Did you know City Council hears cases allowing tax delinquent landlords to redeem properties lost to foreclosure?  Like you, a faithful taxpayer of Dearborn,  I don’t want to see my neighborhood ruined. 

Here’s the story.

The city began buying up foreclosed homes from Wayne County in an effort to reduce the number of rentals and maintain conformity in our neighborhoods. The properties will be sold to responsible owner occupiers or demolished and redeveloped. This way the home is maintained, the neighborhoods are nice, there’s fewer rentals and the back taxes are paid.  

Let’s get one thing straight, the city does not take people’s homes. These are properties already forfeited to Wayne County because the landlord failed to pay the taxes, failed to come to an agreement with the county and failed time and time again to address the situation properly.  Wayne County’s forfeiture process is a full three year ordeal. During which the county tries everything they can to help those in need keep ownership.  They provide countless time extensions, numerous payment options, facilitation, hundreds of notices, phone calls, deferments, lower interest rates, government assistance, you name  it.  

Furthermore, those suffering hardship can take advantage of poverty exemptions, tax relief loans, assistance offered by ACCESS, state emergency relief and many others.  Only after all of these compassionate opportunities have been exhausted or ignored,  a county judge makes a ruling and the property is auctioned.  

But for some unnecessary reason and under no obligation, Council has decided to extend this process yet again and allow negligent owners another chance. To borrow the words of Councilman Brian O’Donnell, “…there must be a finish line.”

Many of these cases take on a similar theme.  Consider this one case from a special hearing on September 13. Out of respect I obviously won’t include any names or addresses.  Everything you are about to read is public record.  

In the Southend sits a house with an attached vacant lot that was inherited by an individual years ago. The deed was clear so the heir mortgaged it and received $108,000.00 cash. The owner subsequently defaulted and the property was sold at bank auction.  Here’s what’s fascinating. At the auction this same person bought the property again for $29,400.00. So she never repays the borrowed $108,000.00 and the home forecloses again. Records indicate she does not live in the home and the vacant lot has slipped into foreclosure 10 times. I’m no attorney, but this sounds a lot like fraud.  

Even the city’s legal department is on record as opposing redemption.  In spite of these shenanigans, this person stood before council and was given ownership of both properties on a 5-2 vote. Again, I have to ask, how does this benefit the city of Dearborn?  Rewarding careless landlords is the text book approach to destroy our neighborhoods. For the record, only Brian O’Donnell and Tom Tafelski voted to deny redemption.  

Another case  concerned a Dearborn man who owns numerous rental properties and businesses. Council records indicate some of his properties are rentals despite listed as personal residences. Essentially he’s in clear violation of city and county codes.  Thankfully common sense triumphed and he was denied redemption, but not before two council members voted in his favor.  Dearborn should be ousting this destructive behavior not encouraging it.  

For goodness sakes, one out of six homes in Dearborn is already a registered rental, do we really need this? I understand showing compassion for a responsible homeowner who is down on their luck, but I don’t understand allowing irresponsible landlords to ruin our neighborhoods. Do you want your home values to decline anymore?

Perhaps I’m a little old fashion, but I struggle with the concept that irresponsible landlords should be beneficiaries of the goodwill of the faithful taxpayers of Dearborn.  Of course these cases are sad and nobody wants to see someone lose their home.   But the bottom line is public officials cannot permit emotions or personal feelings to obstruct  their judgment. Council has a moral and legal obligation to represent the taxpayers to the best of their ability and in the best interest of the city. 

Sympathy simply cannot be a determining factor when ruling on the law.  If it is, we might as well throw the laws out the window, join hands and sing “Kumbaya.” 

-Regan J. Ford is the founder and president of Dearborn-based VIVID Maintenance.  He serves his community as the president-elect of the Rotary Club of Dearborn and president of the Southwestern Outer Drive Neighborhood Association.