►
Description
The Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and The Homeless of the Council of the City of Philadelphia held a Public Hearing on Friday, October 29, 2021, at 9:00 AM to hear testimony on the following item:
210838 Resolution authorizing the Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development, and the Homeless to conduct hearings to identify barriers and solutions to permanently preserving community gardens and open spaces in the City of Philadelphia.
A
Due
to
the
current
public
health
emergency
city,
council
committees
are
currently
meeting
remotely,
we
are
using
microsoft
teams
to
make
these
remote
hearings
possible
instructions
for
how
the
public
may
view
and
offer
public
testimony
at
public
hearings
of
council
committees
are
included
in
the
public
hearing,
notices
that
are
published
in
the
daily
news,
inquirer
and
legal
intelligencer
prior
to
the
hearings
and
can
also
be
found
on
phl
counsel
dot
com.
I
now
note
that
the
hour
has
come
sydney.
Charles
will
you
please
call
the
role
to
take
attendance.
A
B
F
H
A
Okay,
thank
you.
A
quorum
of
the
committee
has
been
established
and
this
hearing
is
now
called
to
order.
This
is
the
public
hearing
of
the
committee
on
housing,
neighborhood
development
and
the
homeless.
Regarding
resolution
number
two
one:
zero,
eight,
three,
eight,
mr
olds,
will
you
please
read
the
title
of
the
resolution.
A
Before
we
begin
to
hear
testimony
from
the
witnesses
we
have
for
today,
everyone
who
has
been
invited
to
the
meeting
to
testify
should
be
aware
that
this
public
hearing
is
being
recorded,
because
the
hearing
is
public.
Participants
and
viewers
have
no
reasonable
expectation
of
privacy.
By
continuing
to
be
in
the
meeting,
you
are
consenting
to
being
recorded
additionally
prior
to
recognizing
members
for
questions
or
comments
they
have
for
witnesses.
A
H
Thank
you
so
much
madam
chair,
and
thank
you
to
my
council
colleagues,
who
were
able
to
join
us
for
this
hearing
today.
Preserving
philadelphia's
community
gardens
and
open
space
that
are
currently
encumbered
by
u.s
bank
liens
and
on
the
verge
of
being
irrevocably
lost
is
something
that
I
know
is
of
grave
concern
to
all
of
us.
H
H
D
A
D
For
a
moment,
yes,
please.
Thank
you,
madam
chan.
I
also
wanted
to
acknowledge
council
member
brooks
and
and
her
work
in
this
and
making
this
a
city-wide
issue.
As
many
of
you
know,
as
the
author
of
the
land
bank
legislation,
we
were
very
intentional
in
carving
out
and
prioritizing
green
spaces
in
our
public
land
works,
and
I
know
you'll
hear
from
them
momentarily.
D
Our
office
has
worked
with
our
social
justice
lawyers
and
our
partners
like
ngt,
who
you
will
also
hear,
who
has
really
led
my
understanding
on
this
issue
and
provided
much
assistance
and
guidance
for
many
gardeners
who
want
to
establish
their
capacity
and
be
independent.
The
power
and
our
ability
to
really
work
through
this
is
our
ability
to
work
together
and
forms
like
the
one
that
council
member
brooks
is
creating.
Today
are
what
will
help
us
keep
us
focused
around?
How
do
we
do
this,
and
how
do
we
protect
these
vital
spaces?
D
For
me,
ngt
offers
the
structure
the
demonstrated
capacity
and
will
help
us
ensure
the
preservation
happens
for
long-term
growth
and
sustainability,
not
only
in
folks
acquiring
this
land
and
being
having
the
capacity
through
our
work.
We've
learned
around
water
conservation,
water
access
and
really
waving
fees
and
costs
to
gardeners
as
an
important
tool
that
the
city
can
do.
I
still
think
there's
much
more.
We
can
do,
and
I
want
to
thank
council
member
brooks
and
you,
madam
chair,
for
continuing
to
bring
this
to
the
forefront,
and
I
look
forward
to
working
with
all
of
you.
D
I
want
to
thank
all
the
gardeners
and
all
the
folks
who
have
done
tremendous
work
and
this
work
sometimes
goes
unrecognized.
I
call
it
the
sweat
equity
that
has
tremendous
value,
because
the
work
of
the
sweat,
equi
equity
of
the
of
the
volunteers
can
never
be
quantified
or
qualif
or
qualified.
We
know
it
costs
the
750
thousand
750
to
clean
a
lot
to
remediate
a
lot.
D
So
if
you
imagine
the
years
of
work,
the
gardeners
do
you
can
just
imagine
the
amount
of
money
that
they
save
the
city,
and
so
I
want
to
make
sure
that,
when
we're
having
this
conversation,
we're
adding
and
we're
putting
the
numbers
and
the
value
to
the
you
know
the
the
hard
labor
related
to
this
for
the
volunteers.
So
thank
you.
Madam
chair.
Look
forward
to
the
conversation.
A
A
I
Sheriff
palau
isn't
in
right,
yet
in
fact
she
just
texts
me
and
told
me
she's
about
five
minutes
away.
Is
it
possible
that
we
can
move
her
testimony
to
later
on
or
once
she
arrives?
I
can
contact
you
and
I'm
sorry
I
didn't
even
apply.
I
didn't
even
introduce
myself.
This
is
target
el
shabazzi
undershirt.
J
Okay,
thank
you
very
much.
So,
let's
just
I'll
start
off
with
the
testimony
hello
good
morning,
everyone
I'm
grateful
for
your
time.
My
name
is
michael,
gonzalo
moran.
Today
I
have
the
great
responsibility
to
speak
on
behalf
of
my
fellow
neighbors,
and
I'm
also
here
as
a
representative
of
the
iglesias
garden.
My
task
today
is
to
summarize
part
of
my
life
experience
and
to
help
create
more
land
security
for
our
communities.
J
At
the
glaciers
garden,
we
partake
in
typical
garden
activities.
We
cultivate
land
to
grow
food,
we
host
workshops
and
events
for
adults
and
children,
and
we've
created
an
ideal
environment
to
strengthen
and
grow
our
community.
The
iglesias
garden
includes
our
community
garden,
located
at
the
intersection
of
north
lawrence
and
arlington
streets,
and
the
collection
of
side,
lots,
gardens
and
open
open
spaces
in
the
area
around
surrounding
the
garden.
J
The
community
work
has
worked
hard
to
preserve
these
open
spaces,
because
we
understand
that
open
spaces
are
essential
to
help
healthy
development
of
a
community,
but
to
create
this
peaceful
place.
We
have
overcome
many
obstacles
shortly
after
its
inception.
An
important
lot
to
the
garden
was
sold
to
a
developer,
who
used
questionable
tactics
to
acquire
the
property.
J
But
before
I
talk
further
about
our
efforts
and
experiences
at
the
garden,
allow
me
a
moment
to
tell
you
more
about
myself
and
my
personal
experiences
with
gentrification
and
land
insecurity.
I'm
a
first
generation
american,
an
entrepreneur,
and
I'm
here
before
you
today,
because
a
side
lot
saved
my
life
for
almost
30
years.
My
mother
made
every
attempt
to
secure
that
lot
next
door
to
our
home.
As
a
kid,
I
remember
going
to
numerous
meetings
with
her
and
walking
out
empty-handed,
because
no
one
had
answers
for
us,
but
regardless
my
family
continued.
J
J
Philadelphia
is
often
referred
to
as
the
poorest
big
city,
where
I
grew
up
in
the
badlands.
That's
a
neighborhood
in
the
north
philly
section
of
the
city,
more
specifically
in
the
19133
1914
zip
codes,
both
of
which
are
some
of
the
poor,
zip
codes
in
the
country,
and
they
have
the
highest
concentration
of
u.s
banking
locks.
J
About
seven
years
ago
I
was
able
to
move
my
family
to
a
home.
We
rehab
in
the
1912
zip
code
in
the
same
neighborhood,
where
the
garden
is
located.
To
our
surprise,
people
are
not
referring
to
this
area
as
the
fancy
part
of
town,
but
then
I
show
them
what
the
exterior
of
my
home
looks
like
and
they
can't
comprehend
what
they're.
Seeing
three
years
ago,
our
home
was
damaged
when
an
out-of-state
developer
began
a
shoddy
rehab
project
on
the
house
on
the
road
home
next
door.
J
After
the
incident
we
contacted
ll9
our
insurance
company
and
we've
reached
out
to
several
council
people
and
still
no
results.
The
developers
involved
have
abandoned
the
project,
but
the
damages
to
our
home
still
remain,
and
now
my
house
is
slowly
collapsing,
while
other
developers
continue
to
build
around
us.
J
We
also
spent
many
years
trying
to
acquire
a
city-owned
vacant
parcel
or
joining
our
home,
but
only
after
years
of
back
and
forth
with
the
city,
the
revenue
department
and
the
land
bank,
were
we
able
to
finally
acquire
that
property
just
a
few
weeks
ago,
but
now
as
a
homeowner.
If
I
want
to
develop
that
land
and,
for
example,
expand
my
home,
I
have
to
pay
50
000
to
the
land
bank.
Essentially,
my
life
experiences
have
unnaturally
led
me
to
become
a
land
speculator
and
developer
so
being
at
home.
J
At
peace
with
my
family
has
become
secondary
to
our
efforts
of
securing
our
home
growing
up.
I've
personally
been
impacted
by
many
of
the
underdevelopment
and
vacant
land
issues
that
are
common
in
my
neighborhood.
I've
experienced
firsthand
how
hard
it
is
to
address
these
problems
and
how
powerless
residents
can
be
when
the
city
and
developers
can
do
whatever
they
want
without
input
from
long-time
residents.
Although
this
is
my
personal
experience,
this
is
not
an
isolated
event
and
in
many
ways
my
story
is
not
unique.
J
My
motivation
for
this
effort
is
that
my
son
and
future
generations
don't
have
to
be
impacted
by
justifica
gentrification,
in
the
way
that
we
work,
the
iglesias
garden
has
been
successful,
securing
some
land
for
open
spaces
and
for
our
community
members
with
side
lots,
but
for
every
victory.
Our
approach
has
to
change,
because
the
process
for
soliciting
land
in
philadelphia
is
broken.
J
The
problems
we
make
with
the
philadelphia
land
bank
does
not
guarantee
us
progress
with
the
philadelphia
housing
authority
and
recently
at
the
garden
we
have
been
focused
on
protecting
several
parcels
and
sidelights
that
are
impacted
by
the
u.s
bank
means
fiasco
at
the
garden.
We
learned
a
few
years
ago
that
two
of
our
property
would
be
nearly
impossible
to
say
because
of
the
us
banking.
J
We
also
learned
that
we're
not
alone
in
our
predicament
when
the
sheriff
announced
that
the
tax
foreclosure
auctions
were
going
to
resume.
We
knew
that
our
lots
and
thousands
of
other
properties
were
all
at
risk.
Over
the
summer
we
began
to
canvas
every
u.s
bank
lean
and
cumberbaken
line
in
council
district
7,
where
the
garden
is
located.
We
had
canvas
nearly
400
impacted
properties
throughout
the
district,
identify
more
than
100
lots
already
in
use,
and
it
will
manage
side
lots
and
neighborhood
open
spaces.
J
We
have
met
with
land
bank,
council
members
and
neighborhood
gardens,
trust
and
other
city
officials
looking
for
help,
and
once
again
we
walked
away
empty-handed
because
no
one
had
answers
for
us.
We
spoke
with
numerous
residents
in
kensington
frankfort,
fair
hill
junieta,
all
that
have
invested
their
own
time
and
money
to
preserve
these
places,
even
though
they
can't
own
the
land,
because
on
the
current
policies,
it's
more
challenging
for
gardeners
and
community
members
to
acquire
these
properties,
even
if
they
had
the
cash
necessary
to
complete
the
process.
J
We've
learned
that
almost
every
neighbor
we
spoke
to
with
a
u.s
bank
lean
lot
has
previously
tried
and
failed
to
purchase
the
properties
for
a
variety
of
legal,
technical
or
financial
reasons.
But
we
have
also
spoken
with
many
people
who
have
lost
u.s
bank
lean
lots.
In
the
past
two
years
we
have
identified
that
200
plus
u.s
banking
properties
that
were
sold
between
july
2019
and
july
2021.
J
80
percent
are
in
communities
that
are
at
or
near
the
poverty
line
and
90
percent
are
in
census,
tract
where
the
majority
residents
are
people
of
color.
Our
research
shows
that
disposition
desperations
have
been
to
llcs
who
are
assembling
multiple
properties.
Just
six
real
estate.
Shell
companies
have
been
responsible
for
25
percent
of
all
us
banking
lots
acquired
since
july
2019.
J
Once
again,
someone
found
a
solution
to
our
problem,
but
it
wasn't
to
our
benefit
for
clarity.
