8 The Courier sun • JULY 28, 2016 for breaking news visit www.qns.com Queens homeowners have a new program to help them bounce back from the 2008 crisis By Charlie Perry [email protected]/@QNS New Yorkers still struggling in the aftermath of the 2008 housing crisis now have a new program to help keep them in their homes. Elected officials met in Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson Community Garden in Jamaica on July 19 to announce that New York City homeowners will be the first to gain access to the nation’s first foreclosure buyback program. “Now, instead of having to work with a private institution that is trying to make a profit, they will be working with a community organization whose purpose is to help them get their lives back on track and remain in their homes,” Councilman I. Daneek Miller said on July 19. According to the statement, municipalities across the country are now able to purchase mortgages from the federal government to assist people in their efforts to refinance their homes. Beginning in 2015, the City Council invested millions of dollars to buy distressed mortgages. “The Council’s $2 million Mortgage Buyback Initiative has been essential to the city’s efforts to reverse the trend of private equity investors snatching up underwater mortgages in communities still reeling Elected officials address the Jamaica community regarding the city’s new foreclosure buyback program. from the foreclosure crisis,” Councilman Ruben Wills said. Despite what some officials are calling a strong rebound by the city after the 2008 housing market collapse, certain areas are still in desperate need of assistance. Wills looked to southeast Queens as a prime example. He cited that the area has experienced over 9,000 foreclosures over the last three years. According to Interim Executive Director for the Neighborhood Housing Services of Jamaica, Inc. Lori A. Miller, the top five hardest hit neighborhoods are South Jamaica, St. Albans, Cambria Heights, Springfield Gardens/ Laurelton and South Ozone Park. Of the 154 homes in Queens scheduled for foreclosure auctions between July and August, 111 are in southwest Queens. “It is important as this initiative goes forward that we not forget that families across New York City continue to struggle after Photo courtesy of Gregory Rose the reckless behavior of the big banks destroyed the housing market. Recovery has been uneven and many homeowners in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods of color have been left behind,” said Ismene Speliotis, executive director of the Mutual Housing Association of New York. TREY SONGZ SHOW AT RESORTS WORLD CASINO IS A SCAM By Charlie Perry [email protected]/@QNS A concert con artist has been selling New Yorkers tickets to a hip-hop show at a local casino. There’s one big problem: the show isn’t happening. Fans of rap artist Trey Songz and Caribbean pop artist Julien Believe will be disappointed to find out that their $45 to $100 tickets to a July 30 show at the Resorts World Casino are fake. “FRAUD ALERT: WE HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF A FALSE PROMOTION OF A JULY 30TH CONCERT BY ‘TREY SONGZ AND JULIEN BELIEVE’. NEITHER RESORTS WORLD NOR TREY SONGZ HAS AUTHORIZED THIS EVENT. THE POLICE HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS FRAUD. PLEASE CONTACT THE POLICE IF YOU ARE A VICTIM,” Resorts World Casino posted on their website. According to a flyer informing the community of the supposed “concert,” New Yorkers can purchase advance tickets to the show by calling 310-853-8209. QNS left a message for the scammer. He/she has yet to respond. “It’s unfortunate what some people use their precious time to do,” Caribbean pop artist Julien Believe told QNS via Facebook. “It’s just wrong to take advantage of people like this. I hope they find the persons responsible and that situations like this never occur again!” Police are investigating the fake concert promotion and are encouraging anyone who may have been scammed to reach out to the authorities. Those still in the mood for a hip-hop show can attend the casino at Resorts World on Saturday. They will be holding a “Freestyle Takedown” featuring numerous artists. Don’t worry; this one is the real deal. Photo courtesy of Resorts World Casino Don’t believe the hype. If you see this flyer or hear about this show, it’s a scam.
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