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Foreclosure Auction Forestalled

Josie Jenkins said Congressman Mike Thompson's office helped broker a 30-day extension on her foreclosure so she can apply for state mortgage assistance to supplement the income from her new job.

Occupy Napa turned out for Josie Jenkins Thursday afternoon, with about a dozen local Democrats, Green Party members and other activists carrying signs and a banner.

Jenkins had called for support Wednesday after learning that , which holds the mortgage on her home, intended to sell the property on the courthouse steps Thursday afternoon, she said. (See , 5:50 a.m.)

But the protesters didn't need to do much more than cheer as Jenkins announced that that morning, she'd received a call from a staffer in 's office who had interceded with the bank.

"They intervened," she said, explaining that Bank of America has given her another 30 days to apply for assistance programs she said are widely available, but underutilized.

"Now Making Home Affordable and Keeping California Home can process my application," she said. "They needed at least seven days."

After a period of unemployment during which she volunteered with and , Jenkins recently landed a position as a legal clerk with Napa County's child welfare department.

She said she will continue her volunteer work and also devote herself to educating more at-risk homeowners about the programs available to them.

And, she told the cheering demonstrators, "I'll always be there for Occupy Napa because Occupy Napa is here for me."

Aimee Inglis January 26, 2012 at 08:17 pm
Josie is such a vital member of our community I am so glad people stepped up and were at the ready to help her keep her home. Huge thanks to Occupy Napa and Mike Thompson!
Louisa Hufstader (Editor) January 27, 2012 at 12:32 am
Register made a really good video with Julio and Josie. (Pay no attention to the Patch editor in the background.) http://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/foreclosed-homeowner-gets--day-reprieve/article_c382e29a-4884-11e1-96a6-001871e3ce6c.html?mode=video
Pam Silleman January 27, 2012 at 01:15 am
Mike and his staff tried to help me as well when I fell for the 'loan mod' scam. I really wish I had never trusted the words of President Obama on TV that day when he said that he had worked with banks to make a 'new' loan modification program for folks that had never missed a payment, but, 'by no fault of their own' were under water and owed more on their homes than they were worth. I thought, 'oh, that is ME"...........I called Chase Manhattan and the rest was a nightmare that, unless you lived thru it, would never believe.
Chase told me that I could not be 'looked at' for the program until I was 60 days late on my payments. I had never had a late payment, but I trusted the President and Chase Manhattan......well......that was a mistake. Mike Thompson's office did try to help, but that ended badly after they accidentally, I am sure, gave the bank the wrong address and the chain of events were tragic. I lost the house my parents had left to me, totally messed up my credit rating and has cost me a great deal by slashing my credit limits and increased interest rates on all of my credit lines. My advice: don't trust em, very few loan mods come through and the anguish is just painful. I sure wish this lady here much of luck. I do feel her pain, that is for sure.
Joanne Gifford January 27, 2012 at 04:08 am
Occupy Napa would have been there in even bigger numbers, too, for Josie, but many of us had already heard about the bank's agreement to postpone the foreclosure sale by then and knew we no longer needed to be there this afternoon.
We love ya', Mama Josie!
Stefan C. Jezycki January 27, 2012 at 11:35 am
I am always saddened when I hear stories like Pam's. It is true, ou cannot believe what you hear or see on TV. It happened the other night during the state of the union address, the program Obama talked about does not even exist and he needs congress to author, approve and deliver such a bill before it can become reality... Misleading at best. I do have to say, as a local Realtor, Mr Thompson's has been both patient and courageous in their attempts, sometimes successful and others not so. They have been fantastic support for us.
Stefan C. Jezycki January 27, 2012 at 11:38 am
Please note that it is against the law to collect upfront fees for a loan modification. Please call a "local" professional for guidance and direction. The honest ones work along side each other in conjunction Mile Thompson's office, attorneys, and accountants. Beware fraud and report it when you experience it. Throughout the state DA's along with the FBI and the Secret Service are investigating and prosecuting these bad people.
Timothy Nonn January 27, 2012 at 12:57 pm
Thank you Occupy Napa! We are working at Occupy Petaluma and Occupy Santa Rosa to create a "Foreclosure Prevention Zone" in Sonoma County. Would someone from Ocupy Napa please contact me at timothynonn@gmail.com? If we coordinate our efforts, we can keep more people in their homes. Here is our website: http://www.occupypetaluma.com/foreclosure-crisis/
Debra Sherman January 27, 2012 at 01:50 pm
Hi I was there yesterday primarily to support Josie, as she has indeed contributed much to our community. I'd like to also state that I am a Republican, so no, not just liberals attended. Let me say that as a local Real Estate Broker I am applalled at what is happening. Most short sales and mortgage restructuring by bank asset managers do not go through. On top of that, many mortgage holders that are in trouble do not stand a chance if the do not have a Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac backed loan.
There are no laws even started to help all the other homeowners who ever did a refinance years ago. The banks had set up bad loaning practices which led to this collaspe, such as no-doc stated loans.
Debra Sherman January 27, 2012 at 01:51 pm
Part 2: The corporations made money and then they took trillions of tax dollars in a bailout, saying the economy "would collaspe" if they didn't. As a R.E. Broker, I am appalled that my industry partook, unknowingly, in putting people into these houses of cards. There are unfortunately many people in my industry preying on people whose homes are in jeopardy. Pretending to make random calls, they say that they are "looking to help people, might you know anyone that could be undergoing a forclosure?" - all the time knowing who they are talking to, having purchased the names from people that broker Notice of Defaults lists.
I continue to believe that real estate is a good long term investment and continue to work in the industry. But some of what has gone on is deplorable. There are both good and bad within our industry. Please be careful out there.

