Fire Walk With Me
Fire Walk With Me's JournalBlackstone Said to Get $2.1 Billion Loan for Home Purchases (Foreclosure)
via Carlos of Occupy Fights Foreclosures.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-03-13/blackstone-said-to-get-2-1-billion-bank-loan-for-home-purchases.html
Blackstone Group LP (BX), manager of the largest real estate private-equity fund, has expanded a credit line to buy single-family homes to $2.1 billion from $600 million, according to a person with knowledge of the deal.
Deutsche Bank AG (DBK) is leading the syndicate of banks, said the person, who asked not to be named because the loan is private. Other lenders include Bank of America Corp., Credit Suisse Group AG (CSGN), Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) and JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM)
Blackstone has invested $3.5 billion to buy 20,000 single- family rental homes since last year, making the New York-based company the largest investor of its type in the U.S. The firm is rushing to acquire properties as housing prices recover and as demand for rentals increases among people who can’t qualify for a mortgage or don’t want to own.
Blackstone spokesman Peter Rose and Deutsche Bank spokeswoman Renee Calabro declined to comment. The firm had been trying to increase the loan to $1.2 billion.
(More at the link.)
Do we still need an "Occupy" forum?
Although this will likely be hidden shortly, I'll respond.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1259452
-I'm disabled and am able to spend some of my available energy presenting Occupy and Occupy-related issues via social media.
-Anyone at all may post as the spirit of Occupy is participatory, horizontal Democracy, with "participatory" being key.
-Occupy is interested in and stands in solidarity with all unions, workers, and members of the 99% against the corrupt factors in the 1%. Posts will always be seen regarding strikes, student debt, income inequality/plutonomy, banks and banksters, the 1%'s illegal foreclosure engine and efforts against it, corporate issues, corporate and 1% take-over of the political system (corporatocracy/plutonomy), etc. It may not say "Occupy" but if it's about the 99% and against the corrupt 1%, it's valid here. Have we so completely forgotten the message of "The 99%"?
-Remember the excitement of knowing we were working together to create positive Change? And that Our Voice was what was important? And how the phony economic crises were used to steal back the narrative from the will of the people to expecting others to solve the great problems? Even though they created the great problems on purpose as distraction and divide and conquer? Remember the feeling of unity and that together, we can do it!?
-GD and other forums on DU are (as evidenced by the ATA question) at some times blatantly hostile against Occupy and the 99% message. I have no idea why.
-GD and other forums move very quickly and important issues to Occupy members and supporters may all too quickly drop out of sight.
There is a real, genuine plutonomy take-over occurring and with this week's "banks are too big to jail" revelation, government is already in their pocket. DU =needs= the Occupy message until everyone realizes that the system no longer represents the people of this country. "One person, one vote" was destroyed by the "citizens united" ruling (a Koch Brothers group, one of many Koch PACs) and this will only get worse unless and until we stand up and make it once again reflect the people of this country and not the very rich. The take-over is not a done deal. There is still time to stop it, so this message becomes critical. Voting will barely make an effect upon it; the issues of income inequality and corporate regulation simply do not make it onto the ballot any more. By design. Through the erosion of monopoly laws, six corporations now control the majority of US media (as well as banks consuming smaller banks). This means that the corporate-owned media determine the majority of what people will be exposed to through such channels. Social media channels are imperative to counter the catapulted propaganda.
Although some of this message correctly and factually points out that Obama and the Obama administration are in collusion with the big money interest, and that may anger many who do not wish to either see things as they are or even believe it, a problem may not be solved until it is both identified and addressed. It does not make me happy to have to turn this scrutiny upon a Democrat, but Democratic mayors were also among the worst offenders regarding police brutality and Occupy encampment clearing, so what am I supposed to say aside from "these are problems and do not reflect the will of the people or the Bill of Rights and therefore must be changed".
It is not pleasant to consistently present this much-needed information where there is such resistance. But, there it is most needed. Thank you to Skinner and the Admins for continuing to support this lateral perspective even when it presents a valid critique of our system and process. Protesting is patriotic. Thank you to all who support the message, contribute to it, and speak back to those who wish the message quelled. I wish those who do not like it, would speak regarding their specific reasons and reasoning why they do not. Peace!
Strike Debt has just abolished medical debt for a thousand people!
Original thread title:
Tomorrow Rolling Jubilee will announce massive ER med debt abolished.
