Three-point plan to protect neighborhoods

1. Pass a new city ordinance to protect neighborhood property values by requiring that any bank holding a foreclosed property continue to perform basic maintenance on the property, in compliance with existing city code.

2. Facilitate creation of a toll-free mortgage crisis hotline in collaboration with financial institutions and nonprofit organizations, to provide assistance to residents facing foreclosure.

3. Establish a city task force of community leaders and mortgage lending experts to recommend further actions that the city could take to help residents at risk of foreclosure.

Facing Foreclosure? Let us help!
If you are behind on your mortgage payments and facing foreclosure, please contact the foreclosure help hotline of the LendingGateeway.com team, where a specialized representative can help you from losing your home!
Online – https://apply.lendinggateway.com/forms/foreclosure.php
Phone – (888) 624-9197 x27

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The Stronger Neighborhoods Initiative
Speech by Stephen Whitburn, Candidate for San Diego City Council District Three
Wednesday, March 26 2008 2:00PM PST
Press Conference with Congressman Bob Filner on Mortgage Crisis in San Diego

Welcome and thank you for being here. I’m Stephen Whitburn. Joining me this afternoon    are Congressman Bob Filner; Alex Capio, CEO    of LendingGateway.com; and mortgage experts Marcos Chavez and Luis Sanchez of Aplus.    Today I am introducing the Stronger Neighborhoods Initiative in response to the mortgage crisis in San Diego and in particular here in District Three.

It was while walking door-to-door in our neighborhoods that I came to understand first-hand why San Diego is among the cities most affected by foreclosures nationwide. The number of foreclosed houses is alarming.

The loss of a home is more than just one   family’s crisis. Foreclosed homes, like the one behind us, cause problems for everyone involved. The family suffers loss of its home; the homeowner suffers long-term damage to his or her credit score; the neighbors suffer a decrease in the area’s property values; the lender suffers a hit to its bottom line; and, ultimately, as a result of these accumulated negatives, all of San Diego suffers.

Because local and federal governments are not doing enough to address this crisis, Congressman Filner and I are calling on both the San Diego City Council and Congress to stand up and protect our neighborhoods.

The Stronger Neighborhoods Initiative, which I am proposing today, includes three things that we can do NOW to tackle this problem.

#1. The City should require that any bank holding a foreclosed property maintain it in accordance with the municipal code. Doing so will protect neighborhood property values.

#2. The City should immediately create a task force made up of mortgage experts and community leaders to assess how the city can help residents who are at risk of foreclosure.

#3. The City should aggressively publicize a mortgage crisis toll-free hotline, established and funded by financial institutions and non-profit organizations.

We can take these steps now! And by partnering with the institutions that also have a stake in the home foreclosure crisis, we can accomplish this.

As I have outlined, the Stronger Neighborhoods Initiative will protect residents and prevent the weakening of San Diego neighborhoods where people face the risk of foreclosure. I’m excited to tell you that the work to achieve these goals is already in progress. We have established a strong relationship with Lending Gateway.com and soon our website will offer a link to assist residents through the difficult decisions related to foreclosure.

I am proud to have the support of Congressman Filner for this plan. He is a long-time hero for our neighborhoods, and I look forward to tackling this crisis with his help in the House of Representatives.

Additional Press Coverage:

TransWorldNews: Whitburn Pushes Stronger Neighborhoods Initiative
April 3, 2008

CBS 8 News: Asking Congress to Help Those Facing Foreclosure (Video)
March 26, 2008

Fox 6 News: Foreclosure Help (Video)
March 26, 2008