Franklin Torres had been paying off his bank loans regularly. But on July 19, while he was in Ecuador visiting his family, he received notification that Flushing Savings Bank was foreclosing his property and placing it on auction the following day.
Torres, who had made around $430,000 in mortgage payments for his property as of June, was among a group of approximately 20 Queens residents who staged a demonstration Monday outside the Forest Hills branch of Flushing Savings Bank, accusing it of “corrupt and predatory practices,” including improper foreclosures. The group staged a similar protest outside a branch in Flushing a week earlier.
The newly formed group, Queens Residents Against Flushing Savings Bank, chanted slogans like “Give us our homes back,” held large placards, blew party blowers, and handed out leaflets to passersby to warn and identify residents who have been negatively impacted by the bank’s alleged bad faith practices.
Flushing Savings said in an emailed statement that it “does not respond publicly to comments regarding its customers or their relationships.”
“As a federally chartered savings bank, we comply with all applicable laws and regulations including the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and Fair Lending practices,” the statement read. “Flushing Savings Bank makes every reasonable effort available to establish workout plans to help borrowers avoid the foreclosure process and maintain ownership of their property.”
In June, state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman proposed new legislation, the Foreclosure Fraud Prevention Act, which would impose tough new criminal penalties that include jail time for those who knowingly authorize, prepare, execute or offer for filing false documents in a pending or prospective residential foreclosure action.
The group’s leaflets charged that Flushing Savings Bank “received $70 million in public bailout monies” but “continued business as usual foreclosing and taking homes away from hardworking New Yorkers.”
The group’s van was plastered on all sides with posters that read “Boycott Flushing Savings Bank,” “FSB = Bankster,” and “Takes Taxpayer Bailout $$, then takes people’s homes.”
Its website was formally unveiled Monday. It included ways to complain against banks, and events and mobilization schedules.
“When people lose their homes, they lose their savings. But nobody’s doing anything,” said Bill Struhs, the group’s coordinator.
With the demonstrations, leafleting and the website, however, awareness has been raised, and Struhs said many people who’ve had their homes foreclosed upon called him for help.
“So far, I’ve received 60 requests since we started one and a half weeks ago,” he said.
At the demonstration Monday, Torres shared his experience dealing with the bank with people who gathered around, their curiosity sparked by the din.
“I went back to Ecuador to see my wife and children in June, and the bank suddenly foreclosed my property for no reason,” he said. “I went to court to stop the sale, and I won the case.”
But despite his legal victory in August, Flushing Savings Bank refused to accept further payments from Torres.
“They returned my checks. They don’t want to talk to me,” he said. “They just want my property. What do I have to do now?”
Torres took out a $1.65 million loan for his property in Corona in June 2008, signing an agreement and placing a deposit of $100,000. The sum was to be paid back with interest when Torres obtained a final certificate of occupancy for the property, and the property was fully occupied and rented out within six months.
“But they did not return me my money,” he said.
Torres admitted that he was behind by “two or three payments” in Sep. 2009, and that’s when the foreclosures began.
But under the agreement that he signed, the deposit can be used to make mortgage payments in the event of a default.
“They were supposed to use the money but they only used it for two out of the three payments,” he said. “They deliberately kept me behind by one payment. But in any case, I knew I needed to be current, so in Dec. 2010, I paid off the amounts I owed.”
“Bottom line is, I was current until June. And then in July, they tried to sell my property,” he said.
Another protester, Ramon Quiroz, who had his property foreclosed by U.S. Bank, said his bank “falsified documents.”
“I have paid everything in two years — the full $435,000. I have the title to my name. But they said I owe them money and they wanted to take my home,” he fumed. “I’ve been fighting since October 2007. My case is now at the U.S. Court of Appeals. I’m going after them. They’ve got to compensate all the damage they caused to me.”
Several customers who walked out of Flushing Savings Bank said they were unaware of the issues the protesters were raising.
“You should go to the headquarters and the big banks. There’s no point boycotting this small branch here, right?” said one man who declined to be named.
To that, Struhs said this was only the start.
“Next Monday, we will go to four banks in Queens,” he said. “If you can do something, you must do it, and believe in it.”