StrikeDebt ?@StrikeDebt
At trip to the ER can cost as much as a semester in college. Tomorrow #RollingJubilee will announce massive ER med debt abolished. Pls RT
StrikeDebt ?@StrikeDebt
Time to pull the plug on forprofit insurance #SinglePayer would save 400B dollars over Obamacare. Deficit reduction begins with #SinglePayer
StrikeDebt ?@StrikeDebt
Dear for-profit insurance industry: we're sorry, we just can't afford your 400B gov handout this year. We're sick of you #SinglePayerNOW
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StrikeDebt ?@StrikeDebt
Read and forward our email update about the #RollingJubilee's latest $1 MILLION debt buy: http://ow.ly/iVPrq
http://occupystudentdebtcampaign.createsend5.com/t/ViewEmail/j/BF3E10654DD82C66/DF7D61674E432EC9C67FD2F38AC4859C
The Jubilee is Rolling - $1 MILLION in debt abolished for over a thousand people. Last year we launched the Rolling Jubilee, a campaign that buys debt for pennies on the dollar and abolishes it. We originally set out to raise $50,000 to buy $1,000,000 in debt. To date, we’ve raised over ten times that amount, enough to eventually purchase eleven million dollars of debt!
After a great deal of research and diligence, we are thrilled to announce that we have completed our second purchase of medical debt. This time, we bought just over $1 million in debt from emergency rooms in Kentucky and Indiana. We will be abolishing the debt of over 1,000 people, with an average of around $900 per person.
This will be the first in a series of purchases of medical debt - each of our debt purchases is thoroughly documented (and mapped!) on our new documentation website.
Week of demonstrations - March 16th to March 23rd. Thousands of people will mark this event with a week of actions, in NYC and several other cities across the nation: protesting hospital closures and for-profit insurance corporations, and demonstrating a world where healthcare is not a line item on a corporate balance sheet. See our announcement for more information, and to find (or start!) an action near you.
(More at the link!)
Women Warriors Of The Global Revolution Part2: Birgitta Jónsdóttir
Decentralise Occupy ?@endarken
Must-read: Women Warriors Of The Global Revolution Part2: Birgitta Jónsdóttir http://wp.me/p1ZVye-IT
http://occupysavvy.com/2013/03/12/women-warriors-of-the-global-revolution-pt-2-birgitta-jonsdottir/
Q1. Occupy Savvy: Strong women abound in the Occupy and Idle No More movements. Did you ever foresee that you would contribute as meaningfully as you have, to such momentous events?
Birgitta: In my wildest dreams: NO. I am forever humbled by the fact that my actions have somehow inspired others to act, to be changemakers in a world that so desperately needs for people to claim their responsibility of co-creation before it is too late.
Q2. Occupy Savvy: An ONZ admin says “Activism didn’t radicalise me; the state response to activism radicalised me.” Can you empathise with this statement?
Birgitta: I have always been radical, so it didn’t need any encouragement to carry on from oppressive response. I can empathize with this statement for I saw it happen to many of my fellow activists.
(More at the link!)
Women Warriors Of The Global Revolution Part 1: Min Reyes
TruthBeckons ?@BeckonsTruth
Occupy Savvy Exclusive | Women Warriors Of The Global Revolution Pt1: Min Reyes "People are waking up to global... http://fb.me/2B2K5m3zw
http://occupysavvy.com/2013/03/12/women-warriors-of-the-global-revolution-part-1-min-reyes/
Q1. Occupy Savvy: Strong women abound in the Occupy and Idle No More movements. Did you ever foresee that you would contribute as meaningfully as you have, to such momentous events?
Min: I have had the privilege to meet and learn from great women and men through Occupy and Idle No More movements. I have never really defined myself nor my ‘social and political’ roles based solely on my race, age, class or even gender. While I am not undermining the arguments for feminism nor the efforts of those who day after day are working for social justice for women, I must state that I have tried to maintain a sense of self through the numerous factors that influence my perspectives such as my surroundings and my experiences in their totality. I have learned that choosing one particular aspect to define my role in any given social movement tends to be rather exclusive and thus limiting, often resulting in the creation of an “other”.
In regards to contribution, I do not honestly believe I have meaningfully contributed yet as I am constantly re-evaluating my role in this long journey. As my perspectives and understanding of my surroundings (including social and political spheres) shift, so do my priorities and course of action. I do not believe I have ever set out a specific goal to achieve in terms of “social movements,” but perhaps that’s exactly what keeps me going and evolving as needed.
I am not sure exactly how I would have contributed – if at all – to the larger goals of these movements. But I know that having engaged with them in one way or another has greatly helped me identify and overcome a lot of my personal limitations, assumptions, and shortcomings.
(More at the link.)