What
we
want
is
for
the
city
to
fix
this
problem
and
to
work
with
residents
and
community
groups
to
preserve
this
land,
we're
asking
for
the
city
to
fully
fund
the
land
bank
to
acquire
all
2000
plus
parcels.
We
want
community
control
vacant
land,
which
includes
giving
local
residents
and
community
groups
the
rights
of
first
refusal
to
acquire
these
properties.
We're
also
asking
the
sheriff
to
fix
the
broken
sheriff's
sale
process.
J
This
includes
improving
the
inadequate
notification
process
and
in
the
completely
inaccessible
internet-based
share
sales
and
committing
to
working
with
community
groups
to
ensure
that
properties
that
are
in
use
are
not
auctioned
to
developers.
The
neighborhood
is
not
against
redevelopment,
but
in
a
community
that
hasn't
had
sidewalks
for
decades
decades.
We
often
wonder
who
are
we
redeveloping
for
once
again?
Thank
you
for
your
time
and
power
to
the
gardeners.
K
K
K
K
K
Personally,
as
a
proud
member
of
this
community,
I
understand
the
urgency
to
resolve
this
crisis
and
we
all
have
a
job
to
do.
The
office
of
the
sheriff
has
mandated
by
the
philadelphia
courts
to
execute
the
orders
of
the
court.
We
must
abide
by
the
orders
of
the
court
or
face
criminal
charges
ourselves.
K
Our
office
has
taken
several
steps
to
keeping
families
in
their
homes.
For
instance,
our
office
took
a
critical
approach
to
prioritizing
alerts
on
the
properties
going
up
for
sure
sale
so
that
the
concerned
parties
know
they
are
going
up
for
sale
and
that
our
staff
knows
to
be
on
the
lookout
for
immediate
removal
from
a
sale.
K
When
we
decided
to
go
virtual
in
april
2021
using
the
well-known
online
platform
platform
bid
for
assets,
our
partners,
we
saw
immediate
responses
and
a
quick
turnaround
time
in
cases
where
homes
listed
were
quickly
removed
from
the
sale,
even
in
mid-cell,
for
example,
with
600
and
some
properties
going
up
by
letting
our
constituent
service,
letting
people
know
that
this
was
happening
and
giving
them
the
information
to
help
them
save
their
homes.
It
went
from
600
to
something
to
17..
K
We
are
our
group,
and
then
you
can
see
my
staff
members
on
here
too
willing
and
able
to
work
with
any
organization
to
help
save
these,
and
I
understand
the
community
gardens.
This
is
a
crisis
to
them.
We
understand
the
emotions
behind
holding
on
developing
keeping
it
clean,
making
a
garden
into
a
property
that
just
blighted
our
neighborhoods,
because
I
come
from
north
philly
and
I
know
just
how
the
city
in
decades
had
let
our
net
neighborhoods
go
down.
K
Communities
like
communities
gardens
came
in
to
save
these
lots,
they
came
in
to
develop
them
made
gardens
made
spaces,
so
the
neighborhood
won't
continue
to
be
a
blight
in
this
city.
This
is
a
crisis
for
them
and
we
don't
have
a
problem
with
working
with
families
and
those
community
gardens
to
help
save
this.
But
I
understand
that
there
was
there
was
u.s
bank
is
trying
to
sell
them
off.
We
can
only
do
what
our
job
is
here,
but
it's
up
to
you
to
be
able
to
save
those
properties.
K
K
A
K
What
we
did
was
we
change
our
terms
of
sale
in
these
issues,
basically
sending
the
information
once
we
knew
once
community
gardens.
Let
us
know
that
these
properties
was
going
up
for
sale
and
they
were
community
gardens.
We
put
in
our
terms
and
sales
that,
from
this
point
on
they
we
need
to
know
whether
there
was
pre-pandemic
or
post-pandemic.
K
We
needed
to
know
whether
they
were
occupied
or
not
occupied.
We
looked
at
them.
We
had
community
garden
centers
a
list
of
the
community
gardens
because
when
we
get
it,
we
don't
get
a
a
thing
that
says
this
is
a
community
garden.
We
just
get
a
address
and
we
get
a
number.
So
they
let
us
know
that
these
are
community
gardens.
K
We
sent
the
letter
over
to
the
attorneys,
who
are
the
ones
that
are
bound
to
put
these
properties
up
for
sale
and
let
them
know
that
these
are
community
gardens
and
they
have
been
taken
care
of
by
these
individuals
and
how
they're
trying
to
bring
the
neighborhoods
up
and
the
attorney
on
the
right
basically
pulled
them
from
the
sale.
So
therefore
they
did
not
go
to
sale
and
so,
but
to
maintain
this,
we
don't
know
how
that's
going
to
be
maintained
because
you're
talking
about
u.s
bank
u.s
bank
wants
to
make
money.
K
A
I
Good
morning,
and
and
thank
you
for
having
us,
we
don't
have
the
power
or
the
jurisdiction
to
issue
a
moratorium
or
to
stay
or
to
postpone
those
particular
properties
based
on
them
being
community
properties.
What
we
have
been
doing-
and
we
will
continue
to
do-
is
notify
all
of
the
players
and
if
we
notify
the
players,
obviously
the
attorney
on
the
right
can
pull
that
property,
but
we
also
are
trying
to
awaken
everyone
to
how
this
problem
existed,
how
it
began
and
what
we
can
do
against
it.
I
These
are
properties
that
normally
were
controlled
by
the
city
and
still
can
be
controlled
by
the
city.
If
we
have
those
properties
in
advance-
and
we
have
the
ability
to
talk
to
individuals
in
advance,
we
can
negotiate
to
the
best
of
our
ability
to
have
them
pull
the
property
because
it's
being
dealt
with
and
then
hopefully
those
individuals
that
are
dealing
with
the
property
will
have
an
opportunity
to
purchase
it
to
have
it
to
the
to
the
end
of
it.
A
I
We
we
haven't,
and
and
because-
and
we
haven't
because
of
this
once
they
become
us
bank
grb-
but
more
so
us
banks-
they
are
private
owners.
These
private
owners
go
through
the
process
of
getting
a
judgment
and
a
lien
and
an
order
to
sell
that
property.
What
is
supposed
to
happen,
and
unfortunately,
it
isn't
because
the
gardens
community
guards
are
not
even
aware
that
this
is
probably
going
through
this
process.
I
It's
supposed
to
be
objected
to
and
litigated
then,
and
it's
at
that
point
that
before
judge
fox
and
those
particular
courts,
can
hear
argument
and
make
a
determination
whether
or
not
there
is
some
legal
reason
to
pause
it
by
time
we
get
it,
we
get
it
as
an
order
to
conduct
it.
So
we're
looking
at
emergency
situations
where
we
can
contact
the
court
and
say
judge
on
this
individual
prop,
but
we
can't
do
it
as
a.
We
don't
have
the
authority,
unfortunately,
to
do
it
as
a
moratorium.
I
Well,
I
respectfully
it
doesn't
it.
It
doesn't
make
sense
to
ask
the
court
to
do
something
that
we
don't
have
a
legal
reason
to
do.
What
we
need
is
is
we
need
assistance.
We
need
assistance
from
from
the
city.
We
need
assistance
from
the
law
department,
from
grb
from
linebacker
and
from
u.s
banks
that
we
recognize
this.
I
We
we
will
identify
it,
we
will,
let
you
know,
and-
and
they
should
I
submit,
they
should
be
willing
to
to
pull
it
and
if
they're
willing
to
pull
it,
then
we
can
stop
it
mid-sail
during
the
sale
or
even
after
the
sale
and
reverse
the
sale,
and
one
of
the
reasons
that
we
believe
we
can
convince
them
or
we
try
to
convince
them,
is
because
it
is
it's
economic
for
the
city.
It's
economics,
it's
safe
spaces
for
for
kids.
I
H
Yes,
I
just
I
have
a
follow-up
on
councilmember
gautier's
question:
wait.
Let
me
pause
from
it.
I
want
to
thank
the
sheriff
for
being
completely
responsive
around
this
issue
immediately
when
we
realized
that
we
needed
to
do
something
and
we
sent
a
letter,
she
was
willing
to
just
get
on
and
have
like
a
detailed
conversation
about
this
issue,
and
I
thank
you
for
your
support
in
helping
to
navigate
this
with
my
team.
H
I
Councilwoman,
that
is
thanks
for
the
question.
That
is
a
a
difficult
question,
because
it
again
it's
a
private
sale.
It's
a
lot
easier
for
us
to
do
that
when
it's
controlled
by
the
revenue
department
or
is
controlled
by
the
tax
department,
because
those
are
city
agencies
that
we
can
work
with
our
partners
and
ask
them
to
let
let's
pause
these
things.
While
we
find
a
solution
when
it
comes
to
private
people,
it's
kind
of
like.
I
If,
if
I
can
use
the
example
of
you-
and
I
know
you
wouldn't
be
doing
these
things,
but
let
me
just
kind
of
make
it
a
little
personalized,
you
win
a
judgment
or
somebody
or
you
buy
a
judge,
a
a
judgment
from
someone
else.
So
you
buy
a
lien
from
someone
else.
You
go
to
court,
you
litigate
it
and
you
win
the
judgment
as
a
private
person.
I
I
From
being
executed,
with
the
exception
of
some
other
type
of
legal
entity
or
legal
question,
complete
condition,
and
if
there
is
a
legal
issue,
for
example,
do
they
really
have
a
a
is
it?
Is
it
a
ballot,
a
lien,
because
that
property
was
somehow
owned
by
the
people
that
are
doing
some
things?
I
heard
the
testimony
earlier
about
people
doing
work.
Does
it
give
them
some
priority
or
some
right
over
that
property?
That's
a
question
that
needs
to
be
decided,
and
if
that
is
a
question,
then
we
can
act
upon
that
question.
I
So
one
of
the
steps
is
we
need
to
make
some
determinations,
because
people
are
doing
a
lot
of
things
on
these
properties.
We
need
to
figure
out,
and
when
I
say
we
I'm
talking
about
as
a
community,
we
need
to
figure
out.
Do
they
garner
any
legal
means
to
that
property
based
upon
taking
care
of
that
property
for
that
long,
and
sometimes
people
even
paying
taxes
and
things
on
those
profits?
If
they're
doing
that,
do
they
have
a
legal
means
or
an
interest
in
that
property?
I
I
We
have
to
unite
with
with
some
people,
and
I
would
submit
some
some
volunteers
from
the
legal
community
that
will
look
into
whether
or
not
someone
garnered
legally
a
question
of
them
having
a
right
to
that
property,
and
if
they
have
a
right,
do
they
have
a
right
to
contribute.
Do
they
have
any
contributor
to
it?
Do
they
have
a
right
to
ask
it
to
be
poor
so
that
they
can
purchase
it
at
a
different
level?
I
Can
the
city
intervene
and
say
that,
because
it
was
a
a
community
space
that
this
is
a
property
that
now
we
don't
want
you
to
sell
it
for
all
the
interest
that
you
put
on
a
a
ten
thousand
dollar
lien
that
now,
if
you
got
interest
of
sixty
thousand
dollars,
we
can
do
it.
We
can
work
it
out.
Is
there
some
type
of
fee
agreement
if
there's
some
type
of
payment
plan?
Those
are
answers
to
the
that.
I
think
that
we
have
to
address,
but
it
does.
I
H
H
I
Has
a
lot
next
to
the
house
that
they've
been
taking
care
of
for
10
years?
If
there's
an
interest,
then
that
per
that
that
person
has
a
an
issue
to
argue
whether
or
not
they
have
an
interest.
A
priority
interest
now
understand
the
judgment.
If
the
judgment
is
bought
from
the
city,
the
u.s
bank
has
a
right
to
say
we
bought
that
judgment,
but
the
city
also
has
a
right
to
intervene
and
recognize
that.
I
Maybe
I
should
buy
that
that
judgment
back
or
buy
that
property
back,
because
we
have
this
issue
and
that
can
exist,
and
I
think
that's
what
the
sheriff
was
addressing
in
terms
of
one
of
the
solutions
is
buying
back
these
safe
spaces
buying
back
these
community
bodies.
We're
only
going
to
do
what
we
have
to
do.
K
Basically,
councilwoman
brooks
because
the
city
sold
these
to
the
u.s
bank
to
generate
revenue
in
the
city,
and
there
has
been
a
couple
of
opportunities
that
presented
prior
to
y'all
coming
on
to
council
in
order
to
buy
these
these
liens
back,
but
council
didn't
take
it
up,
so
maybe
revisiting
that
area
under
new
council
people.
That's
there
that's
interested
in
helping
to
save
these
safe
spaces,
and
these
community
gardens
may
be
an
avenue
that
you
all
need
to
really
look
at.
Oh.
