Sheriff in Ill. county won't evict in foreclosures

[PA Democrat]

CHICAGO - Residents of foreclosed properties in Chicago and other parts of Cook County don't have to worry about deputies forcing them out. Sheriff Tom Dart says that starting Thursday his office won't take part in evictions.

Dart says he's concerned that many of the people being evicted are renters who were unaware that their landlords have been failing to pay their mortgages. He says his deputies have no way of knowing whether they're removing someone who has defaulted on a loan or someone who has been faithfully paying rent.

Dart says he thinks he's the first sheriff in a major metropolitan area to stop such evictions during the ongoing foreclosure crisis.

Dart says the number of mortgage foreclosures in Cook County has skyrocketed and will probably keep rising.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081008/ap_on_re_us/sheriff_evictions;_ylt=Au8aqlx8.ODwc9McaoWkL_Gs0NUE

[pleah]

1. K&R Wow, a sheriff with a heart.

Good for him.

[Pacifist Patriot]

2. He has an excellent point and good for him!

[4 t 4]

3. I live in Illinois and

I couldn't be prouder about this, It Is the right thing to do which is so very rare now. I read about this a few months ago they would go to peoples apts. that knew nothing about it and just put all their belonging on the street even if they had just payed their rent. SHAMEFUL to say the least.

[DailyGrind51]

5. Do you remember when Tom Dart went after gang-sponsored dog-fighting?

He is truly a law-enforcement officer who knows the difference between what is "legal" and what is "moral".

[tosh]

4. Great guy! Maybe others will follow his lead.

[Phred42]

6. He'll get re-elected!

Good for him!


http://www.cookcountysheriff.org/

[Critters2]

7. I had a woman and two children come to my office last week, looking for help.

She had been evicted because her home was being foreclosed on...and yes, she was a renter and said she was up-to-date with rent. I put her up in a motel for a few nights, until the homeless shelter opened, and she went there. I also put her in touch with a couple of agencies that can offer services for her and her kids. Said she hopes to have another place soon, but she was really stranded.

Landlords who do this should be prosecuted.

on edit: I'm grateful for public servants with a heart and some common sense, like this sheriff!

[cap]

8. sorry chi-town, but Philly beat you

Philly sheriff stopped serving eviction notices earlier this year. Started doing a survey to identify areas that were being redlined. Philly has model conciliation program to get home owners and banks to work it out.

[aikoaiko]

9. What about the homeowner who is trying to evict a deadbeat renter?

Guess that will be another mortgage that won't get paid.

[slampoet]

10. Every landlord is a homeowner. Trump is a homeowner.

If the person is a "Resident Landlord" they should be thankful the sheriff is not evicting BOTH renter and owner.

[sarcasmo]

11. Foreclosures should be frozen. This is a smart, and bold move. Good for him.

[creeksneakers2]

12. If lenders can't foreclose

They won't lend. There should be another way around this problem. Lenders who foreclose should be forced to honor leases. Rents can be paid to the foreclosing lender.

[file83]

14. Exactly! Why would anyone - especially a bank cut off a revenue stream?

[DS1]

13. Good for him!

Renters aside, when was is the job of the TOWN Sherrif to do the bank's job?