No New Truck for Women Shot During Dorner Manhunt
Occupy Ⓐnarchism KC ?@occupykccanvass
No New Truck for Women Shot During Dorner Manhunt http://fb.me/1YioxpbfO
It has been more than a month since LAPD Chief Charlie Beck promised the truck to Emma Hernandez, 71, and her daughter, Margie Carranza, who had been working in Torrance, Calif. before dawn on Feb. 7.
snip
"It's really sad for us because we want to help these women move on with their lives, and help them move forward with that, we just can't get passed the 1099 issue," LAPD Cmdr. Andrew Smith said. "The government has to take their bite out of it, I guess."
The women's Toyota Tacoma was pierced with 102 bullet holes from the Feb. 7 shooting, according to Jonas. Emma Hernandez is still recovering from two bullet wounds to her neck, which are giving her life-threatening complications, according to Jonas, who described what his clients went through that morning.
"The grandmother, Emma, starts saying, ‘God have mercy on us,’ because she thinks for sure they're going to die," Jonas said. "She then clutches around the back seat of her daughter to protect her from the gun shots because her daughter has children."
(More at the link. One wonders if they'll also pay the $1 million reward as well. That's sarcasm.)
If you've ever wanted to fight back at the bastards, here is an easy start:
Tomorrow morning, March 12, we need your help no matter where you live:
Wells Fargo is wrongfully displacing Ms. HAROLYN RHUE, a disabled, African-American Woman, who suffers from substantial head trauma.
On January 4th 2013, Ms. Rhue filed a formal complaint with hud for discriminatory housing practices by her lender WELLS FARGO Home Mortgage. During our initial investigation we have noticed some very serious violations of the foreclosure process and documentation.
Ms. Rhue needs your help! Please, TELL WELLS FARGO that an eviction would cause great harm and would negatively impact her already serious health condition that has been altered by the wrongful foreclosure of her home.
Save Ms. Harolyn Rhue's home at 267 Laurel Dr. Altadena, CA 91001
March 12th, 2013
beginning at 7:00 am PST & 10:00 am EST
CALL ON WELLS FARGO CEO JOHN STUMPF & WELLS FARGO PRESIDENT OF HOME LOANS TO:
• IMMEDIATELY HALT THE EVICTION PROCESS BROUGHT BY WELLS FARGO'S PREDATORY LENDING, WRONGFUL FORECLOSURE, AND SALE OF HER HOME TO INVESTORS.
• REVIEW HAROLYN RHUE'S FORECLOSURE CASE AND WORK TO KEEP HER IN HER HOME.
• UNDERSTAND THAT MS.RHUE'S HEALTH AND RECOVERY HAS BEEN DAMAGED BY WELLS FARGO BANKING PRACTICES.
515.213.6117
MICHAEL HEID, WELLS FARGO PRESIDENT OF HOME LOANS
415.396.7018
JOHN STUMPF, WELLS FARGO CEO
You can call more than once. The above are their numbers even though their receptionist would tell you otherwise. Show them how many of us can stand behind the victim of mega-bank massive ongoing fraud.
We sincerely thank you for your help.
Occupy Fights Foreclosures
http://www.occupyfightsforeclosures.org/
---
For further reading:
Wells Fargo Typo Victim Dies in Court
http://www.democraticunderground.com/12526174
Tomorrow morning, we need your help no matter where you live:
Wells Fargo is wrongfully displacing Ms. HAROLYN RHUE, a disabled, African-American Woman, who suffers from substantial head trauma.
On January 4th 2013, Ms. Rhue filed a formal complaint with hud for discriminatory housing practices by her lender WELLS FARGO Home Mortgage. During our initial investigation we have noticed some very serious violations of the foreclosure process and documentation.
Ms. Rhue needs your help! Please, TELL WELLS FARGO that an eviction would cause great harm and would negatively impact her already serious health condition that has been altered by the wrongful foreclosure of her home.
Save Ms. Harolyn Rhue's home at 267 Laurel Dr. Altadena, CA 91001
March 12th, 2013
beginning at 7:00 am PST & 10:00 am EST
CALL ON WELLS FARGO CEO JOHN STUMPF & WELLS FARGO PRESIDENT OF HOME LOANS TO:
• IMMEDIATELY HALT THE EVICTION PROCESS BROUGHT BY WELLS FARGO'S PREDATORY LENDING, WRONGFUL FORECLOSURE, AND SALE OF HER HOME TO INVESTORS.
• REVIEW HAROLYN RHUE'S FORECLOSURE CASE AND WORK TO KEEP HER IN HER HOME.
• UNDERSTAND THAT MS.RHUE'S HEALTH AND RECOVERY HAS BEEN DAMAGED BY WELLS FARGO BANKING PRACTICES.
