka Xspand ( subsidaries of J. P. Morgan Chase ) is still under federal investigation regarding allegations of bid rigging and collusion and has more legal problems:

    Contract raises suspicions

    June 12, 2011

     

    in part,

    Three exec­utives whose for­mer compa­ny is under fed­eral inves­tigation have formed a new firm that has just been awarded a $46 million Metro con­tract to buy up delinquent city prop­erty taxes.

    The fed­eral inves­tigation is focused on al­legations of collu­sion and price-fixing be­tween compa­nies bidding on delinquent prop­erty-tax con­tracts with city govern­ments in New Jer­sey. Xspand, a sub­sidiary of JPMorgan Chase & Co., is one of three compa­nies whose records have been subpoenaed, accord­ing to public disclosures

    The con­tract is go­ing to Tower Cap­ital Man­age­ment of New Jer­sey, a compa­ny headed by three for­mer exec­utives of Xspand, which also bid on the con­tract and in the process also disclosed that it is the subject of a fed­eral grand ju­ry probe related to con­tracts it won under its for­mer man­agers.     link to full story

    This is good advice for Ed Fitzgerald and the newly appointed fiscal officer:

    Sell­ing such liens has led to about $100 million in upfront cash for Metro, but, Tygard said, it is a mis­take to accept a fraction of what the city is owed in late prop­erty taxes.

    "It was a deci­sion that had major implications, ram­ifications for years, and prob­a­bly we could nev­er go back there un­less we bite the bul­let and get back on track," Tygard said. "It was a very poor deci­sion."

     

     

    82 year old Mary Lee Ward is Rosa Parks for our Generation

    Exposing the greed that predates subprime, when state and local government allowed counties to re-write lending terms and the sale of liens on properties--especially affecting families in urban areas, predominantly African-American neighborhoods.

    Property Tax Delinquencies..fees, fees, fees, fees, and more fee

    So, if a homeowner is struggling with their base taxes plus the 10 % interest our County earns towards delinquencies and late fees.....then how in the hell are they going to be able to afford a legal defense to pay for 18%, Legal Fees, and much more...

     

    MORE INSANE is the base idea that the foreclosing PPTS pays filing fees and a LEGAL AID FEE which none of the people in Tax Foreclosure can get assistance with the property taxes from the Legal Aid Society...DOES THAT MAKE SENSE AT ALL???? 

     

    Then, that fee is trickled back to the poor person in fees....

     

    THAT'S PSYCHOTIC IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY...BUT IT IS TRUE....Check out the filing fee costs for the foreclosing tax certificate holders....check out the fine print....it's another ugly truth! 

    Always Appreciative, "ANGELnWard14"

    LOBBYING CUYAHOGA COUNTY ADMINISTRATION..ED FITZ

    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"

    ED FITZGERALD: Property Owners deserve social justice

    REAL ESTATE FRAUD IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY EFFECTUATED BY PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS SHOULD BE ADJUDICATED BY YOUR ADMINISTRATION AND EQUALIZED.

    ED, CITIZENS ARE STILL BEING DENIED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO PAY OFF PROPERTY TAXES DUE TO THE COUNTLESS MIXED MESSAGES BEING SENT BY THESE HOUSING AGENCIES...

    CAN YOUR ADMINISTRATION CLARIFY EXACTLY WHO IS FUNDED TO HELP WITH PROPERTY TAX FORECLOSURE GRANTS? PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE SENT AROUND TOWN CHASING THEIR TAILS FOR ASSISTANCE WHILE BEING USED AS A QUOTA BY MULTIPLE AGENCIES THAT ARE NOT EVEN PROVIDING RELIEF....

    Always Appreciative, "ANGELnWard14"

     What an excellent story.

     What an excellent story. We are now investigating--Kathy Wray Coleman

     

    Foreclosurepedia joins forces with REALNEO

      Lily Miller and I are both banned from commenting on cleveland.com.  And due to a debilitating medical condition - Lily can not post here.  

    We are fortunate that Garry Kanter has taken up the baton and is running
    comments on the proposed $50 million dollar bond that will finance more mob demolitions in collusion with the Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corporation aka "The Land Bank."

    http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/09/pass_50_million_demo_...

    I was able to get in a letter to the editor - via email:  http://blog.cleveland.com/letters/2014/09/bond_letters_to_the_editor.html

    Now, we are heartened to see that D. Paul Williams of Foreclosurepedia has initiated public records requests that will connect the dots on this massive racketeering operation in Northeast Ohio.  The FBI needs to take note and shut down this criminal enterprise, before we all lose out - especially on bond monies that should be used to build and secure our infrastructure - not destroy it.

    http://foreclosurepedia.org/cleveland-housing-court-does-360-on-the-rele...