H
H
I
H
D
A
A
The
other
option
on
tax
cases
is
that
there
is
a
redemption
period,
which
is
nine
months
from
the
day
that
the
deed
is
acknowledged
and
within
that
nine
month
period
a
majority
of
title
companies
will
not
allow
the
property
to
be
sold
because
the
previous
owner
does
have
that
option
to
come
back
and
get
the
property
back.
Once
again.
That
is
also
a
report,
a
court
filing,
and
it
has
to
be
ordered
by
the
court
that
the
property.
A
H
A
A
A
H
K
Have
miss
melissa
simpson
at
fella.gov,
who
is
the
director
of
real
estate?
You
also
have
our
constituent
services
group
that
will
get
us
that
information,
but
I
believe,
directly
go
to
melissa
simpson,
who
is
director
of
real
estate.
So
if
they
have
information-
or
you
know,
situations
that
arise,
she
will
get
that
information
first
and
bring
it
down
to
either
tyrique
or
myself,
and
then
we
will
have
a
conversation
with
who
we
need
to
talk
to
and
try
to
resolve
the
issue.
G
D
Council
councilmen,
madam
chair,
I
have
the
answer
to
that.
If
you
want
me
to
my
history,
the
the
the
batch
that
we
started
discussing
about
13
years
ago,
there's
about
5
000
properties,
as
as
I
often
mentioned,
I
have
1358
in
my
district
when
I
first
started,
many
of
them
have
begun
to
get
sold
so
we're
not
sure
what
the
portfolio
is
down
because,
as
the
sheriff
has
alluded
us
banklings
is
being
much
more
aggressive,
putting
these
out
on
sale.
D
G
D
So
you
know,
part
of
our
challenge
has
has
been
you
know,
because,
outside
of
the
neighborhood
garden,
trust
there's
a
lot
of
independent
garden
groups,
there
hasn't
been
a
real.
You
know:
mgt
tries
to
help
in
organizing
and
finding
out.
Many
of
these
parcels
are
tied
in
with
either
as
you
heard
from
the
testimony
of
mr
moran
are
tied
into
other
properties,
they're
either
pha,
some
many
that
were
privately
owned
and
some
that
are
city.
D
So
there's
you
see,
multiple
lots
together
and
the
assemblages
is
a
little
complicated
because
in
the
case
of
iglesias,
there's
some
pha
parcels,
but
there's
there
were
some
that
were
private
and,
of
course,
as
mentioned,
the
land
bank
does
not
have
the
authority
to
acquire
the
u.s
banklings,
because
that
was
a
city
debt.
It's
a
conversation
that
we've
had
on
the
record
and
city
council
at
least
the
last
13
years.
I've
been
here
and
we
need
money
if
the
city
were
to
negotiate.
D
Obviously,
the
u.s
bank
lane
is
going
to
negotiate
differently
with
the
city
of
philadelphia,
as
it
has
done
with
individual
folks,
because
they're
willing
to
take-
and
I
the
sheriff's
office-
can
confirm
this.
They
take
a
lot
less
money
on
the
table
when
it's
on
sheriff's
sale,
but
they
are
unwilling
to
negotiate
in
that
way
with
the
city
of
philadelphia.
So
we
started
negotiating,
they
will
come
in
high
and
they
will
do
what
they
always
do,
which
is
exploit
and
take
advantage
of
communities.
D
I
would
say:
there's
at
least
a
thousand
tied
into
some
sort
of
neighborhood
work.
You
know
and
again
how
we
validate
that
work
around.
It
could
be
someone
who
just
took
care
of
a
side
lot
put
a
fence
on
it.
It
could
be
several
multiple
lots,
you
know
and
then
some
of
the
more
comprehensive
gardens
like
iglesias,
but
I
would
say
at
least
a
thousand
that
are
encumbered
with
someone
that
should
have
equity
in
it,
because
they've
taken
care
of
it.
D
M
D
I
don't
know
if,
if
tariq
can
speak
to
the
last
couple
of
u.s
bank
leans,
if
you
happen
to
know
what
they've
gone
in
south
kensington,
the
lots
are
going
for
as
high
as
a
hundred
hundred
fifty
thousand
in
some
cases,
depending
some
large.
We
have
some
large
16
foot,
lots
and
then
there's
some
other
awkward
ones,
but
it's
quite
the
the
value
in
south
kensington
is
high.
H
B
B
B
B
Well,
this
has
not
happened,
but
friends,
neighbors
gardeners,
phs,
uc,
green,
tiny,
wpa,
the
soil
generation,
soil
generation,
brigade
and
other
organizations
and
volunteers
have
worked
diligently
to
maine
and
preserve
the
government.
It's
been
four
years
and
the
acquisition
of
the
holly
street
neighbors
community
garden
is
still
in
limbo,
garnered
by
the
u.s
banklings.
B
B
N
N
We
work
we'll
have
work
over
in
the
4100
block
of
pinsgrove
street
and
4100
block
of
pittsburgh
between,
I
want
to
say,
22
to
30.
I
mean
we've
worked
this
land
for
over
10
years,
keeping
it
clean,
growing
fruits
and
vegetables,
and
you
know
I
wish
that
at
the
time
with
sheriff
bellow.
I
applaud
what
you're
doing
right
now.
I
wish
that
we
had
the
same
courtesies
that
you're
giving
today
we've
gone
to
council
about
preserving
that
particular
lots
of
land.
N
N
N
So
now,
I'm
looking
at
okay,
here's
our
blockage,
you
have
limeburger
owning
a
few
lots.
Other
lots
were
sold
off
to
private
developers
and
what
gets
me
with
that
after
a
year,
no
development
after
two
years,
they've
done
no
development,
so
they're
just
buying
these
lots
of
private
developers
to
place
them
in
their
portfolio.
N
So
it
blocked
us
from
even
wanting
to
move
forward
because
we
have
a
renderings
of
indoor
to
use
the
spaces
for
indoor
facilities,
as
well
as
outdoor
facilities,
which
would
encompass
garden,
seating
and
the
whole
gamut
to
complete
our
community,
and
that's
just
on
the
two
blocks.
Like
I
stated
on
pinsgrove
street,
as
well
as
westminster
avenue,
it's
the
state,
the
same
scenario:
4120
325
westminster.
N
You
guys
passed
the
city
council
for
us
to
develop
on
8
64
through
74
north
preston
street,
as
well
as
871
and
8
73,
no
bud
to
become
the
belmont
cultural
ex.
I'm
sorry,
the
belmont
cultural
activities
part
to
find
out.
There's
121
liens
in
this
area,
I'm
being
told
by
rda.
Well,
we
don't
see
it,
but
our
title
company
is
saying:
well,
here's
the
liens!
Here's
a
76
page
report,
liens,
there's
a
dangling
participle
here.
N
No
one
quite
understands
what
is
going
on
who's
responsible
for
cleaning
up
the
liens,
or
do
these
liens
exist
at
all
some
stopped,
I'm
really
really
stumped,
but
we're
finding
within
the
belmont
community
a
lot
of
the
parcels
that
a
lot
of
the
community
neighbors
want
to
develop
themselves
are
caught
in
this
web
that
we
can't
undo
and
what
gets
me,
and
I
want
to
slide
back
to
westminster,
avenue,
sigma,
41,
28
and
30.
I
believe
it
is
westminster
avenue.
N
It
was
only
four
thousand
dollars
in
2018,
a
four
thousand
dollar
lien
that
lineburger
had
on
this
property
and
I'm
the
type
of
person
I'm
the
type
of
leader.
I'm
gonna
bring
money
to
the
table.
I'm
not
gonna.
Come
there
with
my
hand
out,
I'm
gonna
have
people
support
because
they
believe
in
the
costs,
and
my
question
is
how
how
can
this
be
resolved
with
limeburger?
N
Because
if
these
liens
are
just
that
small,
why
wasn't
the
community
allowed
to
bond
together
self
dinners
or
what
have
you
to
come
up
with
this
money
to
pay
off
this
debt?
Why
do
they
still
have
a
foothold
on
us
and
I
would
like
to
well,
I
know,
chair
below.
You
cannot
answer
this
because
it
was
a
past
administration
that
lots
were
so
when
we
asked
and
told
them
and
in
letters
these
lots
were
being
utilized,
they
were
being
utilized
as
gardens
and
they
were
taken
from
us
I'ma
calm
down.
N
A
A
I
just
you
know,
but
I
just
want
to
let
you
know
that
our
office
is
committed
to
continuing
to
advocate
around
preserving
these
spaces
and
honoring
all
of
the
hard
work
that
you've
put
into
stewarding
this
as
a
community
asset,
and
I
also
know
we
have
folks
from
u.s
bank
and
also
angel
rodriguez
coming
up.
Who
can
speak
to
some
of
the
specifics,
hopefully
on
these
properties
and
on
the
larger
issue.
A
H
I
do
I
want
to
thank
this
panel
for
testifying,
and
I
want
to
thank
you
for
the
work
that
you've
done
in
your
community.
It
lends
to
who
we
are
as
a
people
and
trying
to
keep
our
community
safe,
but
I
have
some
questions
about
how
we
can
best
support
you
in
the
work
that
you're
doing-
and
this
is
for
all
three
of
you
like
what
has
been
the
biggest
barrier
for
you-
to
keep
your
community
garden
going
and
working.
B
B
J
I
guess,
make
it
a
public
list,
but
electricity
is
an
essential
need
for
us
right
now
we
haven't
been
able
to
secure,
I
don't
know,
permits
or
or
but
anyways.
We
many
of
us
understand
that
all
of
that
is
a
process
as
well
all
that
to
say
that
things
of
that
nature
will
really
help
us,
but
obviously
securing
the
land
that
we're
gardening
on
right
and
having
this
panel
and
and
this
this
discussion
is
just
absolutely
a
great
thing.
N
I,
council
member,
I
had
to
stop
and
think
about
this
a
little
bit,
but
once
upon
a
time
we
used
to,
you
know,
receive
the
sheriff's
hell
list,
so
you
know
the
powers
to
be
would
have
heads
up
of
what's
coming
down
the
pike
and
that
would
be
fruitful.
So
my
organization
about
my
alliance,
civic
association,
cdc,
could
pre-warn
folk
about
their
lots.
If
they're
working
these
lots,
I
understand
there's
a
a
website.
N
N
We
need
for
that
to
go
away.
If
that
can
go
away,
we
can
proceed
on
and
build
something
very,
very
beautiful
and
you
we
have
some
other
lots
within
the
belmont
community.
That
limeburger
has
their
foothold
on
where
people
would
just
want
little
top
lights
and
it
wouldn't
take
much
for
them
for
us
to
gather
a
donation
to
render
that
for
them,
and
basically
this
is
what
I
need
help
with.
At
this
juncture.
We
have
even
what
I
spoke
about
on
pensacola
street.
N
Why
are
they
just
sitting
on
them?
Doing
nothing?
It's
not
bringing
any
beautification
to
our
or
revitalization
to
our
community.
They're
just
still
sitting
there
and
it
would
be
a
risk
if
people
are
on
these
lots
and
if
someone
gets
hurt,
they're,
not
gonna
pay,
they're,
not
gonna,
wanna
they're,
not
gonna,
be
want
to
be
liable
for
that,
and
that
concerns
me
as
well.
I
N
I
Yes,
if
you
email
us,
I'm
gonna
give
you
melissa.simpson
at
philly.gov.
That
is
the
real
estate
director.
If
you
email
her
your
email
address,
she
will
give
you
the
list
prior
to
them
coming
out.
So
you'll
have
that
list
to
take
a
look
at
it.
If
one
of
those
did
properly
show
up,
there,
you'll
be
able
to
act
upon
it
as
as
quickly
as
possible.
K
Before
we
close
out
madame
chair
counselor,
we
need
to
have
a
conversation,
because
I
just
heard
something
in
here
that
we
probably
need
to
discuss
yes.
So
when
you
get
an
opportunity
this,
this
that's
kendra
yourself
and
I
think
sanchez
and
dom
that
we
can
discuss
on
this.
The
people
in
your
committee
are
first
that
we
probably
need
to
sit
down
and
talk
about
it.
K
A
O
Morning,
my
name
is
angel
rodriguez,
executive,
director
of
the
philadelphia
land
bank.
Good
morning,
chairperson
gautier
members
of
the
committee
on
housing
and
neighborhood
development
and
homelessness
and
the
homeless,
I'm
again
angel
rodriguez,
the
executive
director
of
the
philadelphia
land
bank.
I'm
here
to
testify
on
resolution
number
210838.
O
The
land
bank
in
the
administration
recognize
and
acknowledge
the
impact
of
the
u.s
bank
liens
on
the
city's
ability
to
put
vacant
land
back
into
productive
use.
We
also
recognize
the
impact
u.s
bank
leans,
have
on
community
gardens
and
open
spaces,
which
has
proven
to
be,
we
all
know,
are
community
assets.