515.213.6117
MICHAEL HEID, WELLS FARGO PRESIDENT OF HOME LOANS
415.396.7018
JOHN STUMPF, WELLS FARGO CEO
You can call more than once. The above are their numbers even though their receptionist would tell you otherwise. Show them how many of us can stand behind the victim of mega-bank massive ongoing fraud.
We sincerely thank you for your help.
Occupy Fights Foreclosures
http://www.occupyfightsforeclosures.org/
Vigil in NY over police murder of Kimani Gray brings riot police (over) response
Enemy Of The State☭Ⓐ ?@shushugah
Precinct 67 is on a lockdown, 100's of riot police standin
g outside with batons. They murdered #KimaniGray and Davis pic.twitter.com/amtlc7UR51
Occupy Wall Street ?@OccupyWallStNYC
#OWS activist @shushugah speaking to @CBSNews LIVE after #BrooklynRiot: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/occupybloomberg …
Stop The Wars ?@sickjew
Reports of Brooklyn rioting said to be in response to NYPD murder of 16-year-old Kimani Gray. http://nyti.ms/ZBD33Z LITTLE 1st-hand info.
Anonymous ?@OccupyTheMob
#NYPD calling #Brooklyn vigil a #Riot to cover their asses when use excessive force. This precinct has history of killing teens #YAN
TheProtestChaplains ?@ProtestChaplain
Oh Lord no. Not another one. The #NYPD killed another teenager this weekend. Brooklyn fighting back, cops in riotgear
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/03/11/1193375/-Rioting-in-Brooklyn-over-police-shooting-teen …
RT America ?@RT_America
BREAKING: Riot police confront protesters in Brooklyn, NY http://ow.ly/iMvRP
Anonymous ?@OccupyTheMob
RT #Brooklynriot LIVE Stream back online >>>http://www.ustream.tv/channel/occupybloomberg … #BrooklynRiot #fieryscots #Brooklyn #YAN
Jeff DeLuca ?@Jeff_DeLuca
Teachable moment on race playing out right now with the "#BrooklynRiot" that is actually a vigil for 16yo black boy shot 11 times by NYPD
Carissa Zelinsky ?@chachalupa
RT @Lukewearechange: Lots of riot cops still out here but it looks like all hostilities are over now pic.twitter.com/z4VyvWvG7L #brooklynriot
Luke Rudkowski ?@Lukewearechange
Cops are guarding the 67th police precinct like forth Knox now nothing else is happening if it does I will be live
https://twitter.com/Lukewearechange/status/311303409821179904/photo/1
Dustin M. Slaughter ?@DustinSlaughter
It's unfortunate that whoever started the #BrooklynRiot tag also played into the NYPD's messaging and framing.
Forbes: 1.6 Billion Rounds Of Ammo For Homeland Security? It's Time For A National Conversation
Sorry, coyotl already posted it:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022490336
Kimberly Boldt ?@FederalistNo2
Forbes: 1.6 Billion Rounds Of Ammo For Homeland Security? It's Time For A National Conversation
http://www.forbes.com/sites/ralphbenko/2013/03/11/1-6-billion-rounds-of-ammo-for-homeland-security-its-time-for-a-national-conversation/ … #policestate
The Denver Post, on February 15th, ran an Associated Press article entitled Homeland Security aims to buy 1.6b rounds of ammo, so far to little notice. It confirmed that the Department of Homeland Security has issued an open purchase order for 1.6 billion rounds of ammunition. As reported elsewhere, some of this purchase order is for hollow-point rounds, forbidden by international law for use in war, along with a frightening amount specialized for snipers. Also reported elsewhere, at the height of the Iraq War the Army was expending less than 6 million rounds a month. Therefore 1.6 billion rounds would be enough to sustain a hot war for 20+ years. In America.
Add to this perplexing outré purchase of ammo, DHS now is showing off its acquisition of heavily armored personnel carriers, repatriated from the Iraqi and Afghani theaters of operation. As observed by “paramilblogger” Ken Jorgustin last September:
[T]he Department of Homeland Security is apparently taking delivery (apparently through the Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico VA, via the manufacturer – Navistar Defense LLC) of an undetermined number of the recently retrofitted 2,717 ‘Mine Resistant Protected’ MaxxPro MRAP vehicles for service on the streets of the United States.”
These MRAP’s ARE BEING SEEN ON U.S. STREETS all across America by verified observers with photos, videos, and descriptions.”
(More at the link. Cross-posted from Occupy Underground.)
For more reading:
There are two important factors regarding the DHS/TSA which are rarely taken into consideration:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022486390
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Gender: MaleCurrent location: Los Angeles
Member since: Sat Apr 9, 2005, 09:20 PM
Number of posts: 38,893