CITY OF CHICAGO REACHES COMPROMISE WITH BANKS TO CLEAN UP VACANT PROPERTIES AND PROTECT NEIGHBORHOODS

New ordinance and proposed statewide legislation will reduce the length of the foreclosure process and help banks comply with existing vacant buildings legislation

This morning Mayor Emanuel thanked Alderman Pat Dowell for her introduction of a new vacant building ordinance that will protect the city's neighborhoods while helping banks comply with the vacant properties ordinance that was passed by City Council this summer.

"Chicago is committed to protecting its residents, neighborhoods, and communities from vacant properties and foreclosure," said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. "This ordinance will allow banks to work hand in hand with the City of Chicago and neighborhood organizations to identify vacant properties and comply with the vacant properties ordinance, while at the same time working to create a fast track for these properties to get through the foreclosure system and be put back to productive use."

For the last two months, the Mayor's Office has worked with Alderman Dowell and lending leaders in Chicago to craft a new ordinance that will help realize the goals of the vacant property law - securing and ensuring the safety of properties - while helping banks comply with the ordinance. By focusing on the securing of the properties, the new ordinance reduces situations in which the responsibility over a property is unclear.

"This proposed ordinance takes a comprehensive look at the foreclosure process and offers a solution that works for residents, lenders, and their communities," said Alderman Dowell. "This legislation offers clear guidelines that will ensure banks secure properties and will align the city, lenders and residents in a common effort to reduce the negative impact that foreclosures have on our communities."

The new ordinance calls for the foreclosure process to be reduced to about six months for these vacant properties, a significant decrease from the two years that the process takes currently. This will be achieved by working with banks to pass statewide legislation that will provide municipalities and lending institutions regulatory clarity and the authority necessary to speed up the process. This will allow vacant properties to be moved through the process more quickly, and, as a result, returned to the market. By returning these properties to an active status on the market more quickly, neighborhoods will be able to recover from the housing crisis.

"We share the City's concern about our neighborhoods and we worked with Mayor Emanuel and his staff and Alderman Dowell to create standards that will work for the mortgage servicers and the neighborhoods," said Glenn Tilton, chairman of the Midwest for JPMorgan Chase, Chicago's biggest bank. "We also are working together to create consistent standards on vacant properties throughout the state. It's always constructive when stakeholders come to the table and work together on important issues."

Vacant properties often become a financial burden on the City. In 2010, the City spent more than $15 million to deal with vacant buildings: the Department of Buildings demolished or boarded up more than 500 buildings at a cost of $13.7 million; the Department of Streets and Sanitation performed general upkeep on 1,963 vacant properties and demolished 345 vacant garages at a cost of $1.8 million.

Free Document Shredding

Illinois Service Federal wants to give residents the opportunity to protect themselves against identity
theft while doing a little fall cleaning by bringing you Shred-O-Rama. Participants can have up to 100
pounds of paper documents (paper only please) shredded while they watch.

Where: Illinois Service Federal (4619 S. King)
When: Saturday, October 8th from 10am to 1pm

---

ALDERMAN PAT DOWELL JOINS AT&T PIONEERS FOR
“CELL PHONES FOR SOLDIERS” COLLECTION DRIVE

Cell Phone Collection Centers Are Currently Set Up in the 3rd Ward

Alderman Pat Dowell is joining forces with the AT&T Pioneers and other members of City Council to collect cell phones for non profit organization, Cell Phones for Soldiers. Cell Phones for Soldiers uses funds from recycled cell phones to buy prepaid phone cards for active duty military members, giving them an affordable way to connect with their families.

“I am very excited to join forces with fellow City Council members, their communities and the AT&T Pioneers to collect cell phones for Cell Phones for Soldiers. It is extremely important for the Chicago community to give back to our troops. We are very grateful for the men and women serving our country and the Cell Phones for Soldiers drive is an excellent way to show our appreciation for their service,” said Alderman Dowell.

In addition to the collection drives already ongoing at area AT&T wireless retailers in Chicago, a collection bin is set up for the residents of the 3rd ward at 5046 South State Street. The 3rd ward will be collecting cell phones through Thanksgiving to provide the community with the opportunity to give back and serve our troops.

About AT&T Pioneers
Founded in 1911 as the Telephone Pioneers of America with Alexander Graham Bell as one of the first members, the Pioneers continue to build on the millions of hours dedicated to helping others. More than 300,000 AT&T employees and retirees are involved in the AT&T Pioneers volunteer organization. In 2010, AT&T employees and retirees, donated more than nine million hours of time, worth more than $192 million, to community outreach activities—much of it led by the AT&T Pioneers.