O
The
u.s
banking
situation
is
a
complicated
situation,
but
the
landbank
and
the
administration
are
committed
to
work
with
city
council
on
this
complicated
issue
and
also
to
better
our
ability
to
service
community
gardeners.
To
that
end,
we're
working
currently
to
update
our
website
working
on
license
renewals
to
make
that
more
streamlined,
also
in
terms
of
a
structure
for
long-term
leases
for
community
gardens
moving
forward
and
we're
really
looking
at
a
way
we
can
effectively
do
land
swaps
as
well.
O
Thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
testify
in
this
matter
and
I'd
be
happy
to
answer
any
questions
you
may
have.
Also.
I
just
want
to
mention
that
we
have
francis
beckley
from
the
department
of
revenue
and
ash
richards
director
of
urban
agriculture
from
parks
and
rec,
who
are
also
here
available
for
questioning.
C
Good
morning
my
name
is
mark
harris,
I'm
the
current
managing
partner
of
linebacker,
doc
and
blair
and
sampson's
philadelphia
office,
and
I
am
here
this
morning
at
the
invitation
of
council
to
testify
on
resolution
210,
838
and
I'd
like
to
address
the
council.
First
of
all,
by
saying
thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
be
before
you
today.
I
actually
think
that
it
was
pretty
necessary
for
me
to
appear
before
you,
even
though
I've
been
to
a
lot
of
your
events,
but
we
are
happy
to
have
the
opportunity
to
speak
with
you
today.
C
C
That
we
have
worked
with
the
city
and
city
council
is
that
we
we
work
consistently
to
identify
these
properties
that
are
somewhat
identified
as
community
gardens
and
my
office
has
typically
pulled
these
properties
that
are
slated
for
sale.
For
that
very
reason,
because
we
do
realize
that
there
is
a
pressing
issue
with
the
city
on
the
precipice
of
losing
a
lot
of
these,
these
properties
to
developers
who
want
to
come
in
and
sort
of
bulldoze
the
community.
So
I
am
here
for
any
questions
as
well,
and
thanks
again
for
the
opportunity.
A
F
F
You
know
that's
just
and
at
that
point
we
didn't
know
what
kind
of
federal
money
we
were
having,
and
I
said
the
city
just
does
not
have
that
kind
of
money,
and
you
know
negotiations
fell
apart
at
that
point
and
we
haven't
heard
back
from
them
now.
You
know
more
recently.
They
may
entertain
an
offer
if
we
were
to
try
and
prioritize
a
portion
of
the
portfolio.
A
F
A
F
I
I
honestly
do
not:
let's
remember
that
we're
not
talking
about
buying
the
property,
all
you're
talking
about
is
buying
the
lien
or
claim
legal
claim
against
the
property.
Now
once
you've
gotten
rid
of
that,
then,
in
virtually
every
single
one
of
these
instances,
you
will
have
20
years
of
delinquent
city
taxes
because
nobody's
been
paying
the
taxes
on
these
parcels.
F
That
is
the
next
claim
and
both
of
those
claims
are
super.
What
are
called
super
priority
liens,
so
no
other
judgment,
creditor
or
person
will
be
above
that
the
only
thing
that
comes
above
that
is
our
state,
some
some
state
taxes
which
would
not
be
their
corporate
taxes
and
they
would
not
be
relevant
in
these
situations.
F
I
do
not,
however,
because
of
the
mou
that
the
city
has
with
the
land
bank.
The
land
bank
would
be
able
to
purchase
those
properties
for
the
lesser
of
the
city
liens
or
the
assessed
value
of
the
property.
So
if
the
liens
are
more
than
the
current
assessed
value
of
the
property,
the
land
bank
would
only
need
to
bid
the
assessed
value
of
the
property.
B
F
And
and
the
nice
thing
one
thing
I
should
mention
about
that
that
not
everybody
understands
about
sheriff's
sales
is
when
ms
ferguson
was
complaining
about
the
liens
on
the
various
liens
on
those
properties.
If
something
goes
through,
sheriff's
sale,
all
liens
are
wiped
clean.
The
purchaser
gets
the
property
free
and
clear.
So
you
know
to
the
extent
that
there
might
be
old
judgments
or
other
issues
having
them
having
it
bid
at
sheriff's.
Sales
is
a
good
way
to
get
a
fresh
start
for
the
piece
of
property.
A
O
Angel,
oh,
if
hi,
can
everybody
hear
me?
Okay?
So
once
the
the
resolution
of
the
u.s
bank
liens
happened,
so
those
liens
would
be
removed
and
then
you
would
have
the
existing
municipal
liens.
The
land
bank
would
then
identify
them
and
place
them
in
and
technically
what
we
call
this
is
or
anecdotally
identify
them
forced
air
filled.
Then
that
means
land
bank
has
identified
them
to
use
their
our
priority
bid.
So
once
we
put,
we
put
them
on
hold
and
identify
them
for
acquisition.
O
As
they
come
up
for
tariff
fail,
we
would
go
to
the
stair
fail
and
we
would
utilize
our
priority
bid
and
just
so
everybody's
aware,
once
we
utilize
our
priority
bid.
There
is
no
second
offer
we're
the
only
per
only
agency
that
can
purchase
them.
So
at
that
point,
then
we
would
take
title
to
the
property.
A
C
I
can
say
that
they
probably
would.
I
was
hoping
that
my
client
was
going
to
be
available
for
this
call,
but
he
mentioned
to
me
earlier
in
the
week
that,
because
I
was
trying
to
schedule
a
call
with
him
myself,
and
so
we
have
a
meeting
scheduled
for
next
week.
My
my
hunch
is
that
they
would
be
willing
to
entertain
negotiations
at
this
point,
how
much
that
would
be
or
what
what
monetary
value
that
would
involve.
C
A
C
C
A
H
Thank
you,
madam
chair.
I
have
a
few
questions.
I
want
to
thank
mr
harris
for
taking
time
meeting
with
me
earlier
in
the
week
too,
and
around
this
at
the
last
minute.
I
do
appreciate
your
willingness
to
have
this
conversation
and
working
towards
getting
your
client
involved
and
engaged
in
this
conversation.
H
O
H
O
So
for
us,
the
acquisition
policy
that
governs
how
the
you
know,
land
bank
operates,
doesn't
allow
us
to
bid
or
utilize
our
priority
bid
at
u.s
banking.
So
what
it
states
is
that
if
a
third
party
pays
off
the
u.s
bank
lien,
then
we
can,
we
can
go
and
resolve
the
remaining
municipal
liens.
So
if
a
garden
group,
they
would
have
to
have
resources
to
pay
off
the
u.s
bank
lien
first
and
then
the
remaining
municipal
lien.
O
H
O
Francis
was
mapping
out
before
there's
the
issue
of
the
u.s
bank
lien,
which
is
in
first
position
and
then
since
97
there
have
been
municipal
liens
that
have
been
racking
up
on
the
property.
So
if
the
the
there
was
a
negotiation
and
the
u.s
bank
liens
were
settled,
there
would
still
be
the
underlying
lien
that
would
have
to
be
resolved.
That's
where
the
land
bank
could
come
in
and
say:
okay,
we
need,
you
know
we're
going
to
identify.
These
properties
are
actively
guarded,
we'd
like
to
acquire
them,
and
then
they
would
be.
O
We
would
utilize
our
priority
bid
and
based
on
the
agreement
we
have
with
the
city
and
the
school
district,
we
would
pay
the
lesser
of
the
opa
value
or
the
existing
lien,
and
then
we
would
acquire
title
so
remember
that
there's
this
is
where
it
gets
a
little
complicated.
U.S
bank
lean
is
not
the
property,
it's
the
lien
on
the
property.
What
we
want
is
the
land,
so
we
have
to
resolve
the
lien
first
and
then
allow
for
the
land
bank
to
actually
step
in
and
then
take
the
property.
O
O
O
There
there
are
a
lot
of
things
that
need
to
be
amended
in
the
acquisition
policy,
and
there
are
a
lot
of
issues
that
have
come
up.
That
we
recognize
are
our
issues
that
that
we
need
to
resolve
in
terms
of
the
acquisition
policy
and
how
it
lines
up
with
the
disposition
policy
and
how
the
land
bank
can
operate
smoothly.
O
O
The
problem
is,
we
have
certain
things
that
aren't
very
clear
in
the
acquisition
policy
and
acquisition
doesn't
mean
you're
going
to
get
the
property
afterwards,
because
you
have
to
be
qualified,
so
there's
a
lot
of
work
we
could
be
doing.
And,
yes,
we
we'd
love
to
engage
in
a
process
with
the
council
to
work.
C
C
We
we
get
approached
all
the
time
by
taxpayers
who
want
to
pay
the
lien,
but
title
does
not
pass
so
we
steer
people
from
doing
that
because
you
know
someone
could
easily
take
their
money
and
pay
the
lien,
but
it
doesn't
mean
that
they
now
own
the
lot,
and
so
we
steer
taxpayers
away
from
doing
it.
For
that
reason,.
O
H
Okay,
so
yeah,
I
thanks
for
explaining
all
this
out.
I
know
there's
a
sense
of
urgency,
because
these
community
gardens
are
are
like
disappearing
at
a
rapid
rate
and
it
sounds
like
we
want
to
make
sure
we're
clear
on
how
to
get
these
properties
in
the
hand
of
community
members
and
I'm
looking
forward
to
working
with
you
guys
on
this,
and
thank
you
for
sharing
this
information.
I
do
have
a
few
more
questions.
H
C
I
don't
have
the
authority
to
waive
those
and-
and
I
would
like
to
say-
because
I
have
the
list
for
the
november
sale-
that
I
will
provide
to
you.
Typically,
the
the
amounts
for
the
delinquent
taxes
are
not
very
large
amounts.
Even
when
we're
dealing
with
a
lot
of
the
years,
the
p,
I
does
tend
to
rack
up
from
the
base
amount,
but
I
myself
we
do
not
have
the
authority
to
waive
the
pni.
H
C
C
H
Okay,
thank
you,
I'm.
The
next
question
is
for
the
administration.
We've
heard
a
lot
about
how
hard
it
is
for
community
gardeners
to
find
out
how
to
become
owners
of
the
land
that
they
have
cared
for.
Is
there
anything
that
the
administration
can
do
to
make
this
process
simpler
for
residents
who
have
been
caring
for
these
otherwise
neglected
spaces
for
years,
without
being
paid
for
that
labor
like?
Is
there
anything
we
can
do
to
help
them.
O
Can
we
clarify
the
question?
There's
the
issue
of
privately
held
land
versus
publicly
held
land,
so
if
a
community-
and
this
goes
back
to
the
comments
that
councilwoman
kenyans
fans
have
made
a
lot
of
these
gardens-
are
made
up
of
privately
held
land
and
publicly
held
land.
So
if
it's
publicly
held
land,
we
have
a
process.
We
have
a
website
and
application
process
to
convey
that
out
again.
O
These
are
one
of
the
issues
where
we
need
to
look
at
the
disposition
and
acquisition
policy
to
make
sure
that
we're
actually
achieving
our
goal
privately
held
land.
If
we
identify
it-
and
this
is
actually
in
the
acquisition
policy,
if
it's
identified
that
it's
privately
held
and
it
doesn't
have
a
u.s
bank
lien,
the
land
bank
can
place
a
hold
on
that
property
and
identify
for
acquisition.
O
This
does
come
to
funding.
I
just
want
to
point
out
to
the
to
council
that
you
know
this
past
fiscal
year.
The
lane
bank
did
not
receive
any
funding
for
acquisition,
but
look
you
know.
Unfortunately,
you
know
saying
that
it's
I
mean
the
spare
fails
were
suspended
as
well,
so
we
didn't
really
have
a
loss
of
property
during
that
last
fiscal
year,
but
land
bank
would
then
have
to
identify
that
property
put
a
hold
on
it
and
then
at
the
next
available
sheriff's
bill.
O
H
Okay:
okay,
we'll
continue
this
conversation,
but
thank
you
for
sharing
this
with
me
and
one
more
question:
it's
around.
You
mentioned
in
your
testimony
that
you
are
taking
several
steps
at
the
land
bank
to
address
this
crisis.
Can
you
please
review
those
steps
you're
taking
and
provide
like
dates
of
completion.
O
I'm
working
with
my
legal
team
and
our
insurance
company
to
work
on
license
agreements
and
also
lease
agreements
to
make
that
process
readily
available
and
easier
for
garden
gardeners,
also
trying
to
streamline
and
put
up
standard
operating
procedures
for
long-term
leases,
community
groups
so
any
and
as
a
footnote,
anything
over
a
year
has
to
come
before
the
either
the
land
bank
board
or
the
pra
board,
and
then
also
requires
a
council
resolution
for
long-term
lease
over
a
year.
So
we're
working
on
how
to
streamline
those
issues
I
am
currently.
