Despite recording record profits last year, Wells Fargo continues to drive tens of thousands of people out of their homes through foreclosure proceedings while devastating our communities. The good news is, we’re fighting back.
Occupy Bernal Heights formed to resist the foreclosure and eviction of our neighbors. Through public protest, we stopped the bank from immediately auctioning off the homes of Washington and Maria Davila and Alberto Del Rio, but the bank has merely rescheduled the auction dates.
And despite meeting with six foreclosure fighters from the neighborhood and another from Bayview-Hunters Point, Wells Fargo executives have refused to allow any of them to refinance their homes or modify their loans, and have not stopped foreclosure proceedings against them.
Call and email Wells Fargo executives and demand that they grant a loan modification and fair deal to Alberto Del Rio; Maria and Washington Davila; Thomas German; Ernesto Viscara; Victor Granados; DeDe Martinez; and Archbishop King. Tell them to stop evicting and foreclosing on our neighbors!
Note: We are trying to keep track of the number of emails sent. Please cc your email to action@occupybernal.org
Wells Fargo Phone numbers/emails:
Diana Stauffer (Senior VP Regional Servicing Director): 925-552-4347 diana.stauffer@wellsfargo.com
Alfredo Pedroza (Director CA Local Gov’t Relations): 415-396-0829 alfredo.pedroza@wellsfargo.com
John Stumpf (CEO): 866-878-5865 john.g.stumpf@wellsfargo.com
Sample Email:
To: diana.stauffer@wellsfargo.com; alfredo.pedroza@wellsfargo.com; john.g.stumpf@wellsfargo.com
Subject line: WELLS FARGO: HANDS OFF OUR NEIGHBORS!
Message: I demand that you cancel the auction of Alberto Del Rio and Maria and Washington Davila’s family homes immediately. I also demand that you allow them, along with Ernesto Viscara; Victor Granados; DeDe Martinez; and Archbishop Franzo King, to modify their loans with you or refinance their homes. I call on you to stop evictions and foreclosures in San Francisco.
Stop evicting and foreclosing on our neighbors!
Tweets:
Demand WellsFargo stop evicting and foreclosing on our neighbors Call
Diana Stauffer 925-552-4347 Alfredo Pedroza415-396-0829 #OSF #OB
Demand WellsFargo modify loans and grant fair deal to our neighbors
dianastauffer@wellsfargo.com alfredo.pedroza@wellsfargo.com #OSF #OB
Tell WellsFargoCEO John Stumpf to stop evicting and foreclosing on our
neighbors 866-878-5865 john.g.stumpf@wellsfargo.com #OSF #OO #OB
Demand Wells Fargo grant fair deal to Bernal Neighbors Del Rio;
Davila; German; Viscara; Granados; Martinez; and Archbishop King
#Bernal6+1 #OSF
#OccupyBernal #OB #OSF is working to stop foreclosures and
evictions by WellsFargo. Mtg T2/9 7p 515 CortlandSF housing@occupybernal.org
Background:
Occupy Bernal has identified 84 homes in foreclosure proceedings in Bernal Heights alone. Of these, Wells Fargo owns the mortgage in at least 13 of these cases. Of the homes we have visited, a disproportionate number of the owners are African-American or Latino, reflecting the racist practices of the banks who are preying on communities.
While foreclosures in Bernal Heights represent just the tip of the iceberg in a city that has seen as many as 12,000 foreclosures in the past three years, Occupy Bernal Heights is hopeful that a victory in our neighborhood could spark victories elsewhere in San Francisco.
Here are the bios of Occupy Bernal foreclosure fighters:
Thomas German is a seventy-two year-old veteran and retired worker from the US Mint in SF. Has lived in Bernal since 1967 and at his home at 248 Andover since 1974. Thomas is known and loved by all on his street. He was the first Bernal resident to step forward and join OB to battle to keep his home.
Melodie “ DeDe” Martinez is a third generation resident of 150 Elsie St. Her family was at the heart of the launching of the Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center(BHNC) in 1976, when she was a child. Her Grandmother Jean Hamer and mother Charlene Martinez were on the founding Board of Directors of the BHNC.
Alberto Del Rio – A father of three, who grew up in his home at 565 Banks St. A strong but gentle and religious man, Alberto is an eloquent speaker on behalf of his family and other foreclosees.
Victor Granados is a tenant at 4207 Folsom St. with his wife and family. He is a quiet but determined fighter against his and other foreclosures. When Occupy Bernal needs guidance and inspiration, he often has words of wisdom.
Ernesto Viscara is an owner and occupant of 249 Anderson, where he also rents to another family living on his 2nd floor. Ernesto has lived in Bernal for 30 years. He is also an accomplished public speaker, a veteran fighter for social justice and a participant in struggles against U.S. military intervention in Central America.
Maria and Washington Davila – A quiet couple with two beloved Yorkshire Terriers, the Davilas have rented their home at 4255 Folsom St. for 7 years. They have been the ideal tenants, and the inside of their home looks like a photo shoot from Home Beautiful.
Their landlord, who faces foreclosure, is ill and lives in Las Vegas.
Archbishop Franzo King pastors the John Coltrane Church, located in the Western Addition community of San Francisco. He is a life-long resident of the Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood. He has owned his house for over 20 years. He is a member of Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE)