City Attorney Promises Foreclosure Improvements
TBO Today
TAMPA - The city's foreclosure program hasn't run as smoothly as it could, but the city attorney says that will change.
To push the process along, David Smith said he will meet monthly with staff from the city's legal, real estate and code enforcement departments. That should bridge communication gaps that have slowed the process, but Smith said no one should think the program is in "abject disarray. It is not."
He was responding to criticism over the lack of foreclosures two years after a mayoral order to get tough on the worst code violators. Since 2005, the city has filed five foreclosures at the Hillsborough County Courthouse but has not foreclosed on any properties. Two of the five cases have been settled.
City attorneys initially anticipated as many as 15 foreclosures a month.
Smith said his staff reviewed fewer than 50 cases between September 2005 and March, and most did not meet the criteria for foreclosure. Properties must be nonhomesteaded and readily marketable, have repeat code violations and be clear of hazardous waste contamination.
"There certainly have been some problems, and some fits and starts," Smith said.
He said the administration is trying to find a balance between foreclosing on the worst offenders and nudging others to clean up properties.
Kathy Steele
2 comments:
Go figure, our Do nothing mayor is up for re-election so now, what she promised us years ago is finally goint to start happening. NO thanks, I would rather vote for Gwen Miller.
Have you noticed, now that it is re-election time, the mayors PR department has been making the circuit.
Also, everyone is so heated up about Gwen Miller showing up in the hood. How often has Mayor Iorio been in the neighborhood? I know she came to Hillsborough High once, I don't think she has been too supportive. It is very unfortunate, but I think we may be stuck with her for 4 more years.
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