Category: Philadelphia

bookmark_borderOccupy Philly Year Two – The Fight Continues

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by Anonymous

Occupy Philadelphia Year 2
Occupy Philadelphia Year 2

PHILADELPHIA, PA — On September 17th, 2011, the first tents went up at Zuccotti Park in the financial district of New York City. What resulted was an international insurgency of activists committed enough to proclaiming the message of social and economic equality that they would: give up their lives to camp in a public park, educate the people about crimes being committed in their names from Oakland to Chicago to Kalamazoo, erect tent cities (reminiscent of the Hoovervilles of old) and serve as public reminders of Wall Street greed and corrupt government. The world had been occupied.

On October 6th of that same year, Philadelphia took up the call. In the past year, we have taken our message of economic justice, social equality, and a fair economy to the streets, to the the banks and to City Hall. From protests to sit-ins to National Gatherings, we shone a spotlight on the plight of everyday Philadelphians and beyond. We have experienced setbacks in the form of police aggression and political games, but rest assured that we have not been, nor will we be, silenced.

As year two begins, we call on our fellow Philadelphians to Fight the Power. Big bankers and political puppets still mold our city in their image even at the cost of our families and communities. We must not allow big money backed special interests to destroy our communities for their own profits. We must not let politicians sit idly by, pacified by their concern for campaign contributions and let it happen. It is time the people of Philadelphia rose up against corruption.

We invite you to join us on October 6th, 2012 at City Hall at noon. Together we will send a message all over the city of Philadelphia: that the people have come for their due, and we are not going anywhere until justice and equality run uninhibited through the streets.

Occupy Wall Street? Occupy Yourself
Occupy Philadelphia 2011
More Occupy Philadelphia

bookmark_borderImpact of Budweiser Made in America Festival

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PHILADELPHIA, PA — – Mayor Michael A. Nutter announced that over the Labor Day weekend the Budweiser Made in America Festival, locally produced by Live Nation, generated at least $10 million in economic impact for the city economy and covered all municipal costs associated with the event, while netting hundreds of thousands of dollars in various tax revenues for City coffers.

“Today, the Festival promoters delivered a check for $305,124 to the City. Coupled with an earlier check of $200,000, I’m pleased to say that the Festival covered all costs incurred by the City for what was a truly stunning event on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway,” Mayor Nutter said. “Financial considerations aside, this event gained global recognition for Philadelphia and showed what a great city can do working with the private sector. It energized our hospitality industry on a traditionally quiet weekend, brought thousands of visitors to our city and pumped millions of dollars into the city’s economy.”

A preliminary economic impact estimate was developed by Econsult Corp., the Philadelphia based consulting firm, working on a pro bono basis for the City of Philadelphia. Using a set of conservative assumptions, Econsult estimated $6.1 million in direct new net spending and an additional $3.6 million in indirect expenditures. Spending by Festival attendees on tickets and concessions was not included in the analysis.

Meryl Levitz, president and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corp., said, “Labor Day weekend is usually a very slow time for hotels, restaurants and the whole industry. But this year, Center City occupancy (including University City) soared the entire three nights, averaging more than 90% for the weekend at very good rates. The last couple years, it was 66%. This means an increase of more than $2,000,000 in hotel revenue, spinning off tax revenue, restaurant receipts, and souvenir purchases and so on.”

Levitz said that the two-day event also spread the city’s name worldwide. “Equally exciting was the international media coverage: we have tracked well over 6,000 pickups so far including print, online and electronic. When you add in the global chatter on all social media platforms, the sound of Philadelphia will continue to resonate, giving strength to our great city’s image as the place to be,” she said.

In addition, Festival promoters have estimated that during the two-day event 1.5 million viewers from all over the nation and world live-streamed the event.

Ed Grose, executive director of the Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association, said his member hoteliers were “thrilled with the weekend.” Citing research from PFK Consulting and Smith Travel Research, Grose said room revenues were $4.96 million for the weekend, up $2.17 million over 2010. Grose said the 2011 Labor Day weekend was impacted by Hurricane Irene. The occupancy rate for Labor Day weekend 2012 was 90 percent, up almost 21 percentage points over 2010.

