Assemblyman Michael Kearns says some lenders have agreed to meet with the community to discuss issues with foreclosed homes. Kearns says vacant neglected property is not only an eyesore it also drags down nearby home values. And he says all some banks do is make excuses.
"Even though they've harmed our community, they've ignored the public officials. That's the arrogance of the banks. They've ignored our public officials. They are not even showing up to housing court. They're ignoring legal proceedings in the city of Buffalo and they're saying, 'We're too big to fail.' Well, we bailed those banks out...in 2009," Kearns said.
The meeting is called the "Incomplete Foreclosure Summit." So far it includes Citizens Bank, Evans Bank and Financial Trust Federal Credit Union.
Kearns says the forum scheduled for late fall. No other details have been released.