O
O
I
think
I
could
give
you
something
more
definitive,
probably
if
we
touch
base
in
the
middle
of
november,
because
we
are
actively
working
towards,
I
think,
once
we
get
the
process
going
and
a
point
of
contact.
I
know
that
was
also
another
issue,
so
you'll
be
seeing
changes
to
our
website
in
the
next
couple
of
weeks
and
also
we'll
have
a
way
for
people
to
contact
us
so
that
just
on
garden
issues.
H
G
F
C
F
Q
F
Q
C
G
G
O
O
There
are
u.s
bank
lean
properties
that
do
not
have
gardens
on
them,
so
what
the
proposed
used
afterwards,
but
again
the
title
is
the
land
bank.
We
would
be
banking,
those
properties
for
future
disposition,
depending
on
what
the
you
know
ultimate
use
would
be,
but
the
activity
of
identifying
them
and
what
the
cost
is
and
what
the
pro
you
know
price
would
be.
We
can
do
that.
A
Point
of
information-
I
I
I
just
I
see
your
idea,
but
I
just
wanted
to
point
out
that
a
lot
of
these
properties
also
exist
in
gentrifying
neighborhoods,
and
so
the
idea
of
marketing
the
rest
is
complicated
because
they're
a
prime
means
of
us
being
able
to
provide
affordable
housing.
So,
from
my
perspective,
it's
not
a
matter
of
just
selling
the
properties,
to
you
know
the
highest
bidder
and
taking
revenue.
It's
also
a
matter
of
looking
at
this
land
like
in
the
third
district.
A
G
O
Calcium
and
dom,
if
I
could
jump
in
here,
one
of
the
route,
you
know
how
the
land
bank
operates.
Is
we
work
in
partnership
with
council
council
members
with
council
districts,
so
whatever
the
land
strategy
is
we
work
hand
in
hand
as
to
what
that
priority
is
so
again
if
it's
affordable
housing,
that's
what
we're
going
to
target
and
and
like
pushed
out,
so
we
rarely
put
out
competitive
sales
where
it's
at
market
rate
development.
O
Almost,
I
would
say,
90
of
our
dispositions,
have
some
level
of
affordability
or
qualify
for
the
exception
to
a
competitive
sale.
So
it's
either
going
to
be
a
garden
open
space
or
100
affordable,
or
it's
going
to
be
some
mix
where
it's
51,
affordable
and
all
of
those
decisions
are
made
hand
in
hand
with
the
council
member
of
that
district
and
what
the
land
strategy
is
for
that
area,
because
I
think
every
you
know
there
is
truth
to
the
statement
that
philadelphia
is
a
city
of
neighborhoods.
Not
everything
works
everywhere.
C
C
A
C
C
C
No,
I
was
going
to
follow
up
with
councilman,
dom
about
some
of
the
portfolio
that
we
have
pulled
from
sale
because
we've
either
gotten
a
call
from
a
councilman's
office
or
worked
with
land
bank.
I
think
we
have
approximately
almost
170
of
those
accounts
that
we've
pulled
over
the
last
couple
of
years
that
are
pretty
much
just
in
a
balance
until
a
solution
is,
is
arrived
at.
C
G
Just
an
average
if
we
took
2
000
into
12
million,
isn't
it
like
6
000,
I
mean
I
just
think,
there's
an
opportunity
here,
as
councilmember
jones
said
we
all
can
win.
You
should
look
at
that
because
I
think
the
values
on
some
of
these
lots
that
we're
not
going
to
use
for
gardens
or
affordable
housing
might
help
us
offset
this
expense.
G
That's
all
right
and
there's
another
factor
here
that
we
should
calculate
into
that
analysis
by
putting
some
of
these
properties
back
into
the
market,
we're
going
to
collect
real
estate
taxes
and
we're
going
to
improve
neighborhoods
and
that's
all
beneficial
to
the
core
of
the
city.
So
thank
you
very
much.
Thank
you,
madam
chair.
E
You
good
morning,
everyone,
my
name
is
ebony
griffin
and
I
will
be
testifying
before
you
today
about
what
we've
seen
with
u.s
banklings
in
my
practice,
at
the
public
interest
law
center,
dear
counsel
and
committee
good
afternoon
or
morning,
chairwoman,
gautier
and
members
of
the
committee
on
housing,
neighborhood
development
and
homelessness.
My
name
is
ebony
griffin
and
I
am
testifying
in
my
capacity
as
an
environmental
justice
attorney
at
the
public
interest
law
center.
E
The
law
center
convenes
you
to
commend
you
for
convening
this
hearing
to
ensure
the
city's
sheriff's
cells
are
held
in
an
equitable
way,
prioritizing
the
needs
of
low-income
communities
of
color
in
our
environmental
work.
The
law
center
uses
a
variety
of
methods
to
ensure
that
philadelphia's
most
vulnerable
residents
have
access
to
a
healthy,
natural
and
built
environment,
but
also
that
they
have
a
seat
at
the
table
and
a
voice
in
what
happens
in
their
neighborhoods.
The
law,
center's
garden
justice.
E
Legal
initiative
accomplishes
this
by
providing
pro
bono
legal
representation
to
urban
farmers
and
community
gardens
in
philadelphia
in
efforts
to
protect
and
preserve
the
city's
green
space,
which
is
being
lost
due
to
development
pressure.
This
development
pressure
in
part
stems
from
the
1997
securitization
of
tax
liens
in
1997
tax,
lien,
securitization
and
remaining
privately
held
liens
contributed
to
gentrification
displacement,
urban
blight
and
reduction
in
green
space.
E
Allowing
sheriff
cells
to
proceed
without
removing
the
obstacles
caused
by
these
privately
held
tax
liens
and
creating
a
clear
pathway
to
ownership
for
gardens
already
occupying
spaces
will
further
contribute
to
these
problems.
This
testimony
explains
how
and
provides
potential
solutions
to
that
problem,
so
for
a
little
bit
of
background
back
in
97,
the
city
bundled
together,
30
000
tax,
liens
and
sold
them
to
u.s
bank
and
that's
a
bit
of
a
simplification
of
what
actually
happened,
but,
for
all
intents
and
purposes
that
works
for
now
the
city
lost
money.
E
Public
agencies
could
not
acquire
the
property
without
first
paying
the
lien
holder,
the
value
of
the
lien,
plus
their
fees,
which
stymied
efforts
to
get
vacant
tax,
delinquent
properties
back
into
productive
reuse,
which
is
exactly
what's
happening
now.
In
fact,
then,
chief
of
staff
to
mayor
rindell,
david
cohen,
acknowledged
the
city's
miscalculation
regarding
the
uncollectible
accounts.
In
a
quote
that
appeared
in
a
2001,
philadelphia,
inquirer
editorial
quote
the
rating
agencies
missed
it,
the
underwriters
missed
it,
the
insurer
missed
it
and
the
city
missed
it.
E
End
quote
the
problem,
so
the
consequences
of
the
fallout
from
the
1997
securitization
are
still
very
evident
today,
while
the
exact
number
is
unclear.
Data
from
the
city
estimates
that
between
3
600
and
500
properties
in
philadelphia
are
encumbered
by
these
bankings.
The
liens
on
these
properties
are
between
18
and
21
million,
with
the
total
debt
to
the
city
of
approximately
41
million
dollars.
P
E
The
law
center
regularly
receives
requests
for
help
from
gardeners
threatened
with
the
losing
parcels
to
cell
under
normal
circumstances.
Removing
a
parcel
from
the
sheriff's
own
list
necessitates
a
phone
call
to
the
appropriate
council
person's
office
and
a
subsequent
conversation
with
the
philadelphia
housing
development
corporation
about
the
acquisition
of
the
parcel
and
eventual
disposition
to
the
gardener.
However,
more
often
than
not,
we
learned
that
the
parcels
were
part
of
the
large
scale
securitization
of
97,
and
in
these
instances,
even
with
council
support,
very
little
can
be
done
as
we've
discussed
at
length
today.
E
Very
little
can
be
done
to
save
the
garden
as
growers
are
often
unable
to
pay
the
lean
and
the
exorbitant
fees
that
accompany
accompany
it.
This
usually
leads
to
a
developer,
purchase,
purchasing
the
property
and
replacing
the
garden
with
luxury
housing
units
out
of
the
reach
of
the
existing
community.
This
dynamic
ultimately
contributes
to
a
sharp
increase
in
property
taxes
and
displacement
of
long-term
lower-income
residents.
E
One
such
garden
in
council
district
7
was
lost
to
a
developer
because
of
the
u.s
bank
league.
An
elderly
resident
who
used
the
produce
from
the
garden
to
feed
himself
had
been
caring
for
the
garden
for
many
many
years
he
had
previously
reached
out
to
the
city
inquiring
about
the
title
transfer.
However,
the
presence
of
the
u.s
bank
lean
made
this
impossible.
Eventually,
a
develop
developer,
purchased
the
garden
sheriff's
cell
and
replaced
plans
to
replace
it
with
luxury
condominium.
E
These
private
bank
cleans
make
even
make
it
difficult
for
low-income
gardeners
to
use
the
law
as
a
means
to
preserve
their
gardens
because
of
the
increase
in
gardens
being
lost
to
sheriff's
cell
the
lawson
and
developed
a
training
program
to
teach
other
attorneys
throughout
the
city.
How
to
represent
these
gardens
and
since
april
2018
we
have
trained
hundreds
of
attorneys
interested
in
decision
assisting
with
this
mission.
E
However,
unless
the
potential
client
is
immediately
able
to
pay
the
tax
lien
along
with
the
usually
exorbitant
interest
and
fees,
the
client
is
left
with
very
few
options
to
acquire
the
parcel
further,
because
the
lien
holder's
main
incentive
is
monetary
return
on
their
initial
1997
investment.
They
are
usually
reluctant
to
agree
to
even
a
short
postponement
of
the
sale
to
allow
our
clients
the
opportunity
to
raise
the
money
to
purchase
the
properties
themselves.
E
Just
a
few
months
ago,
the
scenario
played
out
almost
verbatim
for
a
gardener
in
district
3..
This
gardener,
another
elderly
woman
who
had
been
painting
a
parcel
next
to
her
home
for
over
30
years,
reached
out
to
us
frantically.
After
seeing
a
sheriff's
cell
notes
that
po
notice
posted
on
her
fence,
our
first
step
was
to
seek
to
postpone
the
pending
cell.
E
While
we
found
an
attorney
to
assist
the
client
with
filing
an
action
acquired
title,
we
learned
quickly
that
the
presence
of
the
privately
held
bank
lien
on
the
property
prevented
the
city
from
postponing
the
cell.
Additionally,
with
significant
with
the
significantly
reduced
operating
budget
and
blanket
ban
on
acquiring
these
types
of
parcels,
phdc
was
unable
to
help
the
garden
ultimately
sold
on
april
9th
and
we
are
still
searching
for
ways
to
return.
The
client's
beloved
30-year-old
guard
back
to
her
and
prevent
a
developer
from
turning
it
into
market
rate
housing.
E
The
city
must
develop
a
short
short-term
and
a
long-term
strategy.
As
a
very
first
step
of
the
short-term
strategy.
The
city
must
create
a
clear
pathway
to
ownership
for
community
members
using
these
parcels,
and
I
have
to
reiterate
that
this
is
crucial,
because
without
ensuring
that
the
gardens
without
ensuring
that
gardens
and
community
spaces
will
receive
title,
any
action
the
city
takes
to
pay
off
or
remove.
The
liens
will
result
in
a
lower
barrier
of
interest
for
developers.
So
we
must
ensure
that
the
people
using
these
spaces
have
priority
status
for
any
title
transfer.
E
So,
additionally,
we
encourage
the
city
to
pass
legislation
authorizing
phdc
to
acquire
parcels
with
u.s
bank
claims,
remove
re-empowering
them
to
work
towards
putting
vacant
blighted
parcels
back
into
productive
reuse.
However,
for
phdc
to
be
a
viable
preservation
option,
the
city
must
fully
fund
and
staff.
The
agency
there
are
far
more
community
spaces
in
need
of
preservation
than
phdc
can
handle,
with
its
current
budget
and
staff
and,
finally,
for
gardens
to
pay
for
gardens
able
to
pay
a
portion
of
the
u.s
bank
liens.
The
city
must
navigate,
must
negotiate.
E
Excuse
me
an
easily
navigable
accessible
system
that
eliminates
penalties
and
allows
individuals
to
enter
into
payment
arrangements
for
the
principal
price
and
for
the
long-term
strategy.
The
city
must
allocate
the
funds
to
pay
off
the
ux
bank
liens
in
their
entirety,
so
the
estimated
total
cost
to
the
city
to
pay
off
the
bank
lanes
is
between
is
is
around
28
million
dollars.