The group dispersed as quickly as it had gathered. In less than 90 minutes, the drama was over, leaving only 20-year-old Carlos Mendez, who cut a lonesome figure in the mid-afternoon sun as he continued giving out the fliers.
Mendez, who rents the apartment in question from Torres, said he and his family will have to move out if the property gets foreclosed.
“I just wanted to help him out,” he said simply.
He shrugged smilingly as he looked left and right, as if pre-empting the question that was coming his way.
“I’ll be here till 2.”
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When President Obama asked you to tell us what the middle-class tax cuts meant for your families, we knew you'd speak up. But I don't think any of us were prepared for this.
The stories started pouring in immediately. Within a couple hours, we received messages from tens of thousands of people. Folks from every state in the country took time to write in. You nearly took over Twitter, where the hashtag #My2K trended all day.
And people are starting to pay attention. News outlets are writing stories about how everyday Americans are engaged in this debate. Decision makers are coming to the sudden realization that they can't ignore the perspective of the middle class when it comes to cutting taxes.
You're changing an entire policy conversation. And we have to keep it up.
Tell us what $2,000 means to middle-class families.
There's no denying the power of your voices.
We heard from a woman in Alabama who explained that $2,000 was a crucial part of her family budget -- the choice between two house payments, three car payments, or medical prescriptions for a year.
We heard from a farmer in Michigan, just starting his business, who wants to use $2,000 to invest in two greenhouses so he can extend his growing season.
We heard from a dad in Indiana who did the math and realized that $2,000 will buy groceries for his family for 23.5 weeks.
We heard from graduate students working to pay down student loans and parents trying to help put their kids through school.
And these folks are not alone. Unless Congress acts, 114 million middle-class American families are staring down a tax increase starting January 1.
So we need you to join them. We're doing everything to draw attention to the stories you share with us. We're sharing them on Facebook and Twitter. We're putting them on the front page of the White House website.
Will you speak out today?
http://www.whitehouse.gov/my2k
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Presidência investe em qualificação profissional
O investimento do governo federal na qualificação profissional de jovens e trabalhadores foi um dos destaques do programa Café com a Presidenta da última segunda-feira, 24. O governo tem criado programas para incentivar e promover o desenvolvimento e geração de empregos em todo o país. O Programa Nacional de Acesso ao Ensino Técnico e Emprego (Pronatec) vai criar 8 milhões de vagas em cursos técnicos e de qualificação profissional até 2014. Hoje, 2,2 milhões de jovens e trabalhadores frequentam cursos oferecidos pelo programa.
Entra as iniciativas do governo federal nessa área está a parceria com o Sistema S, principalmente com o Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem Industrial (Senai), referência em ensino profissionalizante no Brasil. Segundo a presidenta, essa parceria garantirá a formação de jovens e trabalhadores em cursos de excelência, sintonizados com as necessidades da indústria. “Do ano passado para cá, 1,1 milhão de jovens e trabalhadores fizeram a matrícula para estudar de graça no Senai, nos cursos técnicos, nos cursos de aprendizagem profissional e nos cursos de qualificação”, disse.
Dilma explicou que o Brasil precisa de mão de obra qualificada e de técnicos bem formados para ter uma indústria forte e competitiva para garantir o crescimento do país e a criação de oportunidades de trabalho. “Além de formar engenheiros, matemáticos, médicos e professores, o Brasil vai precisar formar também técnicos em automação industrial, petróleo e gás, mineração, mecatrônica, manutenção de aeronaves, eletrônica, indústria naval e computação”, citou.
Para assegurar a oferta de vagas, o governo financia R$ 1,5 bilhão para o Senai investir na construção de 53 escolas, na modernização e na ampliação de 251 unidades de ensino existentes. “Um país que aposta na educação profissional e que tem uma indústria forte e competitiva consegue crescer e se desenvolver, gerar mais oportunidades, mais renda e emprego de qualidade”, disse a presidenta.
Saúde premia 644 Equipes de Atenção Básica em Goiás
O Ministério da Saúde vai premiar, pela primeira vez, o alto padrão de qualidade das Equipes de Atenção Básica (EAB) que integram a política Saúde Mais Perto de Você. A lista das equipes que foram avaliadas pelo Programa Nacional de Melhoria do Acesso e da Qualidade da Atenção Básica (PMAQ-AB) consta da Portaria 2.626. Para Goiás, serão destinados R$ 2,49 milhões referente à avaliação de 644 equipes que aprimoraram o padrão de qualidade no atendimento à população. Serão beneficiados 171 municípios goianos.
