St. Paul's poorest neighborhoods have endured much of the pain in the foreclosure crisis, says a Twin Cities religious coalition that on Tuesday urged action to help stem foreclosure and home vacancy rates.
The group, ISAIAH, is asking City Council members to back higher vacant-home registration fees and to endorse a program giving homeowners a chance to enter mediation before lenders can foreclose.
The recommendations were part of a study released at a public meeting Tuesday night at St. James AME Church.
ISAIAH is among several church, community and labor groups engaged in a weeklong campaign that is taking on banks and elected officials as part of the "Don't Foreclose On the American Dream" movement. On Monday, Neighborhoods Organizing for Change detailed how foreclosures hurt Minneapolis schools.
The events are not tied to OccupyMN, the anti-Wall Street protest that began last week in downtown Minneapolis -- and which saw about 200 demonstrators march Tuesday to the Wells Fargo Center at 6th Street and Marquette Avenue.
"Banks got bailed out, we got sold out," people chanted.
The protesters entered the bank's lobby, shouted slogans for a short time, and left.
The demonstrators, many from a group called TakeAction Minnesota, began the march at the Hennepin County Government Center plaza, site of the anti-Wall Street "occupation." Demonstrations will continue through the week.