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Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
Loui Loui June 17, 2013 at 08:58 am
An actual post with the information and image of the home on this site would've been helpful -Read More instead of just a lazy link.
Beau Behan June 17, 2013 at 09:42 am
Hi Keri, Thanks for letting us know. I tried to correct the &#39, but it appears to be notRead More working.
F Otterbeck June 17, 2013 at 03:17 pm
Is there any way to remove the blogs from the news page? Blogs are not news. They are opinionRead More pieces, and I would like more news. thanks!
Keri Brenner (Editor) June 17, 2013 at 05:41 pm
Hi Beau and F: Yes, the &#39 are still there and not going away. I trust that tech people areRead More working on this...Sorry. And as far as the blogs being on the news stream, I can't change that except to keep the blogs mostly at the bottom and the news on top. The new platform is designed to highlight the blogs more than they were before. Occasionally if there is a timely, useful or highly newsworthy blog post I will move it up, but in general the news will be in the first 5 slots and the blog below. Hope that helps. Keri
Louisa Hufstader (Editor) June 16, 2013 at 02:47 am
Go, Jamie! I voted, all the way out here in lobsterland where I hope you and Kevin will visit someRead More day.
Roberta Goodin June 16, 2013 at 05:49 pm
Jamie, I have clicked on you several times and wish you the best! Salad sounds wonderful! Roberta
Jamie Brown Miller June 18, 2013 at 07:07 am
You're all so very kind! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Kimberly Olson June 14, 2013 at 08:18 am
It is easy to judge people from a distance. All of us have up and down times in life, none of usRead More have the same internal or external supports to deal with it all. Maybe those among us who feel superior could try to take a moment or more to see life from the perspective of someone who (even from a position of pain or vulnerability) has too much pride to accept the stigma of being in need of the social translation of "the lowest of the low" homeless shelter or addiction counseling. It feels good to try lifting others up rather than tearing them down; Maybe your smile or expression of something other than disgust could make a positive difference to move a person in need toward help.
Unfiltered Steve Simoneau June 14, 2013 at 06:17 pm
Lo! And behold! If you check today's (Friday, June 14) Fugitive page on Napa Valley Patch you willRead More see Benjamin Paz, the one and same who was arrested for being naked at the Expo.
Ray Richards June 15, 2013 at 06:16 pm
Thank you Marlene for your story, It is a tragic and difficult life that many homeless people haveRead More to live and I always thank my god that I have been more fortunate. I would like to respectfully suggest though that you break your future comments (and I hope there are many more) into paragraphs to make them easier to read. Thank you and I hope you well.
Keri Brenner (Editor) June 12, 2013 at 10:25 pm
Not the case. It's definitely on the list of stories to cover. Absolutely! Thanks for the reminder!
J. Roland Wagner June 13, 2013 at 08:06 am
Before advocating change, be sure of what you will obtain by such a change. I haven't seen anythingRead More that concerned me with Libersteins decisions.
MICHAEL WILSON June 13, 2013 at 08:27 pm
