• Interim Mayor Cockrel Must Appeal to Governor to Impose Halt to Foreclosures
• Billions in Federal Funds Required to Address Crisis

• Demand that the first item in any emergency federal legislation be protection for the victims of this crisis, the millions facing foreclosures and millions of others who are seeing their communities destroyed by the foreclosure epidemic brought on by the predatory lending and fraud of the financial industry.

• Demand the enactment of an immediate 2 year federal moratorium on all foreclosures.   Such a moratorium is mandatory under federal law, which mandates the imposition of a moratorium on foreclosures whenever there is a declaration of a State of Emergency.

• During the moratorium, an oversight committee of community representatives, civil rights organizations, unions should review and adjust every mortgage in the country, so people’s house payments reflect the real values of their homes and their ability to pay.  Such oversight cannot be left to the bankers or even to federal judges who are often disconnected from the reality facing working people today.

• Demand that rather than spending $1 trillion of taxpayer money to bail out Wall Street, that money be used to guarantee people’s needs, for decent jobs, health care, education, etc.  It is the decline in wages, massive restructuring that has eliminated millions of decent paying jobs, and spiraling health costs that in large part has brought on this crisis, forcing people to take out unaffordable predatory loans just to survive.
  

The Moratorium Now! Coalition has been pressing for a statewide moratorium on foreclosures in Michigan and recently held a demonstration in Lansing, MI to support SB 1306, which would put such a moratorium into effect. 

The Coalition is also demanding that new Detroit Mayor Kenneth Cockrel declare a State of Emergency in Detroit, the hardest hit city in the country by the foreclosure epidemic with an 18% home vacancy rate, and formerly apply to Governor Granholm to place a moratorium on foreclosures in Detroit pursuant to MCL 10.31

For more information contact 313-319-0870.

MORATORIUM NOW: SEN. CLARKE ANNOUNCES NEW FORECLOSURE LEGISLATION

Two-year ‘foreclosure freeze’ will help struggling consumers get back on their feet, keep their homes

Representative Shanelle Jackson has introduced a bill calling for a one-year moratorium on foreclosures

• Distribute leaflets at Michigan Summer Festivals near you
  

• Get the word out in your area – put out leaflets and posters; write letters to the newspapers; put a notice in your community, union or church newsletter; talk to your neighbors, relatives, friends and co-workers.

• Gather and send in endorsements of the bill from your group – union, neighborhood association, minister/church board, student government, etc.  endorsement form    online endorsement

• Get a resolution of support from your city council.
  

• Call, email or write your state legislators (Senate and House) to urge passage of Senate Bill SB1306.  Call or email all members of the House and Senate committees on Judiciary and Banking.

• Be on the alert to organize for a massive demonstration at the Capitol in Lansing to demand passage of the bill.

• Become an organizing center in your area for the “MORATORIUM NOW! COALITION to Stop Foreclosures and Evictions.”  Contact the Detroit office to be listed on the website and to get quantities of flyers, etc.

• Donate to build this mass campaign.  Make checks payable to MORATORIUM NOW COALITION and send to 23 E. Adams, Detroit MI 48226.

• Michigan State Senators

• Michigan State Representatives

• Sept. 17 Demonstration (pdf)
• Sept. 17 Demonstration (doc)
  
• House and Judiciary Committee phone numbers
• Endorsement Form
• What You Can Do
• General leaflet (doc)
• General leaflet (pdf)
• Petition
  

• Nashville Homeless, Tired of Foreclosures, Reclaim Vacant Government Homes - May 7, 2008
  
  
• Bay Area Letter Carriers Union call for a Moratorium on Foreclosures, Utility Shutoffs & Evictions, May 7, 2008
  


• San Francisco Labor Council call for a Moratorium on Foreclosures, Utility Shutoffs & Public Housing Demolitions, May 7, 2008
  


• Foreclosure Crisis Deepens Due to Economic Collapse, Jan. 30, 2008