Resolution 080176

..Title Authorizing City Council's Committee on Law and Government to hold public hearings to investigate current policies and procedures relating to real estate transfers and the problem of fraudulent real estate transfers and creating a Task Force on Fraudulent Real Estate Transfers. ..Body WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia recorded 47,283 real estate transfers in 2007; and WHEREAS, There were 122 cases of fraudulent real estate transfers reported in 2006; however this number grossly under-represents the issue since it does not factor the other actions taken by the victim property owners; and WHEREAS, Most fraudulent real estate transfers go on for years before being discovered, and by then it is too late; and WHEREAS, The elderly and infirm are the most susceptible to being victims of these predators; and WHEREAS, District Attorney Abraham said that "This is such an epidemic in Philadelphia, we just do not have the manpower to do individual properties," and Budget cuts forced her to reduce the economic-crime unit from 10 to four attorneys; and WHEREAS, Funding for prosecution is necessary and the creation of a Real Estate Fraudulent Transfer Task Force must be created to address previous violations, and new stringent regulations must also be implemented to prevent future thefts; NOW, THEREFORE, RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That City Council's Committee on Law and Government is authorized to hold public hearings to investigate current policies and procedures relating to real estate transfers and the problem of fraudulent real estate transfers, and FURTHER RESOLVED That a Task Force on Fraudulent Real Estate Transfers is hereby created, consisting of five members to be appointed by the Chairs of the Committee on Ethics, the Committee on Public Safety, the Committee on Law and Government, the Committee on Finance and the Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and the Homeless; to advise the Committee on Law and Government on mechanisms that can be implemented to address the problem of fraudulent real estate transfers. ..End