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News and Review Online Magazine - Community Dispatch Articles |
Redlands Woman Pleads Guilty to Forgery in Real Estate Scheme San Bernardino, CA - Goldie Vicencio Santiago, 28, of Redlands; In May and June 2006, Santiago forged the victim's name on Quitclaim deeds. She then took out loans against at least two separate parcels of property in the County of San Bernardino for approximately $752,000, without the victim's knowledge. The residential properties were located in the cities of Hesperia and Colton. On August 11, 2006, Investigators from the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Real Estate Fraud Unit arrested Santiago at her business located in San Bernardino. Friday, February 8, 2008, Santiago appeared in San Bernardino County, Central District, Superior Court on felony charges connected to real estate fraud. As part of a plea agreement, she was given sixteen months in state prison for filing a false deed and forgery. The issue of $225,000 in restitution has been reserved for an upcoming hearing.
HUD AWARDS MORE THAN $18 MILLION IN GRANTS TO FIGHT HOUSING DISCRIMINATION
$17.1 million awarded to fair housing groups; $1million awarded to launch national education campaign
WASHINGTON - The Department of Housing and Urban Development today awarded 88 grants totaling $17.1 million to recipients in 37 states and the District of Columbia to help fight housing discrimination.
Additionally, HUD awarded $1 million to New America Media, a division of Pacific News Service, to develop the Department's first coordinated national media campaign to educate the public about discriminatory lending. New America Media has engaged the creative team of Impact Strategies, LLC, and Equals Three Communications to produce television, radio, and print advertisements.
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HUD ANNOUNCES $32 MILLION IN HIV/AIDS HOUSING AID
TO HELP 31 AIDS PROGRAMS NATIONWIDE
WASHINGTON - More than 2,200 persons who are living with HIV/AIDS and at high risk for homelessness will find a stable home and receive the services they need because of $32.1 million in funding awarded today by Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson. HUD grants will help 31 programs in 21 states to provide their clients with three years of permanent supportive housing.
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FTC Warns Mortgage Advertisers and Media That Ads May Be Deceptive
The Federal Trade Commission is warning mortgage brokers and lenders, and media outlets that carry their advertisements for home mortgages, that some of the advertising claims currently appearing in Web sites, newspapers, magazines, direct mail, and unsolicited e-mail and faxes may violate federal law.
“Many mortgage advertisers are making potentially deceptive claims about incredibly low rates and payments, without telling consumers the whole story – for example, that these low rates and payments apply for a short period only and can go up substantially after the loan’s introductory period,” said Lydia Parnes, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Home ownership is the American dream, but it can become a nightmare for consumers who don’t have the information they need to understand the terms of their mortgage.”
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Opportunity Knocking 
With Sellers willing to negotiate and housing inventories building up, interest rates are low and buyers are finding some of the best deals in years. Click Here To Read Article
Interview w/ Kerry Killinger
Washington Mutual CEO
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200,000 MORE FAMILIES COULD AVOID FORECLOSURE
WITH CONGRESS' HELP
Jackson letter to Congress: "Time to act on FHA reform is now"
WASHINGTON - More than 200,000 families could avoid foreclosure under pending legislation to reform HUD's Federal Housing Administration (FHA). That was the message U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson is delivering to Congress as they return from their August recess and consider legislation to reform FHA's vital mortgage insurance programs.
On Friday, President George W. Bush and Secretary Jackson announced a new initiative called FHASecure, which will aid families who are finding themselves in default when their mortgage interest rates reset. Over the next two years, FHASecure and other FHA-backed loans will help an estimated quarter of a million Americans keep their homes. That's about half the families expected to go into foreclosure during that time.
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MORTGAGE FRAUD
General Overview: The increased reliance by both financial institutions and non-financial institution lenders on third-party brokers has created opportunities for organized fraud groups, particularly where mortgage industry professionals are involved.