Em todo o país, serão repassados quase R$ 75 milhões referentes à certificação de 15.095 equipes de 3.532 municípios. Desde o ano passado, o Ministério da Saúde já repassou para o PMAQ R$ 534 milhões. Só para o Goiás já foram destinados R$ 19,7 milhões. “É a primeira vez que o Ministério da Saúde está repassando recursos com base na qualidade do atendimento na Atenção Básica. Agora, passamos a ter um padrão de qualidade nacional”, afirma o ministro da Saúde, Alexandre Padilha.
Também pela primeira vez, o Ministério da Saúde ouviu, pessoalmente, a opinião dos usuários sobre o atendimento prestado por Equipes de Atenção Básica. Foram entrevistados 55.951 mil usuários. No Goiás, 2.532 usuários participaram da avaliação. Equipes bem avaliadas em indicadores – como atendimento pré-natal, acompanhamento de doentes crônicos, tempo de espera por consulta e adequada atenção à saúde do idoso, entre outros – poderão receber até R$ 11 mil por mês.
Incentivos
Atualmente, cada equipe recebe do governo federal de R$ 7,1 mil a R$ 10,6 mil por mês, conforme critérios socioeconômicos e demográficos, acrescidos ainda recursos para as equipes com Agentes Comunitários de Saúde e profissionais de Saúde Bucal. Equipes consideradas insatisfatórias, que não cumpriram o mínimo necessário do padrão de qualidade, não receberão recursos. Porém, poderão se inscrever novamente para uma nova avaliação, que acontece em março de 2013.
No mesmo período, será possível ampliar a adesão para 100% das Equipes de Saúde da Família, o que representa um universo de aproximadamente 33 mil equipes. Será possível também a adesão, ao PMAQ, de Equipes de apoio dos Núcleos de Apoio à Saúde da Família (NASF), de Centro de especialidades Odontológicas (CEO) e dos Consultórios na Rua.
As equipes avaliadas são compostas por médico, enfermeiro, técnico ou auxiliar de enfermagem, além de agentes comunitários de saúde. Há equipes que também oferecem assistência odontológica e são formadas por dentistas, auxiliar de consultório dentário e/ou técnico em saúde bucal.
UBS
O Ministério da Saúde também está investindo na qualidade das Unidades Básicas de Saúde (UBS), onde as equipes de Atenção Básica atendem a população. O Programa de Requalificação das UBS (RequalificaUBS) prevê desde a adaptação da estrutura física das unidades até o trabalho das equipes de saúde.
O programa tem o objetivo de melhorar as condições de trabalho dos profissionais de saúde, além de modernizar e qualificar o atendimento à população. Prevê, ainda, a construção de novas UBS, além da ampliação e reforma das unidades já existentes. Atualmente, existem mais de 38 mil Unidades Básicas de Saúde no país.
As UBS também conhecidas como postos ou centros de saúde – oferecem atendimento multiprofissional, além de desenvolverem ações de prevenção e promoção de saúde. A unidade é considerada o serviço de saúde mais próximo da vida das pessoas e a principal porta de acesso ao SUS. Cerca de 85% dos problemas de saúde podem ser resolvidos na UBS.
Goiás
No estado de Goiás, 145 UBS estão em construção. Outras 173 estão sendo ampliadas e 197 reformadas. O estado possui 1.201 unidades em funcionamento.
O Programa
O Programa Nacional de Melhoria do Acesso e da Qualidade da Atenção Básica (PMAQ-AB) é um dos componentes da Estratégia “Saúde Mais Perto de Você” e tem o objetivo de estabelecer um padrão de qualidade na assistência básica ao estimular a instituição de processos que assegurem maior acesso e qualidade aos serviços ofertados pelas Equipes de Atenção Básica (EAB).
Confira aqui a lista dos municípios goianos.
(Por Tinna Oliveira e Cristina Gumiero, da Agência Saúde - Ascom/MS)