However,
the
city
could
likely
negotiate
a
significant
reduction
in
penalties
with
the
lien
holder,
and
while
the
exact
amount
of
u.s
bank
leads
on
garden,
parcels
is
not
yet
available.
E
Whatever
that
amount
would
be
would
be
significant
significantly.
Less
and
so
finally,
the
city
must
commit
to
developing
an
equitable
property
tax,
collect
collection
system
that
does
not
include
securitizing
land
containing
community
green
space
or
real
property
that
threatens
philadelphia's
most
vulnerable
residents.
The
law
center
looks
forward
to
continuing
the
conversation
around
eliminating
these
private
tax
liens
on
the
city's
vacant
land,
we're
happy
to
engage
and
work
the
solutions.
Thank
you
very
much
for
listening.
A
R
Good
morning
my
name
is
jenny,
greenberg
and
I
serve
as
the
executive
director
of
the
neighborhood
gardens
trust
good
morning,
chairwoman,
gautier
and
members
of
the
housing,
neighborhood
development
and
homelessness
committee.
Thank
you
so
much
for
holding
this
hearing
and
for
the
opportunity
to
speak.
R
R
Most
of
philadelphia's
400,
plus
community
gardens,
were
cultivated
on,
formerly
abandoned
land
in
neighborhoods
that
were
disinvested
through
redlining
through
their
cooperative
efforts.
Residents
across
the
city
have
been
maintaining
green
spaces
for
decades
as
places
of
nourishment
healing
and
community
building.
They
provide
space
for
residents
to
grow,
healthy
food
and
to
safely
gather
and
play.
R
Ngt
works
with
community
groups,
gardeners
and
the
city
to
acquire
and
preserve
gardens
with
insecure
land
tenure.
In
the
past
three
years,
we've
been
able
to
acquire
32
parcels
of
land
at
11,
gardens
through
nominal
sale
dispositions
and
have
worked
closely
with
the
land
bank
to
acquire
several
privately
owned.
Tax
delinquent
parcels.
R
Multiple
gardens,
however,
have
parcels
with
u.s
bank
leans,
which
are
the
biggest
threat
and
deterrent
to
our
work.
These
liens
put
gardens
at
serious
risk
of
being
sold
through
sheriff's
sale
and
they
prevent
the
land
bank
from
being
able
to
acquire
high
priority
parcels
when
community
members
approach
us
for
help,
and
we
see
that
their
garden
has
a
u.s
bank
clean.
The
acquisition
process
essentially
hits
a
brick
wall
for
ngt
and
so
many
community
organizations.
There
is
no
pathway
to
securing
these
parcels
for
the
community.
R
If
the
property
goes
to
share
of
sale,
we
risk
losing
it
to
the
highest
bidder.
If
we
pay
off
a
lien
to
prevent
the
threat
of
sheriff's
sale,
we
still
have
no
ownership
claim
and
we
have
no
assurance
that
the
land
bank
will
be
able
to
move
forward
to
acquire
it
because
of
its
limited
financial
capacity.
R
There's
no
approach
right
now
for
community
groups
that
have
been
maintaining
green
spaces
for
decades
and
are
committed
to
continuing
to
do
so.
In
2018
ngt
tried
to
take
matters
into
our
own
hands.
We
hunted
down
a
contact
at
u.s
bank's
community
reinvestment
office
in
st
louis
and
asked
them
to
assign
10
priority
liens
to
us
to
further
our
preservation
efforts.
R
The
proposal
was
that
we
do
so
as
a
charitable
donation,
the
request
was
forwarded
to
linebarger,
which,
after
acknowledging
it
and
telling
us
they'd,
be
back
in
touch,
never
followed
up
and
those
parcels
have
either
been
lost
or
still
at
risk.
Today
I
want
to
share
a
letter
from
a
garden
leader
in
west
philadelphia.
R
He
couldn't
be
here
to
testify
today
because
he's
in
the
hospital,
but
from
the
hospital
he
wrote
this
this
letter
good
morning,
distinguished
councilmen
and
councilwoman.
My
name
is
victor
young.
I
represent
a
non-profit
called
community
health
and
gardens.
I
would
like
to
give
a
special
thanks
to
councilman
jones
for
assisting
us
in
this
project
of
growing
organic
vegetables
for
the
neighborhood
in
which
we
live.
R
We
members
of
five
loaves,
two
fish
garden,
have
provided
many
families,
a
healthy
food
source
and
a
safe
atmosphere
to
commune
with
each
other.
It's
been
a
long
road
to
reach
this
place.
Ngt's
cooperation
with
the
philadelphia
land
bank
has
been
very
helpful,
allowing
us
to
obtain
most
of
the
properties
on
which
we
garden.
R
R
The
lot
victor
is
talking
about
has
more
than
16
000,
due
to
linebarker
for
a
single
lien,
with
all
the
fees
and
interest
and
penalties,
and
and
I
dread
the
day
that
we
learn-
it's
been
sold
online
to
a
speculator
who
has
no
idea
the
value
it
has
to
the
community
until
the
city
makes
solving
this
issue
a
priority.
Precious
green
spaces
will
continue
to
be
lost,
often
at
a
cost
to
the
most
vulnerable
residents.
R
R
This
is
a
moment
for
the
city,
to
figure
out
how
to
take
control
of
its
land
bank
back
and
to
be
intentional.
Around
supporting
community
oriented
land
uses
that
help
the
city
to
achieve
its
goals,
around
crime
reduction,
affordable
housing,
access
to
green
space,
food
access
and
climate
change
resiliency.
R
R
We
then
need
the
city
to
work
with
u.s
bank
and
linebarger
to
create
a
clear
pathway
by
which
non-profits
that
have
been
maintaining
open
spaces
can
acquire
them
outright
without
bidding
against
speculators
of
public
auction
and
in
the
long
term
it
would
be
of
greatest
benefit
to
the
city
to
do-able
purchase
of
these
liens
to
gain
control
of
them.
However,
if
the
city
is
unable
to
allocate
funds
to
purchase
all
the
liens,
then
we
should
target
community
green
spaces
and
potential
affordable
housing
project
sites
as
priorities.
R
Ngt
is
a
committed
partner
to
the
city
and
to
the
gardeners
across
the
city.
We're
excited
to
be
a
partner
in
the
implementation
of
the
urban
agriculture
plan,
which
is,
I
know,
nearing
completion
and
again
we're
just
really
grateful
for
the
attention
you're
putting
into
this
this
urgent
issue.
Thank
you.
A
S
Justin
trezza
good
morning,
city
city,
council
members.
Thank
you
again
for
this
opportunity
to
submit
testimony
on
the
vital
need
to
preserve
and
protect
community
gardens
and
green
spaces
in
philadelphia.
Again,
my
name
is
justin
trezza,
I'm
the
director
of
community
gardens
for
the
pennsylvania,
horticultural
society.
Phs
purpose
is
to
use
horticulture
to
advance
health
and
well-being.
We
believe
in
the
power
of
horticulture
to
make
positive
social
and
environmental
change.
S
We
urge
you
to
consider
the
fact
that
preserving
and
protecting
community
gardens
and
investing
in
other
green
solutions
are
effective
ways
to
address
these
issues
and
increase
equity
in
the
neighborhoods
most
impacted
by
them.
Put
simply
when
we
lose
these
spaces,
often
to
uncheck
development,
compounded
by
a
lack
of
clear
pathways
to
garden
preservation,
we
lose
some
ability,
some
of
our
ability
to
fight
many
of
our
most
pressing
civic
priorities
and
problems
for
over
50
years.
S
Phs
has
worked
alongside
farmers
and
gardens
in
philadelphia
to
help
them
create
healthier,
more
close-knit
and
resilient
communities
at
phs.
We
believe
urban
agriculture,
particularly
community
gardens,
are
essential
to
our
city's
civic
infrastructure
and
play
a
prominent
role
in
addressing
multiple,
individual
and
community
health
issues
over
the
years.
The
network
of
gardens
we
work
with
has
grown
to
over
165
sites
and
neighborhoods
throughout
the
city.
S
We
help
ensure
their
vitality
and
success
by
providing
growing
materials
like
soil
and
seedlings
technical
assistance
and
even
capital
improvements
to
guardian
infrastructure
of
these
sites
over
125
receive
over
250
000
organically
grown
vegetable
seedlings
a
year
which
results
in
tens
of
thousands
of
pounds
of
produce.
That
is
then
distributed
to
food
cupboards
and
pantries
churches
and
communities.
Experience
experiencing
food
apartheid.
S
S
Lane
farm
in
kensington
and
five
loaves
to
fish
in
hesstonville
are
examples
of
community-led
sites
that
seek
food
justice
solutions
and,
according
to
baltimore,
based
pediatrician,
dr
alicia
morgan
cooper,
provide
quote
community-based
solutions
to
accessing
and
controlling
food
that
are
humanizing,
fair,
healthy,
accessible,
racially
equitable,
environmentally
sound,
and
just
the
benefits
of
gardens
extend
well
beyond
our
local
food
system.
In
fact,
creating
and
protecting
community
gardens
and
green
spaces
are
also
proven
ways
to
improve
public
safety
and
reduce
gun
violence.
S
Recent
research
conducted
by
dr
gina,
south
and
other
and
others
at
the
university
of
pennsylvania
in
partnership
with
phs
has
shown,
but
that
by
cleaning
and
greening
vacant
trash
stream
lots
in
the
highest
knee
neighborhoods.
We
can
reduce
crime
by
up
to
29
percent
in
the
same
study.
Residents
of
neighborhoods
with
clean
and
green
lots
also
reported
feelings,
safer
and
less
depressed.
S
We
urgently
need
the
city
to
address
these
land
issues
and
seek
solutions
that
one
halt:
the
sale
of
gardens
and
green
spaces
at
sheriff's
sale,
two
create
pathways
for
nonprofits
and
community
groups
to
acquire
these
properties
and
three
prioritize
land
for
gardens
and
open
spaces.
When
development
does
happen,
it
is
vital
that
these
steps
be
taken
so
that
we
can
ensure
that
these
spaces
remain
intact
and
provide
benefits
like
healthy
food
to
hundreds
of
neighborhoods
and
thousands
of
families
across
philadelphia.
S
S
Organizations
like
phs
our
partner,
neighborhood,
gardens,
trust
soil
generation
and
many
others
that
you're
hearing
from
today
are
working
hard
to
preserve
land
and
support
community
gardens
and
the
people
that
maintain
them.
We
need
your
help
to
continue
this
work.
A
simple
suggestion
to
start
would
be
to
invest
a
modest
sum
around
two
million
dollars
per
year
over
three
years
to
permanently
preserve
land
for
25,
community
gardens
in
the
city
and
improve
garden
infrastructure
and
an
additional
75
community
gardens
to
ensure
these
spaces
remain
vital
contributors
to
the
health
of
neighborhoods
across
the
city.
S
We
should
support
these
spaces
and
the
people
who
steward
them
by
making
capital
improvements
to
enhance
safety,
vitality
and
accessibility,
in
particular
by
report,
repairing
fences
and
sidewalks,
installing
irrigation
and
wash
stations
and
providing
amenities
for
residents
like
new
signage
and
shade
structures.
Once
again,
thank
you
and
we
appreciate
the
time
today.
A
Q
Q
Thank
you
for
listening
to
pacdc's
testimony
regarding
resolution
number
210838
that
addresses
our
need
to
find
solutions
to
preserving
community
gardens
and
open
spaces
in
philadelphia,
as
well
as
a
broader
issue
of
properties,
currently
tied
up
with
real
estate
liens
sold
many
years
ago,
just
tying
together.
The
last
two
speakers
actually,
as
someone
who
has
worked
closely
with
our
great
local
organizations,
neighborhood
gardens
trust.
Thank
you,
jenny,
greenberg
phs,
thank
you,
justin
trezza
and
phs
and
councilman
squilla
on
the
amazing
growing
home
gardens
in
south
philly.
Q
Q
The
process
of
assembling
lots
for
a
community
garden
is
already
very
complex
and
challenging
adding
on
uncertainty
caused
by
having
these
liens,
which
may
be
higher
than
the
current
value
of
the
properties,
makes
it
even
more
difficult
for
communities
to
make
deeper
investments
of
time,
equity,
sweat,
equity
and
money
to
improve
these
properties
in
a
more
general
way.
The
properties
tied
up
in
the
lean
sale
have
been
a
detriment
to
the
predominantly
low-income
bypass
neighborhoods,
where
they
are
located,
because
these
properties
cannot
be
easily
redeveloped
for
affordable
housing,
small
businesses,
gardens
or
community
space.
Q
The
fact
that
there
are
still
around
2,
300
properties
encumbered
by
these
tax
liens
24
years
later
indicates
that
these
properties
have
been
in
and
still
can
remain
in
limbo.
In
fact,
when
the
tax
lien
sale
was
proposed
for
a
short-term
gain,
some
of
us
were
actually
old
enough
to
remember
that
in
working
in
city
government.
At
the
time
we
had
concerns
that
this
is
exactly
what
might
happen
in
the
longer
term.
Q
Pacd
calls
on
the
city
to
spend
the
resources
to
reacquire
all
these
properties
or
at
least
find
ways
to
target
those
properties.
Currently
being
utilized
or
which
have
plans
to
be
utilized
positively
within
communities
for
parks,
open
spaces,
affordable
housing,
gardens
whatever
it
may
be,
we
agreed
that
one
part
of
the
solution
would
be
to
authorize
the
land
bank
to
acquire
lean
sales
acquired
the
lien
sales
at
property
ship,
a
sheriff
sale,
which
was
what
angel
rodriguez
was
talking
about
right
now.
There
is
a
ban
on
that
within
the
requirements
of
the
land
bank.
Q
More
importantly,
it
will
possibly
impact
other
properties
and
neighbors
around
these
vacant
properties
when
ownership
and
responsibilities
are
clear
and
these
properties
are
promptly
and
positively
reused
and
redeveloped
as
assets
within
their
communities.
So
thank
you
for
the
time
and
happy
to
be
part
of
this
and
help
push
it
forward.
A
T
Good
morning,
madam
chair
gothia
and
members
of
the
committee,
my
name
is
andrea
bibiloni
and
I'm
an
attorney
in
the
consumer
housing
unit
of
philadelphia
legal
assistance.
My
focus
is
helping
residents
with
claims
to
home,
adjacent
tax,
delinquent
side
and
rear
lots,
save
their
properties
from
impending
sharp
sales
and
assert
their
ownership
interests.
T
There
are
two
broad
categories
of
people
that
this
issue
effects:
one
record
owners
who
own
properties
and
consider
them
their
entire
homestead,
but
for
some
reason
the
rear
side
lot
is
a
separate
parcel
from
the
home
and
two
homeowners
who
are
not
the
record
owners
but
have
cared
for
the
adjacent
parcel
for
so
long
that
they've
established
an
equitable
ownership
interest
under
the
law.
In
many
cases,
this
is
more
than
21
years.
T
Typically,
my
clients
have
been
searching
for
guidance
on
how
to
pay
the
outstanding
taxes
on
their
home
adjacent
yards
and
clarify
the
title
to
their
properties
for
years.
Without
any
luck,
in
many
cases,
title
to
the
property
and
opa
accounts
are
in
the
names
of
long
gone
or
deceased
persons,
and
the
address
of
the
record
owner
is
not
the
home
address
of
the
current
occupant,
so
they
never
receive
notice
of
legal
actions
on
the
property.
T
The
client
who
wants
to
save
their
yard
from
a
tax
sale
is
left
with
very
limited
options,
either
send
payments
to
the
department
of
revenue
for
the
account
of
an
absentee
owner
and
hope
for
the
best
or
find
a
lawyer
who
can
ask
the
city
for
a
standard
payment
agreement
which
requires
a
50
down
payment
up
front
for
most
of
my
low-income
clients.
This
is
impossible
because
it
requires
a
lump
sum
payment
of
thousands
of
dollars
to
make
matters
worse.
T
That
amount
can
range
anywhere
from
a
couple
hundred
dollars
to
tens
of
thousands
of
dollars.
None
of
this,
I
should
add,
is
even
possible
without
a
letter
from
an
attorney
stating
the
facts
of
the
client's
ownership
interest
in
the
property
funding
to
pay
down
the
u.s
bank
leans
would
remove
a
major
barrier
to
residents
keeping
their
whole
homestead.
T
Lastly,
it's
important
to
understand
the
consequences
of
proceeding
with
tax
sales
on
home
adjacent
properties
without
providing
a
clear
pathway
for
an
owner
with
an
equitable
interest
to
resolve
the
outstanding
debt.
One
of
my
clients,
magdalea,
who
you'll
hear
from
later
this
afternoon,
kindly
gave
me
her
permission
to
share
her
story
with
you.
Mcdolly
is
a
homeowner
who
sustained
serious
damage
to
the
foundation
of
her
home
when
a
home
adjacent
sidelot
was
sold
at
a
sheriff's
sale
a
couple
of
years
ago.
T
She
had
cleaned
and
maintained
the
lot
next
to
her
house
since
1989,
using
it
as
a
garden
and
a
patio
area
for
family
gatherings,
then
one
day
a
developer,
knocked
on
her
door
and
told
her
to
get
all
of
her
belongings
off
the
property
because
he
said
he
owned
it.
They
proceeded
to
build
a
three-story
condo
next
to
her
modest
two-story
home,
causing
cracks
that
reach
from
the
basement.
T
H
Yes,
my
questions
are
for
everyone
that
were
in
it
wasn't
a
part
of
this
panel.
I
want
to
thank
you
for
your
work
and
your
testimony
today.
Some
of
you
mentioned
this
in
your
testimony,
but
just
so
that
we
have
it
all
in
one
place.
What
steps
would
you
suggest
the
city
take
in
both
short
and
long
term
to
prevent
the
continued
loss
of
community
gardens
and
open
lots.
H
Yes,
I
mean
several
of
you
guys
mentioned
in
your
testimony,
so
my
question
is
like
what
steps
would
you
suggest
the
city
take
in
both
short
and
long
term
to
try
to
prevent
the
continued
loss
of
community
gardens
and
open
lots
and
in
part
two
to
that
are
the
other
cities?
We
should
be
looking
at
to
model
when
it
comes
to
preserving
community
gardens
and
open
lots.
E
I
think
for
me,
I'm
just
gonna
jump
in
here.
I
think
the
primary
thing
that
needs
to
happen
is
some
sort
of
dialogue
has
to
be
initiated
with
the
lien
holder,
because
we've
kind
of
talked
about
this.
But
even
if
the
city
pays
off
the
liens
tomorrow,
there's
still
no
pathway
to
ownership
and
these
gardens
are
still
at
risk
because,
there's
still
you
know,
tax
balances
on
them,
so
they
could
still
potentially
go
to
sheriff's
cell
and
the
people
who
are
working
on
them
could
still
potentially
not
get
them.
E
Q
I
think
we
mentioned
the
fact
that
if
the
land
bank
can
acquire
the
properties
at
sheriff
sale,
if
they
do
actually
go
through
sheriff's
cell,
with
the
tax
lien
on
with
the
lien
holder
on
them,
the
the
tax
lien
actually
yeah
that
we
could
acquire
them
at
the
sheriff's
sale
right
now.
You
can't
that
the
land
bank
cannot
bid
on
them.
Q
If
there
is
that
other
lien
on
it,
because
it's
a
priority,
lien
and
then-
and
I
do-
I
would
say
that
the
sheriff
sale
is
a
as
the
revenue
person
said.
It
is
a
way
to
clear
the
title
and
have
a
clean
title.
So
somehow
you
have
to
have
a
clear
title
at
the
end
of
the
day.
Otherwise,
there's
always
this
stuff-
that's
hanging
out
there.
So
if
we
could
acquire
the
properties
that
sheriff's
yeah,
I
think
that's
a
really
good
way
to
clear
the
title.
B
R
You
so
I
very
much
agree
with
ebony
and
andy
in
terms
of
the
longer
term
solution.
One
thing
that
jumped
out
at
me,
listening
to
the
testimony
earlier
from
the
sheriff's
office,
was
the
fact
that
the
work
that
community
members
have
been
doing
on
these
spaces
for
all
these
years
could
count
as
a
legal
interest.
R
R
In
terms
of
your
question
about,
I
guess
best
practices
in
other
cities
in
the
country
I
did
want
to
mention
chicago
chicago,
has
a
land
trust
organization
called
chicago
neighbor
space,
that's
protected
over
120
gardens
around
the
city
and
a
couple
things
to
note.
One
is
for
in
terms
of
a
funding
mechanism,
they
have
an
open
space
impact
fee,
so
the
program
allocates
fees
that
are
applied
to
new
residential
developments,
to
pay
for
land
acquisition
and
park
improvements
across
the
city.
T
Sorry,
just
to
add
to
what
jenny
was
saying,
I
think,
in
terms
of
loss
prevention,
there
needs
to
be
a
way
for
a
resident
to
register
their
interest
in
the
property
with
the
proper
entities
so
that
they
actually
know
what's
happening
with
the
property,
and
you
know
the
courts.
The
city
can
be
made
aware
that
this
person
is
an
interested
party
with
an
equitable
interest
and
in
terms
of
other
programs
in
other
cities.
In
addition
to
the
chicago
program
that
jenny
mentioned,
I'm
aware
that
cleveland
and
detroit
also
have
dollar
lot
side
lot.
J
I'll
add
one
more
thing
here,
so
canvassing
the
the
the
land
has
been
like
a
grand
task
for
us
at
the
glaciers
garden.
You
know
we've
done
what
we
can
with
the
group
of
people
that
we
have
there,
but
ideally
if
we
have
more
resources
than
that
in
that
area,
so
that
we
know
what
we
know,
what
that
land
actually
looks
like
in
regards
to
the
u.s
banking
lots.
H
A
Okay,
there
being
none
I'd
like
to
note
that
I
need
to
step
away
for
other
council
business
and
would
like
to
transfer
chair
duties
to
my
colleague,
councilmember
brooks
for
the
remainder
of
the
hearing,
and
I
also
just
want
to
thank
you
again,
council
member.
This
is
such
an
important
conversation
for
for
my
district,
but
for
so
many
communities
in
the
city.
A
H
H
H
B
B
My
street
is
also
sandwiched
between
two
very
busy
and
dangerous
streets
where
there
are
always
shootings
and
possible
hit
and
run
and
drug
dealers.
The
little
street
also
has
a
lot
of
drug
dealers
that
run
up
and
down
our
street
all
the
time.
The
lot
that
we
have
provided
for
the
children
is
the
only
safe
place
that
they
have
to
play.
B
B
Our
children
have
not
been
hit
on
our
block
by
the
cars
or
anything
because
they
all
play
in
the
lot
to
lose.
The
lot
would
mean
to
lose
a
lot
for
our
children
on
this
block
and
on
this
community.
Philadelphia
doesn't
give
our
kids
a
lot,
but
if
we
can
have
this
lot
for
them,
it
would
mean
so
much
so
much
more
than
just
another
house.
B
We
are
willing
to
continue
to
invest
our
money
time
and
effort
to
keep
it
clean,
to
keep
it
maintained
and
to
keep
it
safe.
We've
already
invested
thousands
of
dollars
into
keeping
that
lot
safe
and
to
keeping
it
clean
and
maintained,
and
we
would
like
to
keep
it
for
our
children,
and
that
concludes
my
testimony.
M
M
I
also
appreciate
the
fact
that
this
panel
has
been
put
together
to
address
this
issue
in
general,
just
a
little
backstory,
so
I
was
born
and
raised
in
southwest
philadelphia
on
the
5600
block
of
woodland
avenue
on
alison
street,
which
is
this,
which
is
the
same
place
that
we
have
our
community
garden.
I
grew
up
on
that
block.
I
didn't
write
anything
down,
so
I'm
just
speaking
so.
M
Basically,
I
grew
up
on
that
block
and
I
moved
away
from
the
block
for
a
while
came
back
and
it
was
a
lot
of
condemned
houses
there
that
basically
turned
into
the
lock
and
it
was
there.
I
want
to
say
it's
been
there
in
that
current
state
for
about
now
about
25
years,
so
me
and
a
partner
of
mine,
we
came
back,
we've
seen
the
other
lands.
I
think
the
the
addresses
are
between
1831
and
I
want
to
say,
1841
and
we
put
a
community
garden
on
that.
M
M
We
also
want
to
expand
that
onto
not
only
the
community
garden
but
also
low-income
housing
that
prevent
the
identification,
a
lot
of
things
that
were
spoken
today
with
this
panel.
Like
everybody
know,
we
just
want
to
reiterate
the
need
to
have
these
kind
of
things
in
our
community.
That
particular
area
is
really
nothing
there,
a
lot
of
the
other
other
than
on
allison
street.
M
A
lot
of
the
other
houses
have
been
condemned,
there's
a
whole
bunch
of
abandoned
buildings
just
in
general,
and
we
want
to
just
help
beautify
that
area.
We
also
want
to
teach
the
garden
and
for
home
gardening.
We
also
want
to
teach
and
build
up
people
in
the
community
to
not
only
garden
but
also
be
able
to
to
create
low
income
housing.
M
So
I
just
wanted
to
say
my
piece
and
one
thing,
because
I
was
looking
for
a
while
and
one
thing
that
I
know
that
we
could
utilize
that
could
help
at
least
pay
for
some
of
the
liens,
whether
it's
the
through
the
the
us
bank,
or
just
basically
anything
on
the
property,
is
possibly
state
funding.