Combating significant fraud in this area is a priority, because mortgage lending and the housing market have a significant overall effect on the nation's economy. All Mortgage Fraud programs were recently consolidated within the Financial Institution Fraud Unit, even where the targeted lender is not a financial institution. This consolidation provides a more effective and efficient management over Mortgage Fraud investigations, the ability to identify and respond more rapidly to emerging Mortgage Fraud problems and a clearer picture of the overall Mortgage Fraud problem.
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In Honor of an American Hero; Spc. William "Tony" Farrar Jr.
By: Ed Wright, CalifOnline.info Editor
Vietnam Era Vet (USAF)
5/28/2007
Memorial Day; Monday, May 28, 2007 was an absolutely beautiful day in the Redlands, Yucaipa area… Monday, May 28, 2007 was an absolutely beautiful day in Yucaipa… as it was in all of Southern California, and while many of us enjoyed a day off of work, and perhaps a BBQ with family and friends, it was also Memorial Day. If it were not for the war in Iraq my guess is that many could have forgotten altogether what Memorial Day is all about and the sacrifice that so many have made that we might enjoy this day in freedom.
Officially Waterloo N.Y. was declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966. It is difficult to conclusively prove the origins of Memorial Day which most likely can be more accurately traced to many separate beginnings; in small towns like Redlands California where people gathered to honor those killed in war. I do not feel it is all that important who was the very first, what is important is that Memorial Day was established to honor those who have given so much.
This is a day to put away the divisions over war(s), one to avoid the politics surrounding the war(s), and one that in many ways needs to be focused on reconciliation. Properly observed (in my mind), it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all as did US Army Spc. William "Tony" Farrar Jr. US Army Spc. William "Tony" Farrar Jr. was only 20 years old when he was killed in combat in Iraq on May 11; and although I did not know him personally, he easily could have been my daughter’s 22 year old first boyfriend who is also serving in the Army in Iraq (a second tour). It could have been myself some 30 plus years ago, or my father who served in the Navy at Pearl Harbor on the day it was attacked; but this is the point less we forget… It is the sacrifice of so many that have given so much that has allowed us the freedom we enjoy today.
There will not be enough stories written about Spc. William "Tony" Farrar Jr., who was laid to rest after a funeral in Redlands, California just days ago at the Worship Hall of First Missionary Baptist Church. It is reported that Farrar's uncle, Scott Breckley, proclaimed that they gathered together "To honor a hero to his country and a hero to his faith…" and let me add a hero to me also.
Spc. William "Tony" Farrar Jr. was the son of a Rialto Police Captain William "Tony" Farrar Sr. who himself served as a military policeman. Farrar Jr. was assigned to the 127th Military Police Company, 709th Military Police Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade, in Darmstadt, Germany.
Army Spc. William Farrar Jr. was killed about 30 miles south of Baghdad when a roadside bomb detonated near the Humvee he was driving. As a brief history, Spc. Farrar enlisted in the US Army in September 2005, shortly after graduating from Palm Springs High School, and was deployed to Iraq during November 2006.
As a personal note to this story, what I find most encouraging is that Spc. William Farrar Jr.’s younger brother, 18-year-old Ken Farrar who also spoke about his “Big Brother” during the funeral... is that Ken Farrar had joined the US Marines in December 2006. Let us all give proper honor to this type of dedication to service.
Army Spc. William Farrar Jr. was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for valor posthumously for his service to our nation… and last, but not least William "Tony" Farrar Jr. is what Memorial Day is all about; God rest your soul, and continue to comfort be with your family.
This Memorial Day, you Spc. Farrar Jr., are my hero also… we are deeply sorry for your death and your family's loss. Your story and family dedication makes me proud to be a vet also; may we never forget the sacrifices of so many or take our freedom lightly or for granted.
Thank You; From The Wright Family
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Full Copyright 2007 Ed Wright, and/or submitting content provider(s); All Rights Reserved |
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