Recent Events:
Action Now Protests Fannie Mae Lawsuit!
Action Now rallied at the offices of Fannie Mae on December 20th to protest the lawsuit that the Federal Housing and Finance Agency (FHFA) filed against the City of Chicago’s Vacant Property Ordinance. The FHFA lawsuit is an attempt to exempt Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from having to maintain and secure their vacant properties that pose a serious threat to the health and safety of families in Chicago’s communities that have been affected by the foreclosure crisis… read more
Victory! Cook County Passes Vacant Property Ordinance!
As a result of Action Now’s hard work on the issues of foreclosure and vacant properties, this morning, December 14th, the Cook County Board of Commissioners unanimously passed a Vacant Property Ordinance!… read more
Bank Of America Arrests 5 Action Now Leaders!
Tuesday, October 11th, Action Now held a rally at the Bank of America at Adams and Lasalle to drop off trash from one of their vacant buildings at 3328 W. Monroe. During the rally, Bank of America had five Action Now community leaders and mothers arrested. The women that were arrested were between the ages of 55 and 80 years old. They are pillars of the community and were willing to be arrested in order to save the children in their neighborhoods from the dangerous vacant buildings that lenders like Bank of America refuse to secure and maintain… read more
Members Rally At Chase Bank ‘s Unsecured Vacant Lot Where Rape Occurred
Action Now members held a rally and press conference on Thursday October 6th, because they are concerned about an unsecured vacant lot in the 27th Ward where a woman was raped in June of 2011. Chase Bank is responsible for the vacant lot and they have not secured the lot in accordance with the Vacant Property Ordinance… read more
West Side Members Hold Press Conference And March To Call Attention To Rape Inside A Vacant Bank-Owned Building
Action Now parents held a press conference on the morning of September 6th, the first day of school, outside of an unsecured vacant building at 3336 W. Monroe. This abandoned property is less than a block away from Faraday Elementary … read more
South Side Members Hold Rally At Vacant Buildings Destroyed By Fire
In August of 2011 there was a fire at a vacant building at 1210 W. 52nd Street that spread to surrounding buildings and resulted in the death of two people. The city spent $10,000 of taxpayers’ money to demolish the building at 1210 W. 52nd Street, even though the fire was caused by Bank of New York’s neglect of the property… read more
Action Now Joins Press Conference To Support Vacant Property Safe Passage Ordinance
On Sunday, October 2nd, Action Now joined the Chicago Teachers Union, Alderman Deborah Graham (29th Ward) and Alderman Bob Fioretti (2nd Ward) to support a new ordinance that would require owners of foreclosed and vacant properties located within a 1,000-yard-radius of a school to hire watchmen… read more
Action Now Holds Press Conference On First Day Of School About Danger Of Vacant Buildings For Children
Action Now parents held a press conference on the morning of September 6th, the first day of school, outside of an unsecured vacant building at 3336 W. Monroe. This abandoned property is less than a block away from Faraday Elementary School/Garfield Park Prep and threatens the safety of the students. Children walking to school are forced to pass by… read more
Victory! Chase Boards Up Building After Rally At Bank
On August 30th, members of Action Now held a rally at Chase Bank where we delivered pictures of Chase Bank vacant properties near schools and a letter to bank officials asking what the plan is for securing vacant properties before … read more
Bank of America Arrests Action Now Member Marsha Godard
- The arrest and rallies
- Marsha Godard Speaks Out
- “I Closed My Account With Bank Of America!”
- Coverage on CBS News and other press
Victory! New Vacant Property Ordinance Passes City Council
After proposing and advocating for a new amendment to Chicago’s Vacant Property Ordinance, Action Now members can proudly announce that yesterday, July 28th, the Chicago City Council unanimously voted to pass a our amendment that would hold banks responsible for … read more
Englewood Residents March For Funds To Rehab Vacant Buildings
Action Now members and Englewood residents held a “We Are Englewood” march and press conference on June 4, 2011 at noon to protest the lack of Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) funds allocated to the Englewood community to rehab vacant buildings. Members and residents marched from 55th and Peoria to 61st and Peoria to show the devastation that the foreclosure crisis and resulting vacant buildings have had on the community. Vacant properties attract illegal activity like drugs, sexual violence and killings… read more
Englewood Vacant Property Clean-Up
Members of Action Now, held a clean-up and tour of vacant properties on the 5300 block of S. Laflin on Wednesday, March 16th, 2011 at 11 a.m.
There are eight vacant buildings on the block that are not being properly maintained by the banks that own them… read more
Rally To Protest HUD and LIHEAP Cuts
On February 25th, 2011 around 300 people from Action Now and nine other groups gathered at the intersection of Clark and Randolph to protest the proposed severe federal budget cuts to housing and heating assistance to the poor… read more
Article In Southtown Star About Action Now’s Foreclosure Work
Read the article by clicking HERE!
Sweet Home Chicago Campaign: Alderman Rallies
Action Now members along with other organizations in the Sweet Home Chicago Coalition have been rallying outside of the offices of Aldermen that voted against the Sweet Home Chicago Ordinance. The Sweet Home Chicago Ordinance would set aside 20% of TIF funds for affordable housing. With the economic crisis, the huge foreclosure problem and a staggering amount of vacant properties, Chicago needs affordable housing more than ever. Aldermen need to do what is right for the communities they represent and support the Sweet Home Chicago Ordinance!
I want to thank Action Know for supporting our neighborhood at a rally that was held on September 27, 2011. After foreclosure, two vacant buildings in the corner of W. Grand Avenue and N. Hamlin Avenue have being the target of criminal activity as the result of the banks not securing and maintaining their abandoned buildings. The vacant properties and the illegal activities held there are a danger to children and families that during school days use the alley to access Cameron Elementary School. Thank you again for your support. Great rally! Congratulations!