The Econsult analysis completed three days after the Festival estimated total city tax revenues of $223,000. But city officials believe the total tax revenue impact will be more. For example, a recent analysis of hotel occupancy data conducted by GPTMC estimated hotel tax revenue at almost $202,000 for the three days of the event.

In addition, the Econsult analysis did not include an estimate of amusement tax. Live Nation officials said today that 78,655 people attended the Festival, generating $5,049,924 in gross ticket sales. In turn, the City’s 5 percent amusement tax raised $240,473 in amusement tax revenue. Wage tax revenue has not yet been fully calculated, though the Econsult analysis projected $66,000.

bookmark_borderPA Borrowers Who Lost Homes to Foreclosure

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HARRISBURG, PA – Attorney General Linda Kelly announced that official notifications are being sent to approximately 29,000 Pennsylvania borrowers who lost their homes to foreclosure between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2011 and who may be eligible for payment as part of the $25 billion national mortgage foreclosure settlement.

Eligible borrowers had mortgages serviced by Ally/GMAC, Bank of America, Citi, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo, the nation’s five largest mortgage servicers that agreed to the settlement with the federal government and attorneys general for 49 states and the District of Columbia.

The settlement, which took effect in April, set aside approximately $1.5 billion in payments for two million borrowers nationwide who lost their homes to foreclosure during that period and had their loan serviced by one of the settling servicers. The exact payment will depend upon the total number of borrowers who decide to participate.

Kelly said the national settlement administrator has mailed notification postcards to eligible borrowers nationwide. The postcards explain that consumers may be eligible for a portion of the foreclosure settlement and advises them to carefully review all of the information in the claim packets, which are being mailed this week.

In Pennsylvania, the packets contain an official notification letter from Attorney General Kelly along with a claim form, instructions and answers to frequently asked questions. Those packets are being mailed to 28,448 eligible borrowers beginning today and continuing through October 12th.

Kelly urged eligible Pennsylvania borrowers to watch their mail for the official packets and to complete their claim forms and return them as soon as possible in the envelope provided. Claim forms can also be filed online at www.nationalmortgagesettlement.com.

The deadline for filing all claims is January 18, 2013.

Payment checks are expected to be mailed in mid-2013.

Free claim form assistance available

Borrowers who have questions or need help filing their claims can contact the settlement administrator, toll-free, at 1-866-430-8358. The information line is staffed Monday through Friday from (8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern). Questions can also be sent by email to administrator@nationalmortgagesettlement.com.

Payment will not stop other legal claims

Kelly noted that eligible borrowers do not need to prove financial harm to receive a payment, nor do they give up their rights to pursue a lawsuit against their mortgage servicer or to participate in the Independent Foreclosure Review Process being conducted by federal bank regulators. More information about that program is available at: www.independentforeclosurereview.com.

Eligible borrowers may get a payment from this settlement even if they participate in another foreclosure claims process. However, any payment received may reduce payments borrowers may be eligible to receive in any other foreclosure claim process or legal proceeding.

Eligible borrowers not notified should contact settlement administrator

Borrowers who believe they may qualify for a payment, but did not receive a notice because they have moved should contact the settlement administrator directly to provide that information:

Call toll-free: 1-866-430-8358. The line is staffed Monday through Friday from (8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern).

Email: administrator@nationalmortgagesettlement.com

Beware of scams

Borrowers should not need to pay anyone to file their claim.

Kelly cautioned all homeowners to be aware of settlement-related scams. Do not provide personal information or pay money to anyone who calls or emails you claiming that they are providing settlement-related assistance.

If you believe someone is conducting a settlement-related scam, contact the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection at 1-800-441-2555.

Settlement background

The national settlement followed state and federal investigations, which alleged that the five mortgage servicers routinely signed foreclosure-related documents outside the presence of a notary public and without personal knowledge that the facts contained in the documents were correct. This civil law enforcement action also alleged that the servicers committed widespread errors and abuses in their foreclosure processes.

Broad reform of the mortgage servicing process resulted from the settlement, as well as financial relief for borrowers still in their homes through direct loan modification relief, including principal reduction.

For more information about eligibility and filing a claim:

www.NationalMortgageSettlement.com

Email: administrator@nationalmortgagesettlement.com

Call toll-free: 1-866-430-8358 (hearing impaired: 1-866-494-8281). The line is staffed Monday through Friday from (8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern).

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