DID YOU GET A TAX LIEN SALE NOTICE? URGENT BROOKLYN RESIDENTS FREE TAX LIEN AWARENESS WORKSHOP APRIL 4, BORO HALL - BE THERE WITH YOUR PAPERS!!!

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by Gloria Dulan-Wilson

DID YOU RECEIVE A LIEN SALE WARNING?!!

I received this from the office of Ann Marie Adamson in Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz's office, and I'm posting it as an alarm - not just an event alert.
Hence the Urgency of the matter. Next to foreclosures because of high mortgages, or unscrupulous banking/lending practices; the most insidious and devastating way to lose your home is via a Tax Lien - whereby the vampires go in and pay your arrears, and charge you up to 18% to retrieve your certificates. Of course, if you don't respond, that bill can escalate and you will lose your home within a year's time because they have the right to FORECLOSE on you.

But before it gets to that point, the city and the Feds give you several "fair?" warnings about what's at stake (as if you didn't already know) i.e., your home, the roof over your head - and some recommended ways to not have this happen to you.

Unfortunately, there are far too many of us who ignore the notices, the advice, the workshops. There are far to many who appear to be in love with the drama of being under threat of losing your home, so you conveniently forget about programs like this; you pay exorbitant amounts of money to shyster lawyers, who pocket it, and then take your property.

Let's not do this dance again. Just show up at the 3-hour workshop that they have put together for you at Borough Hall - even if it's standing room only. Those water bills that continue to escalate (do you have a pool? what do you do if it's their equipment that's faulty, not yours? can you recoup from past overpayments; or can they be applied to the so-called balance? Is there a payment plan that allows you to pay out over time until you amortize - pay up - the arrears? What if the taxes are too "darned high?" Are you tax exempt but didn't file properly? Are you a senior citizen; disabled? a Vet? You can't get these questions answered if you don't show up to ask them.

I remember one year I attended a tax lien boot camp at Boys and Girls High School. There were more representatives there than people. Then when things began to happen that caused many to lose their homes, they blamed the City. Those notices were posted all over and distributed via the churches. We have to become much more aware and in control of our world - we can't continue to wait for someone to give us a big neon sign about these things. We actually do have to get nosey about our community. We're losing whole chunks at a time - we're down from 85% to 55%. Let's stop the drainage.

Pass this on; email this on, fax it on, put on the bulletin board; text it, Face book it, Tweet it. You or some one you know is seriously effected right now by impending tax liens.


 DID YOU RECEIVE A LIEN SALE WARNING?!!

Below is the info received from the Borough President's Office. Also make sure your city council, assembly and state reps, as well as your Congressional Reps are getting the info out to their constituents. These may be City Liens, but we all live here and we each touch each other literally and figuratively. We are all neighbors here in Brooklyn. Spread the word, so we can spare the pain of losing yet another home.

I expect you to so pack the place they have to open an overflow room, or at least schedule an additional workshop for a subsequent day.

NACA IN NEW YORK ANNOUNCEMENT:
Also be aware that April 26 through April 30, NACA (the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America) will be holding a 5-day Marathon Home Save program with 80 banks from all over the country there to give instant mortgage restructure for those of you who have mortgage problems or underwater properties.

Simultaneously, for those of you who are looking to purchase your first home, and need FREE downpayment, FREE closing costs, MORTGAGE l% below prime rate - they are also helping you get approved for your new home. So get your docs together in either case - to save the home you have; or to purchase a new home that is affordable and of good quality - APRIL 26-30 2012, JACOB JAVITS CENTER, West 34th & 11th Avenue in Manhattan. Doors open at 8:00AM

THE FOLLOWING ARE THE DETAILS OF THE UPCOMING SPECIAL TAX LIEN WORKSHOP AT BORO HALL:

DID YOU RECEIVE A LIEN SALE WARNING?!! DID YOU RECEIVE A LIEN SALE WARNING?!!

Tax Lien Awareness @ Brooklyn Borough Hall
April 4, 2012 from 4pm to 7pm
> Presented by
> BROOKLYN BOROUGH PRESIDENT MARTY MARKOWITZ
>
> Wednesday, APRIL 4, 2012
>
> 4PM TO 7PM
The New York City Council
and
The Brooklyn Delegation Council Members
Including

> Charles Barron, Erik M. Dilan, Mathieu Eugene, Lewis A. Fidler
> Vincent J. Gentile, SA Gonzalez, David G. Greenfield, Letitia James,
Bradford Lander, Stephen Levin, Darlene Mealy, Michael Nelson, James S. Oddo,
Domenic Rechia, Jr., Diana Reyna, Albert Vann, Jumanee Williams

>
> INVITE YOU TO MEET WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM
> NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE,
> ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION,
HOUSING PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT (HPD)
>
> TO PROTECT YOUR HOMES…
>
> DID YOU RECEIVE A LIEN SALE WARNING?!!
>
> THEN YOU NEED TO JOIN US AT
>
> BROOKLYN BOROUGH HALL
> 209 JORALEMON STREET
> BROOKLYN, NY 11201
> THE ROTUNDA

A lien is a legal claim against your property for unpaid water and sewer charges; or property taxes; or emergency repairs, as well as other municipal (city) charges.
You will meet one-on-one with the representatives to discuss whether you are:
Eligible for exemptions from a lien sale
Eligible to receive debt assistance
Eligible to create a NO MONEY DOWN PAYMENT AGREEMENT
You have to be there to get these resources working for you - you can't do it by remote control.

For additional information, you may contact:
> Ann Marie Adamson
> Intergovernmental Affairs - Housing .
Community Board Liaison .
Caribbean Relations
> ___________________________
>
> Office of the Brooklyn Borough President
> Marty Markowitz
> 209 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
> Tel: 718-802-3874
> Fax: 718-802-3861
> Email: aadamson@brooklynbp.nyc.gov AWAR

Now it is incumbent upon all of you to pass this along to at least 25 people by lunch today - April 3, 2012; and by close of business, at least 150 people should have received this info.

Take care
STAY BLESSED &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson