meeting minutes 10-13-08

Minutes NHA meeting 10-13 08

Guest Rep. Joe Mullery

Talking Politics…
Question what will the ramifications be if Senator Obama becomes president?

Contrary what will happen if Obama Does not win the race for presidency?


Joe Mullery: discussed the political climate we will be facing in the upcoming months
Both at a national level and at the state house level.
Joe: Democrats will work to improve conditions for the working class. Un-employment could go high as 8% northside rate could be much higher that that.

Under Obama admin:

Stimulus package, new construction, to improve building trades, expanding assistance programs, expanding Medical Assistance, more funds with federal loans to cities, work to get government to “do up “ mortgages.

Joe: owner occupied loans with federal backing would be wonderful here. 65% of owner occupied foreclosed homes were turned to rental property.


Joe working on at the state house level
Law establishing allowing a city thru zoning ordinance to limit percentage of owner occupied in a neighborhood. Not to apply to owner occupied (duplexes.)
To apply to Tax foreclose properties when the city is involved with or a govt. loan attached to the property. Or if you have a property with a conditional use permit. City can rezone.


Landlord registry is research is being worked up at State level being researched by
MN housing. Currently

Rental licenses. At the state level, (may be difficult to get thru house.)
Agreed that workshops/ training should be mandatory for rental license owners.

Landlords make accountability.
Tolls we have to deal with problem households.

Nuisance statute. : Lower the level of instances to invoke the State Nuisance Statute. 1 gun, possession 1 prostitution, if there is an incident of a gun prostituton or guns then a case can be brought against the landlord. You have to send an evict letter which is sent to the owner of the property. Problem is to prove what an “occurrence” is. Has to be convictions involved.

Bill pushing the back the sheriff’s sale. To 5 months.

: Bill C for D legislation. they can sell on contact for deed . Working on contract for deed. Loopholes.

Housing advocates are working on bill to get vacant properties turned over to non-for profits. Vacant properties with zero equity. Rehab to owner occupied.

Working on imminent domain laws. change to include more power over areas where there is” blight”.

Foreclosure deferment law, Immediate contact with counseling with no service fees.

Some facts :
Concern was raised that issues with Charter Schools need to be looked at at the State Level:

Homeowner:
“15% public schools students are homeless.
44% of the kids on the northside don’t go to public schools.
Charter schools damaging for Minnesota. No lack of accountability, management is needed “.
More Accountability.
Is anybody doing anything about caps on charter schools?

A Major concern is that the public has no say in the schools.

Joe: working on getting Dept of educ. to do oversight.

,
Advantage program should have a covenenant bill in on the program.
For only foreclosed properties.

Get barb Johnson info on advantage.

Discussion to move meetings to fire station.
Parking may be an issue is the major concern to consider. /

Question can the homes that are still foreclosed. Have their services turned off also. ?