If He is running unopposed It would be a waste of Ink. Or in the case of media of the day A waste ofRead More electricity. Look at the County Sheriff We are stuck with Who ever the Union wants
Loui Loui June 13, 2013 at 10:25 pm
I'd like to show appreciation to my grandfather on Father's Day. He taught me how to cook a roast,Read More garden, work with tools, use a shotgun and appreciate our surrounding waters. Always a patient man, my grandfather showed me so much. I got scared once when I broke a tool when we were building a skateboard ramp. He just replied with, at least you know not to do that anymore. I always admired how my grandfather loves my grandmother so much. That's old, true love. Fairy tail kinda stuff. Love we all want to grow old with. I love my grandpa with all my heart.
Keri Brenner (Editor) June 17, 2013 at 06:19 pm
Hi Loui Loui: Your grandpa sounds wonderful!
Unfiltered Steve Simoneau June 13, 2013 at 10:41 am
Loui Loui, it's called false pretenses and misleading claims. While I understand it's not theRead More editor's or tech's fault, releasing a product to the public as "New with better features!" shouldn't mean that it comes with glitches, bugs and frustration. And unlike Google+ and FB, Napa Valley Patch didn't "come out", we had a NVP that was working perfectly fine and Corporate Patch decided to upgrade. Can you imagine the ether-riots if FB did an "upgrade" full of glitches and bugs"?
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Actually, Loui, I left FB two years ago and haven't been back since. And while Patch and FB may beRead More "free" services they rely on users to exist. It's a symbiotic relationship, so both sides must be content for it to work efficiently.
MICHAEL WILSON June 15, 2013 at 10:24 am
I am With USS on Facebook I have never Been there. I use the Patch and a few Blogs I also have myRead More own Website. Facebook has gone into the censorship business, from what many are telling me.
Unfiltered Steve Simoneau June 10, 2013 at 06:42 pm
Why the Hispanics need their own Chambers Of Commerce is a mystery to me. Racism is the promotion ofRead More one race above others. If I supported a White/Caucasian Chamber Of Commerce I'd be labeled a bigot and racist. One Chamber Of Commerce should suffice for ALL!
Harold Edwards June 11, 2013 at 01:15 am
All the Chamber of Commerce promotes is slave labor pure & simple.It screws the worker &Read More practices unfair labor for business big and small.They are not a team player there only for the team owner!! Don't fall for there wicked ways.
Renée Bell (Courtesy photo)
Amy Larson June 12, 2013 at 02:22 pm
It says 7 comments for this article when it's on the side. When you go to the post, there are 0.Read More This will show up as the first one.
Amy Larson June 12, 2013 at 02:23 pm
Sorry, "comment". Now it's adding to the count with each real comment.
gaylon June 6, 2013 at 03:39 pm
Loui Loui, Will do! So happy to hear of your interest in this important issue..
Janice Allgower June 11, 2013 at 10:21 am
Gaylon. I will be there and bring my husband along as well. Great speaker , he should really informRead More us all on just what is going on.....
gaylon June 11, 2013 at 11:03 am
Janice, Thank you for your interest...This is a huge concern for most citizens....Bring aRead More neighbor...See you there...