United States of America

A Housing Solution Gone Awry

Published in Monday June 3rd, 2013 In Opinion

In the early 1970s, the architect and city planner Oscar Newman came forth with a book and theory called “Defensible Space,” which relied in part on data from New York City public housing to propose a set of design solutions to the mounting problems of urban living.

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New York claims more proof of bank mortgage abuses

Published in Monday May 27th, 2013 In In the media

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said there is mounting evidence that Bank of America Corp (BAC.N), Wells Fargo and Co (WFC.N) and other banks violated the terms of a settlement designed to end mortgage servicing abuses. Schneiderman – who has said he plans to sue Bank of America and Wells Fargo for failing to live up to their obligations under the deal – said other states had found similar problems.

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Mortgage Relief Offered to Oklahoma Tornado Victims

Published in Friday May 24th, 2013 In In the media

The federal government has imposed a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures of homes with mortgages owned or backed by the Federal Housing Administration in areas of Oklahoma devastated by this week’s tornado.

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Oklahoma rescue efforts go on after deadly tornado

Published in Wednesday May 22nd, 2013 In In the media

Rescue efforts are proceeding after a deadly tornado tore through an Oklahoma City suburb, with dozens feared dead. The storm destroyed entire blocks of homes and trapped dozens of school children beneath debris. Rescuers were working to reach survivors after a tornado with winds reaching speeds of up to 200 mph (320 kilometers) devastated the city of Moore, just south of Oklahoma City, on Monday.

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Vast Oklahoma Tornado Kills Dozens

Published in Wednesday May 22nd, 2013 In In the media

A giant tornado, a mile wide or more, killed at least 91 people, 20 of them children, as it tore across parts of Oklahoma City and its suburbs Monday afternoon, flattening homes, flinging cars through the air and crushing at least two schools. The injured flooded into hospitals, and the authorities said many people remained trapped, even as rescue workers struggled to make their way through debris-clogged streets to the devastated suburb of Moore, where much of the damage occurred.

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New York to sue banks in mortgage settlement case

Published in Wednesday May 8th, 2013 In In the media

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said Monday he intends to sue Bank of America and Wells Fargo, saying they violated terms of last year’s $25 billion mortgage settlement. Schneiderman said his office has documented 210 violations by Wells Fargo and 129 involving BofA since October. The banks have “flagrantly violated” the settlement’s standards, he said.

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Seniors face eviction in Detroit gentrification plan

Published in Wednesday May 8th, 2013 In Social movement news

Retired workers living in a rent-subsidized senior housing building are facing eviction in downtown Detroit. New owners who recently took over their apartment building have given the elderly residents on fixed income a year to clear out so they can raise rents to “market rates.”

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Foreclosure Settlement Checks Significantly Smaller Than Regulators Forecasted

Published in Thursday May 2nd, 2013 In In the media

Two weeks after the first payments began going out as part of the settlement struck in January with mortgage companies, homeowners who suffered improper foreclosures are describing a new injury. Many say they are being denied their rightful compensation under the terms of the deal.

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Homeowners in Flood Zones Opt to Rebuild, Not Move

Published in Tuesday April 30th, 2013 In In the media

A proposal to buy the damaged homes of New Yorkers who want to relocate after Hurricane Sandy is finding few takers, as most residents opt to rebuild, state officials said on Friday. “It’s up to the homeowner, and the vast bulk of homeowners are deciding to stay right where they are and rebuild,” Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said at a news conference in Albany.

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Criminalization of homelessness – local impact, global issue

Published in Wednesday April 10th, 2013 In Social movement news

As the economic crisis continues at the bottom end of the income spectrum, the past week has brought two victories worth noting, from the most humble of tent encampments to the marble halls of the U.N.’s Palais Wilson in Geneva.

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