Resolution 210396
Calling on the Sheriff of the City of Philadelphia to request an Order from the President Judge of the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas of the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania to temporarily stay all mortgage and tax foreclosure sales.
Introduced by
From the floor
Passages in the official transcripts that cite this file number. Every quote links to its exact place in the record.
“Good morning, Council President and Councilmembers. I'm here to discuss the matter pertaining to Bill 210396 about the foreclosure process. This body needs to do everything in its God-given power to hold off these predator bankers and developers that want to move people out of their homes. The problem you have is most of the folks that are in this situation do not have the power, the political awareness, or the finan…”
Mr. Savage · Stated Meeting, October 26, 2023 · Oct 26, 2023 · official transcript, this passage
“My name is John -thank you. My name is John D. Strain. I'm a law student and a resident of South Philadelphia. I've lived in the City for ten years, and I speak today strongly in favor of Resolution 210396, introduced by Councilperson Parker, and I just wanted to say that the research and the verbiage November 18, 2021 Stated Meeting November 18, 2021 of the resolution bears out everything in the resolution. Allowing…”
Mr. Strain · Stated Meeting, November 18, 2021 · Nov 18, 2021 · official transcript, this passage
“My name is Linda Bell, CPI alum, and I support the following bills and resolutions: 210434, 210636, and Resolution 210396, with which I would encourage Councilmember Parker and this Council to expand this resolution to say until which time a bailout bill can be formulated to forgive Stated Meeting September 30, 2021 those mortgages and tax foreclosures. It's time for the citizens of Philadelphia to get their turn to…”
Ms. Bell · Stated Meeting, September 30, 2021 · Sep 30, 2021 · official transcript, this passage
Status timeline
- Apr 29, 2021Introduced and Ordered Placed On Next Week's Final Passage Calendar · CITY COUNCIL
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..Title Calling on the Sheriff of the City of Philadelphia to request an Order from the President Judge of the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas of the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania to temporarily stay all mortgage and tax foreclosure sales. ..Body WHEREAS, On March 10, 2021, the Philadelphia Sheriff's Office announced that it had contracted with the online auction company Bid4Assets (Bid4Assets.com) to resume sheriff sales of Philadelphia property subject to mortgage and tax foreclosures; and WHEREAS, In April 2021, the Sheriff's Office conducted the first mortgage and tax sales since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic via the Bid4Assets platform; and WHEREAS, There are currently dozens of mortgage foreclosure sheriff sales and tax foreclosure sheriff sales scheduled to go forward in May of 2021, and thousands more in the months that follow, including numerous owner-occupied properties, properties with tangled titles, and community gardens; and WHEREAS, On April 22, 2021, City Council's Committee on Law & Government held a hearing to examine the Sheriff's decision to resume sales via the virtual Bid4Assets platform; and WHEREAS, Homeowner advocates expressed concern at the hearing that owner-occupied properties were listed for both mortgage and tax sales in April 2021 despite repeated public statements that no owner-occupied properties were scheduled to be sold; and WHEREAS, As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, over 10 million homeowners nationwide are unable to remain current on their mortgage payments, and homeowners of color make up a disproportionate share of those whose loans are delinquent or in default. Philadelphia residents are also experiencing hardship in paying their property tax and utility bills as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and many have had to prioritize other expenses; and WHEREAS, Despite federal efforts to provide homeowners in need with financial assistance, there are grave concerns that many Philadelphians will "fall through the cracks" and face losing their homes in the next year or so; and WHEREAS, Community members and advocates also spoke to the fact that the sheriff sale process was already confusing to the layperson, and expressed concerns that they may effectively be "shut out" of the new, virtual platform either due to digital divide issues or because they do not have the financial means to access the sheriff sales; and WHEREAS, Several community members and advocates further testified about their concerns that the change to virtual sales may result in bulk buyers and out-of-town investors purchasing parcels and properties, which may have an adverse effect on former owners as well as the surrounding community; and WHEREAS, It is the duty of this Body to protect the citizens and neighborhoods of Philadelphia, and this Body recognizes that proceeding with sheriff sales using the Bid4Assets online platform will have a detrimental, and perhaps devastating, effect on both; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Calls on the Sheriff of the City of Philadelphia to request an Order from the President Judge of the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas of the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania to temporarily stay all mortgage and tax foreclosure sales. ..End