Rev. Jesse Jackson aims to help Fontana residents who endure foreclosure troubles
By ALEJANDRO CANO
Published: Thursday, December 10, 2009 4:38 PM CST

With his hand on his chin and eyes and ears wide open, Rev. Jesse Jackson listened on Sunday to the concerns of a Fontana woman at risk of losing her house to foreclosure.

Jackson, the founder of the Rainbow/Push coalition, made a special appearance in the local region to talk about ways to solve the foreclosure crisis as well as to blast President Obama’s recent decision to increase the U.S. presence in Afghanistan.

“We’ll look into your problem and we’ll do everything in our power to help you,” said Jackson to Bonnie Robinson, whose problems began when her husband died in March of 2008. “At one point we’ll do a huge conference where people can freely express their concerns so we can have an exact idea of the magnitude of the issue.”

Robinson, a former state employee, decided to quit work after her husband Vincent Lee Robinson had cardiovascular surgery. With an actual income of $1,649 a month and 10 months behind in home payments, Robinson is now at risk of losing the house the couple bought in 2003.

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“Most of my neighbors are in the same predicament. I can’t sell it for a good price, and I can’t pay it. I have not received any eviction orders, but it’s just a matter of time. I thank Mr. Jackson for hearing my problem and for having such an honest passion to help people like me,” said Robinson.

Just like Robinson, thousands of Inland Empire homeowners face the same harsh reality, which was allegedly caused in part by dishonest banks and agencies which preyed on blacks and Latinos to make money, according to Jackson.

For that reason, Jackson visited Victorville and Fontana in addition to participating in last Sunday’s morning services of Loveland Church.

During his presentation, the Baptist minister stated his objection to Obama’s decision to send 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan and to bail out banks in a time when millions of Americans are losing their homes.

“I demand a five-point strategic attack to eliminate the economic crisis. We need an urgent plan that is priority, timetable, budget-minded that will lead us to economic recovery,” said Jackson. “We are bailing out Wall Street and not the people in my street.”

Jackson said it is immoral to bail out banks, which according to him caused all the mess, without taking action to prevent foreclosures.

“The robbed must stand up and the robber must pay for his crime. Every time someone loses a house, a robbery has been committed,” said Jackson. “But let’s not lose hope. God will save our houses, God will save our jobs, God will save our children ... God will ... God will.”

The magnitude of the problem was clearly visible when Jackson asked the congregation in Ontario about how many people knew somebody who was unemployed, to which more than half the people rose to their feet. He also asked how many people knew a family with student loans, and again many rose. Finally, Jackson asked how many people knew a family at risk of losing their homes, and about a third rose.

However, when Jackson asked how many people were willing to invest in Afghanistan and not in the valley, no one stood up.

“We must march because marches give us strength, marches give us hope. Jesus marched, Gandhi marched, Moses marched... so we must march too,” said Jackson. “We must rise from the shadows and press for a solution.”

Jackson said that college fee increases push students to obtain loans, which in the long run they can not afford to pay back without good jobs.

He also said that California’s problem is partly caused by the investment of more money into prisons rather than into schools. However, according to state reports, education receives more money than prisons, seconded by health and welfare spending.

Jackson was accompanied by Dean Florez, the majority leader in the State Senate, who praised Jackson’s willingness to work together for the sake of the community. Florez stated he anticipates new legislative proposals to try to solve the issue which could be submitted within a month.

Meanwhile, Robinson, who attends Loveland Church, is willing to start a neighborhood campaign to eventually hold community forums on the issue and try to help others avoid her current situation.

http://www.fontanaheraldnews.com/articles/2009/12/10/news/doc4b212d2a60024872765624.txt