Clara Lopez and her daughter live across the street from an eyesore, owned by Bank of America. Once the bank foreclosed on the property, the home fell into disrepair and stayed that way for six months. Neighbors have seen people entering the house, dumping trash and junk in the backyard. Many of the residents say they no longer feel safe in their own neighborhood.
Fed up with being ignored by the bank, Clara Lopez and her neighbors organized an event that was covered by virtually every news outlet in the city. They loaded a pickup truck with garbage, debris, a box spring and a couch from the foreclosed house. Together, they deposited the trash at the front door of the local Bank of America branch.
Examples like this blighted home are the reason we are fighting to pass the Property Value Protection Ordinance, which would create a registry of foreclosed properties so code enforcement can cite and fine irresponsible banks.
— Center on Policy Initiatives (San Diego, Aug. 16, 2012)