It's
something
that
can
be
looked
into.
M
I
looked
up
a
few
things
because
I
do
have
a
non-profit,
and
I
noticed
there
were
some
things
that
could
be
given
for
like
municipalities
in
general
for
large
community
projects.
So
that's
something
that
folks
can
can
look
into
other
than
that.
I
pretty
just
wanted
to
say
my
peace
and
I
appreciate
the
time.
H
L
Good
morning
my
name
is
samantha
siegel,
the
lot
that
I'm
speaking
about
is
242
west
rittenhouse,
street
district
8
and
councilwoman
bass
district.
When
I
purchased
my
home
in
2018
the
lot
next
to
us,
which
is
a
lot
that
takes
up
the
entirety
of
our
property
next
to
once
attached
to
it.
To
my
home,
was
a
was
another
side.
It
was
a
duplex
it
burnt
down
and
the
lot
that
that
we're
speaking
about
had
become
a
dumping
ground
for
many
many
years.
L
We
had
spent
two
years
trying
to
work
with
councilwoman
bass's
office,
as
well
as
any
agency
from
the
city
that
we
could
to
buy
the
lot
and
reform
it
turn
it
into
a
garden
in
a
way
that
would
preserve
this
gathering
space
and
honor
the
people
who
came
before
us.
We
did
not
have
any
luck
with
that.
The
lot
was
extremely
dangerous.
It
was
a
dumping
place
for
many
contractors.
There
were
many
many
violations
there.
P
L
Year
during
the
start
of
the
pandemic,
multiple
neighbors
came
together
and
by
hand.
We
cleared
the
entire
lot
as
a
project
to
help
bring
us
together.
During
a
very
scary
time,
we
cleared
the
entire
lot
leveled
it
put
up
a
fence
and
created
10
garden
beds.
Those
garden
beds
represented
a
lot
for
all
of
us.
They
brought
us
together,
we
met
each
other.
L
We,
this
is
a
block
that
is
heavily
heavily
trafficked,
heavily
gentrifying,
with
a
historic
of
a
very
historical
block
with
many
neighbors
who
have
lived
here
for
decades,
and
it
was
a
way
for
us
to
come
together,
meet
each
other
and
share
food.
The
front
of
the
lot
like
what
said
earlier
has
become
a
play:
space
for
children.
L
L
L
We
also
like,
I
said,
had
dumping
it
was
not
a
safe
place.
I
have
two
children
of
my
own,
so,
as
you
can
imagine
living
next
to
this,
it
was
extremely
important
that
we
cleaned
it
up.
Since
then
we
have
built.
We
have
had
two
years
of
exceptional
community
gatherings
in
this
space.
Despite
the
pandemic,
we
have
learned
so
much
about
each
other.
This
is
a
heavily
gentrified
block.
I
myself
definitely
represent
that
gentrification
and
what
we've
done
is
come
and
sat
down
and
been
able
to
share
stories.
Share
meals
meet
each
other's
children's
grandparents.
L
It
is
a
transgenerational
space
critical.
We
have
multiple
multi-family
units,
my
own
home
included.
This
is
a
converted.
Multi-Family
home.
We
don't
need
another
one.
If
I
had
known
what
I
knew
when
I
bought
this
house
what
it
was
doing
to
the
infrastructure
of
the
street,
I
would
have
thought
twice:
there
is
not
enough
parking,
there
is
not
enough
space,
so
we
cannot
under
any
circumstance,
have
any
more
apartment.
Buildings
go
on
or
homes
go
here.
L
There
is
not
anywhere
to
park,
there's
not
anywhere
to
go
and
there's
nowhere
for
people
to
gather
people
are
being
pushed
out
of
their
homes
because
of
the
rising
prices
of
rent.
It
is
not
fair.
What
we
need
is
space
is
for
us
to
continue
to
gather
these
public
spaces
help
stop
the
violence
in
the
neighborhood.
L
We
know
we
have
gun
violence
here
in
germantown
and
all
over
the
city.
It
also
serves
as
a
space
for
us
to
connect
and
be
together,
and
I
hope
I
hope
that
the
city
council
considers
the
important
nature
of
the
food
and
the
gathering
and
being
together
as
a
public
safety
benefit.
Yesterday,
councilwoman
bass
and
others
gathered
here
in
germantown
to
talk
about
public
safety.
L
One
of
the
best
community-led
efforts
are
our
community
gardens,
they
stop
crime,
they
help
us
learn
about
each
other
and
they
bring
us
closer
as
a
community.
I
see
absolutely
no
reason
to
take
public
lots
that
are
in
use
in
doing
good
things
in
this
community
and
turn
them
into
some
kind
of
cookie
cutter
apartment,
building
sold
to
a
developer.
Who
doesn't
care
about
this
space?
D
L
H
H
P
P
P
I
because
I
don't
want
to
make
make
another
house
next
to
mine,
because
I'm
going
to
lose
my
house
and
a
good
friend
of
mine
is
willing
to
pay
the
back
taxes
for
those
two
lord.
If
they
gave
me
the
ownership,
I
don't
want
to
lose
my
house
for
this
development
that
they
only
make
the
thing
over
here
works.
This
is
a
very
small
street
two-way
there's
not
to
weigh
anymore,
because
there
are
more
houses,
more
cars
than
people
living
in
districts
in
this
part
of
the
city.
P
P
I
called
her
office
and
the
secretary
just
asked
me
why
I
need
a
lot.
She
didn't
ask
me
for
no,
no
name
and
not
others,
and
she
hung
up
on
me.
Two
weeks
ago
I
reached
angel
cruz.
I
sent
him
a
message
until
today.
I
have
been
here
for
him
either.
I
just
want
help.
So
I
cannot.
I
can't
lose
my
house,
I
don't
have
nowhere
to
go,
I
can
pay
rent
or
I
can
pay
any
mortgage.
H
R
L
L
Good
afternoon
my
name
is
leah
clouding,
I'm
I'm
speaking
on
behalf
of
the
lot
next
to
my
house
at
3
north
63rd
street.
We
are
the
only
house
on
the
block
we're
surrounded
by.
I
guess.
On
the
other
side,
it's
probably
about
eight
tracks
of
length
that
is
unoccupied
and
on
the
other
side
of
us
on
the
I
guess
it
would
be
the
left.
There
is
one
track
of
land
which
is
directly
next
to
our
house,
and
we've
been
taking
care
of
this
lot
for
over
30
years
my
parents
died.
L
My
dad
was
cutting
the
grass
all
the
time
until
he
got
sick,
probably
about
less
than
10
years
ago
he
was.
He
was
a
retiree
of
the
school
district
of
philadelphia.
He
got
sick
from
one
of
the
schools,
so
we've
been
putting
a
lot
into
just
making
sure
that
the
lot
stays
clear
once
he
got
sick,
we
were
able
to
call
3-1-1
and
get
somebody
to
come
out
and
cut
it.
I
guess.
M
M
My
name
is
josue
rodriguez
and
I'm
a
father,
son
and
lifelong
member
of
the
cousins
community.
I'd
like
to
thank
you
all
for
all
that
each
of
you
has
done
in
this
effort
to
serve
the
communities
that
many
of
us
call
home
seems
like
we've.
Had
this
conversation
often
haven't
we,
that
of
out-of-touch
developers
versus
the
people
of
the
community,
that
of
the
outrage
that
is
felt
when
those
with
all
the
power
choose
to
wield
it
against
those.
M
My
story
is
much
the
same
for
over
30
years,
members
of
our
community
and
caretakers
of
our
side
yard,
which
we
have
maintained
as
a
green
space
and
garden
many
adults.
My
age
can
remember
swimming
in
the
pools
that
my
father
set
up
every
summer
and
many
of
our
neighbors
have
eaten
my
mother's
tomatoes
or
benefited
from
her
sound
advice.
M
That
is
reserved
for
the
whole
community
and
for
our
elderly,
who
have
spent
their
lives,
building
these
gardens,
swirling
away
deadly
to
nurture
them
and
the
joy
of
the
youth
who
have
come
to
enjoy
and
appreciate
their
long
years
of
work
and
sacrifice,
and
still
time
and
again
we
have
had
these
talks
time
and
again.
We
have
fought
this
fight
time
and
again,
we
have
heard
said
that
government
is
a
thing
for
and
of
the
people.
M
Well,
if
that's
true,
then
there's
work
left
to
be
done
to
save
the
spirits
of
our
communities,
even
as
we
all
seek
to
beautify
and
modern
our
cities.
We
all
welcome
the
progress
that
comes
from
bringing
new
life
businesses.
However,
as
it
relates
to
these
vacant
lots
given
homes,
we
should
be
buying
back
the
us
dangling
and
begin
property
and
in
tax
incentives
to
local
residents,
who
have
this
build
their
communities
from
the
inside
out
and
to
create
a
system
or
committee
that
ensures
that
these
green
spaces
have
a
fighting
chance.
M
T
L
L
Anything
you
can
think
of
you're
dumping
trash
dead
animals
in
trash
bags,
construction
debris
everything
that
everybody
else
is
having
dumped
on
their
on
the
lots.
Next
to
their
house.
Like
I
said,
we've
owned
our
property,
we've
owned
our
property
since
83
and
the
property
next
to
us
have
been
abandoned
or
has
has
been,
I'm
sorry
tore
down
since
the
90s
and
the
people
are
deceived,
there
is
no
air,
so
we
try
to
acquire
or
purchase
it
and
we
were
not
able
to.
We
got
it
pushed
to
the
sheriff
cell.
L
It
was
on
the
sheriff's
cell
and
then
it
was
pulled.
So
we
have
no
idea
what's
going
on
with
the
land
next
to
our
house,
but
we're
trying
to
purchase
it
or
acquire
it,
and
we
have
30
years
of
over
30
years
of
sweat
equity
put
into
this
land,
and
we
wanted
to
put
a
gate
up
just
to
stop
people
from
walking
through.
L
L
L
It's
just
not
fair,
it's
not
fear
what's
happening
to
our
community,
so
I
ask
that
you
please
buy
back
the
u.s
bank
loans
help
us.
We
have
we're
surrounded
by
lots
and
it's
becoming
more
and
more
throughout
our
community.
I
have
the
rda
already
on
the
other
side,
with
the
eight
tracks
of
land
that
is
on
the
other
side.
So
I'm
asking
for
310
north
53rd
street
for
the
time
that
our
family
has
put
into
this
light,
trying
to
keep
all
the
wrist
grass
and
everything
else
away
from
our
community.
L
H
G
P
P
G
P
G
G
P
G
P
P
G
G
G
G
G
P
P
P
G
Okay,
okay,
so
the
sheriff
did
have
an
option.
We
did
go.
We
presented
ourselves
because
we
wanted
to
purchase
the
space.
There
were
some
people.
Actually
there
was
a
lady
here
that
was
talking
earlier
and
she
was
able
to
help
us,
but
you
know
I
want
to
fight
for
it.
We
have
been
with
the
property
since
2003
and
I
have
you
know
my
grandkids
atlanta.
G
So
we
went
to
city
hall,
we
wanted
to
find
out
more
about
what
is
it
that
we
need
to
do?
They
referred
us
to
a
community
person
where
we
were
informed
that
it
was
owed
forty
two
hundred
dollars
and
also
that
the
bank
owed
about
a
thousand
dollars.
We
were
willing
to
pay,
but
then
they
told
us
that
the
owner
actually
died.
Yeah
atlanta.
G
G
So
when
we
went
to
the
attorneys
from
community
that
we
were
referred,
they
told
us
that
it's
not
worth
it
to
make
the
purchase,
because
the
the
people
that
inherited
the
property
would
be
getting
the
property,
even
if,
after
we
pay
for
everything,
and
the
best
course
of
action
would
be
to
wait
until
the
yard
goes
up
for
auction
again
through
the
sheriff,
and
maybe
we
can
go
and
have
a
chance.
There.
P
G
G
B
U.S
bangling
properties
have
become
a
gentrification
machine.
They
have
led
to
predatory
development
and
have
had
a
huge
negative
impact
on
communities
when
they
have
been
lost.
I
also
want
to
respond
to
some
of
the
comments
we
heard
earlier
from
both
the
sheriff
and
from
weinberger.
The
sheriff
has
done
no
engagement
with
community
groups
in
terms
of
trying
to.
B
When
we
went
to
the
sheriff's
office,
they
met
us
with
eight
armed
deputies
and
told
us
we
weren't
allowed
to
go
in
and
have
a
conversation
with
the
sheriff
and
the
follow-up
that
we
have
done.
We
have
you
know
the
comments
that
they
made
about
how
they
are
trying
to
fix
or
resolve
the
notification
process
ring
haul
up.
The
sheriff
has
already
announced
that
there
will
be
a
tax
foreclosure
sale
on
december
10th
and
they
indicated
earlier
that
60
days
notice
was
standard.