Sunday, February 28, 2010

When law enforcement reporter Robert Napper stopped by a recent sheriff's luncheon, he was just making the rounds. But he couldn't shake one discussion. A Manatee homeowner, Harry Traylor, was pleading for help from law enforcement and county officials. He didn't feel safe in his Northwest Bradenton home anymore, because of the abandoned home in foreclosure nearby.

The house is trashed, inside and out. Drug paraphernalia, beer cans and scattered bedding are evidence that intruders and homeless come through here.

Sheriff Brad Steube was bluntly honest in his assessment to Napper: "Basically we can come in and tell them they need to get out of there, and most often they do. But really, we are just calling their bluff.”

Foreclosures have thrown a suffocating noose around Manatee County, and it's going to take a rally like none we have ever seen to find a cure. As Napper reports in today's 1A takeout, there are no borders for the crisis.

“They are everywhere,” Manatee County Housing Director John Barnott said. “It is a problem in the best neighborhoods, and the worst. I have people walking away from million-dollar homes because they have lost everything.”

This community is up for the challenge, as long as we're compassionate and united. Please, send your ideas on how to help.

4 comments:

Anonymous
said...

Oh, now that the foreclosure problem it showing up in NW Bradenton it makes the paper. I live in a subdivision of 1427 homes and 400+ are in some form of foreclosure and a number of them have been set on fire! This article is typical for the Bradenton Herald!!

Well since you pass laws on everything under the sun in this county.Pass one that makes the banks be responsible for their collateral.Or is that to much to ask ?? Legally they own it since they are not getting their interest every month and have forecloser mills running at full speed and rocket dockets that the county has provided them to steal property. But are they just to big to go after?? Or is the county just afraid of them?? Or is it the politicians are afraid of losing their deep pocket buddies?? Which is it.

Why don't they rent the homes? Or sell them cheap? Who is paying the utility bills? Shut off the utilities, empty the pools. If kids are coming in using the electric and internet... hello: turn it off.