Focus on Foreclosure‏

Focus on Foreclosure

Home foreclosure is a growing problem in Phoenix and communities around our State. One of the recurring problems we are seeing is the impact of foreclosure on renters who often have no idea that the home they are renting is being foreclosed and find themselves kicked to the curb with no time to find alternative housing. The Mayor and City Council have made this issue one of this year's legislative priorities. A number of bills have been introduced this session to address this problem in various ways:

SB1275 property deeds; foreclosures; identification (Sen. Linda Gray, R - Phoenix/Glendale) requires the tenant of a foreclosed property to be notified as well as the property owner. It also requires the property owner's name and address and state be set forth fully in the deed. Other bills dealing with the issue include SB1210 foreclosures; notice; mailing (Sen. Richard Miranda, D - Phoenix) and SB1413 foreclosure sales; notice to tenants (Rep. Robert Meza, D - Phoenix). In addition, Sen. Leah Landrum Taylor (D - Phoenix) will hold a press conference to announce the introduction of SB1108 landlord-tenant; foreclosures; notice, that would require landlords to provide foreclosure notification to renters.

A Mountain of Bills

As of today, day 26 of the session, 1001 bills have been introduced: 532 in the House and 469 in the Senate. February 2 was the Senate deadline to introduce bills. Members in the House have until February 9 to file bills. True to his word, Senate President Bob Burns (R - Glendale) is holding all Senate bills and allowing only budget issues to be considered. With the 2009 budget in the bag, except for some fine-tuning, the chambers are seriously working on the 2010 budget.

ALIS Today- For today's Legislative schedule is a new link on "My PLAN." Do you want to see what committees are meeting each day and what bills they are scheduled to hear? The ALIS Today link does just that. It's a quick click to that information, plus the ability to link directly to the hearing to see it live.

Full Representation in District 13

On Tuesday morning, February 2, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors appointed Tolleson Vice Mayor Anna Tovar to replace former Representative Steve Gallardo of Legislative District 13. Gallardo won reelection but declined to take the oath of office. Anna Tovar was one of three nominees forwarded to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors by a citizens committee. District 13 covers part of the southwestern portion of Phoenix, Tolleson, and a portion of Avondale.

Source: P.L.A.N.